http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/...ll-playoff

Quote:Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky is stepping down after nearly 13 years running the league to join the College Football Playoff.

Banowsky will become executive director of the College Football Playoff Foundation, the organization's charitable arm.

Is he just tired of the job, or is the membership tired of him? Or is 13 years in that job just long enough, period?

A couple of comments from Twitter:

Quote:Landthieves
‏@LandThieves

Banowsky leaving CUSA pretty much on the eve of their TV deal is probably not the best sign for that league

Maybe. Maybe not.

Quote:John Talty
‏@JTalty

Banowsky was a huge advocate for UAB during its turmoil

UAB's situation is still not settled. If UAB's "leadership" dilly-dallies about restoring FBS football, CUSA could still give them the boot. A new commissioner might take a harder line.

(07-16-2015 02:55 PM)Wedge Wrote:  http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/...ll-playoff

Quote:Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky is stepping down after nearly 13 years running the league to join the College Football Playoff.

Banowsky will become executive director of the College Football Playoff Foundation, the organization's charitable arm.

Is he just tired of the job, or is the membership tired of him? Or is 13 years in that job just long enough, period?

A couple of comments from Twitter:

Quote:Landthieves
‏@LandThieves

Banowsky leaving CUSA pretty much on the eve of their TV deal is probably not the best sign for that league

Maybe. Maybe not.

Quote:John Talty
‏@JTalty

Banowsky was a huge advocate for UAB during its turmoil

UAB's situation is still not settled. If UAB's "leadership" dilly-dallies about restoring FBS football, CUSA could still give them the boot. A new commissioner might take a harder line.

These guys usually don't just dump these jobs. In fact, they typically hang on to them like grim death. Definitely curious. That's a loss for CUSA. I know some over there hammer him a lot, but I think he has done an amazing job given the hand he has been dealt.

The Presidents that have been interviewed so far were all surprised. Makes me think he wasn't forced out. Maybe he's just tired of it.

Here's a series of tweets from a sportswriter who spoke to Banowsky.

https://twitter.com/MrChadBishop

Quote:Chad Bishop
‏@MrChadBishop

Spoke moments ago with (now former?) CUSA commissioner Britton Banowsky: "I just felt like it was time for me to make a change."

Banowsky: "I was enjoying, very much, the new CUSA and the way it kind of came to together. We’re in a really good place as a group."

Banowsky said he loves the charitable work he’s been doing and, "wanted to pour all my energy into that effort for a couple of years.”

Banowsky said he enjoyed being a part of CUSA’s reinvention twice – watching the cohesion, the new energy and new schools get along so well.

Banowsky: "Our conference is one that is evolving, a conference of opportunity. To see school’s on the rise take advantage is really cool.”

Banowsky said he won’t necessarily help find CUSA’s next commish, but will, "stay on until they have a clear direction going forward."

Banowsky added: "I didn’t want to do anything to leave (CUSA) where they haven’t had a chance to figure out the plan going forward.”

A few weeks ago he was interviewed and mentioned how he and his wife wanted more time for charitable work in Dallas.

Sounds like he's ready to get out of the rat race and do what he wants to do, which seems to be philanthropy. I don't think his decision has any bearing on CUSA's direction or media negotiations.

(07-16-2015 03:45 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  Sounds like he's ready to get out of the rat race and do what he wants to do, which seems to be philanthropy. I don't think his decision has any bearing on CUSA's direction or media negotiations.

I agree, good for him....I'm sure CUSA will find a worthy replacement

Not getting involved with the replacement process can be perceived as a tell for how the presidents felt about his work. He'd probably tap someone like him or thinks the same as he does, and that's the issue. Different direction moving forward.

He was no Mike Slive.

I know the perfect candidate.

While him resigning doesn't necessarily mean TV negotiations aren't going well with only this football season left, it does leave CUSA without anybody to negotiate on their behalf while running out of time.

Also consider this, Akron's AD resign kind of unexpectedly under similar scenario and shortly after is cutting sports programs. He didn't want to deal with the fallout of a bad situation.

.

(07-16-2015 04:45 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  I know the perfect candidate.

But the Sun Belt hasn't imploded yet. He has more work to do.

(07-16-2015 05:44 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(07-16-2015 04:45 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  I know the perfect candidate.

But the Sun Belt hasn't imploded yet. He has more work to do.

With that shirt, he may actually be WEARING a sun belt.

(07-16-2015 02:55 PM)Wedge Wrote:  http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/...ll-playoff

Quote:Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky is stepping down after nearly 13 years running the league to join the College Football Playoff.

Banowsky will become executive director of the College Football Playoff Foundation, the organization's charitable arm.

Is he just tired of the job, or is the membership tired of him? Or is 13 years in that job just long enough, period?

A couple of comments from Twitter:

Quote:Landthieves
‏@LandThieves

Banowsky leaving CUSA pretty much on the eve of their TV deal is probably not the best sign for that league

Maybe. Maybe not.

Quote:John Talty
‏@JTalty

Banowsky was a huge advocate for UAB during its turmoil

UAB's situation is still not settled. If UAB's "leadership" dilly-dallies about restoring FBS football, CUSA could still give them the boot. A new commissioner might take a harder line.

Banowsky will become executive director of the College Football Playoff Foundation, the organization's charitable arm.

(07-16-2015 04:45 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  I know the perfect candidate.

Don't you dare wish him on us!

(07-16-2015 05:41 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  While him resigning doesn't necessarily mean TV negotiations aren't going well with only this football season left, it does leave CUSA without anybody to negotiate on their behalf while running out of time.

Also consider this, Akron's AD resign kind of unexpectedly under similar scenario and shortly after is cutting sports programs. He didn't want to deal with the fallout of a bad situation.

.

They have Bankowsky to negotiate for them until a new commissioner is hired.

If membership is happy he will continue to work on it. If the membership is unhappy they will tell him to put it on hold until they hire someone. That's just how it is done.

I had posted on the AState subscriber board on July 1, that one of my good contacts had told me that he would be leaving within 3 to 4 months, so I don't put much stock in CUSA presidents being surprised when it wasn't a well kept secret.

(07-16-2015 05:41 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  While him resigning doesn't necessarily mean TV negotiations aren't going well with only this football season left, it does leave CUSA without anybody to negotiate on their behalf while running out of time.

Also consider this, Akron's AD resign kind of unexpectedly under similar scenario and shortly after is cutting sports programs. He didn't want to deal with the fallout of a bad situation.

The larger point you are making is when a job is either going south or at best not progressing that is when people start to bail.

In 13 years this is what has happened under his tenure.

1) He lost Louisville, Cincinnati, USF to the Big East just as the conference looked like it was about to achieve parity with the Big East in FB and BB.

2) Army went out and plain quit the conference. That was a punch to the gut.

3) TCU seeing the writing on the wall for CUSA moved to the MWC where they developed into a BCS buster.

4) ESPN sued CUSA for a breach of contract. This led to the eventual pull out of the mouse.

5) The remaining programs of value; Memphis, UCF, Houston, SMU, ECU, Tulsa all exited for what was to become the AAC.

6) His proposal to combine with the MWC into a 20 team national conference "Mount-USA" fell apart.

7) In the CFP's first season a 1 loss Marshall team was passed up for the automatic bid by 2 loss Boise State. CUSA has still yet to place a school in major bowl game.

8) The league is fairing so poorly for UAB that they decide to drop football causing a havoc for the conference.

9) The MAC lands a secondary agreement with CBS, foreshadowing a pullout of CBS in the next round of CUSA TV negotiations.

The commish has presided over the decay of CUSA in his 13 years at the helm. It would make a lot of sense to take the first ticket out, IMO.

(07-16-2015 04:45 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  I know the perfect candidate.

I say go for Benson if you've got the money for it.

He did a nice job with the WAC considering the circumstances and he's led the SBC and MAC so he knows this level of football.

He may be the right guy to convince CUSA to do something more creative with its membership in advance of the next TV deal.

Bankowsky pursuing charitable work because he has a passion for it is a great thing.

There is always going to be speculation of being forced out or rats leaving the ship when things aren't going smoothly.

If CUSA promotes Alfred White (currently senior associate commissioner, former commissioner of the Southern, extensive marketing and media experience) then I think that kills any speculation of Bankowsky being forced or nudged out. Hiring White would be an endorsement of Bankowsky's moves.

Even if they don't promote White, if CUSA announces a new TV deal prior to hiring the replacement that is a strong sign the membership backed him.

As for the looking for an exit. Let's be real it has to have been a frustrating gig. Get Memphis in the NCAA basketball title game and the NCAA vacates the appearance and they later leave. Louisville twice nearly busts the BCS and stumbles each time and leaves. Houston appears BCS bound and loses CUSA title game and leaves. Marshall is one game from running the table and consensus was building that two loss Boise will get the access slot and Marshall loses removing any doubt. Plus the other defections, had to be high stress.

Sounds like there might be movement approaching the AAC raiding CUSA for a few replacement schools in the near future. ! Probably seeing the coverts are getting bare for replacements.