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All Positives From Broyles Center
Wednesday, July 3, 2002

Slive's Appointment As SEC Commissioner Met With Excitement

By Mike Capshaw

The Morning News/RazorbackCentral

FAYETTEVILLE -- No one around the Broyles Center was happy to hear Roy Kramer was stepping down after 12 years as the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

But the news of Kramer's replacement seemed to soften the blow Tuesday as Mike Slive accepted the position at a press conference in Birmingham, Ala.

"Everyone is excited with the appointment of Mike Slive as the next commissioner of the Southeastern Conference," said Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles. "He has been at various levels in college athletics and he brings a great reputation to the conference.

"I'm confident that he will provide outstanding leadership as the conference continues to serve at the forefront of collegiate athletics."

Arkansas associate athletic director Derrick Gragg has never met Slive, but said the 61-year-old's experience as head of the NCAA Infraction Appeals Committee could benefit the league.

"I think his NCAA background is critical at this stage in our conference," Gragg said. "In everything we do, we start with student-athlete welfare and an importance in the rules and regulations both with the SEC and the NCAA.

"With his background and his leadership in the past things that he's done, I think he'll do really well with the conference."

The transition should also be easy considering Slive's background as a former judge and lawyer whose firm defended schools against NCAA investigations in the 1980s and '90s.

Slive was commissioner of Conference USA since its inception in 1995 and helped expand that league.

But Gragg was quick to point out that filling Kramer's shoes will be a tough task.

"It's hard to replace a legend," Gragg said. "Mr. Kramer played an intricate role in NCAA rules and regulations. He used to be part of the infractions committee and really helped our conference by serving with integrity."

During Kramer's tenure, the SEC expanded to 12 schools and became the country's most profitable conference with $95 million in revenues reported in 2000.

However, the SEC has also led the nation in NCAA scrutiny with a record 42 major rules violations since record keeping began in 1953.

So Arkansas Chancellor and SEC President John A. White sees the positives in Slive's hiring.

"Mike is familiar with the league and he has been active on NCAA committees," White said. "We think he will build on the successes that the SEC has enjoyed in the past.

"We're excited about what Mike will be able to do working with the presidents and chancellors, athletics directors and coaches of the SEC in the league's continuing efforts to be the premier athletic conference in the nation"

<small>[ July 03, 2002, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: calling_the_hogs ]</small>