Big-12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says the leaguer is much more stable privately than its public image portrays. Iowa native was named the new commissioner back in May and has moved to stabilize a league that saw four members depart in a two year span.
“I think we are still recovering from some of the tumultuous times over the last two years and I think the 10 institutions that currently comprise our conference are very committed to one another, they are committed to the future, and they are committed to conducting athletics programs that represent the best values of higher education,” Bowlsby says.
Bowlsby made a stop on the Iowa State campus, today, and says the addition of West Virginia and TCU have helped provide stability going forward. He says you can’t just declare yourself stable, he says you have to declare it as an aspiration and move towards it.
Bowlsby says expansion will always remain a possibility but there is a strong feeling right now among the member schools to remain at ten.
“Right now our distributable revenue is competitive with any league in the country. Competitively top to bottom, we have a lot to be envied,” Bowlsby says. He says there’s strength in the round robin schedules they will have in football and basketball.
Bowlsby says,”I think we need to be a very competitive fraternity to join.”