My colleague
Michael Smith and I recently drove from Charlotte to Columbia, S.C., on a rainy Friday afternoon to attend a panel at the University of South Carolina that looked at the institution’s 25 years in the Southeastern Conference. The Thomas H. Regan Executive Lecture Series featured an all-star group of former SEC commissioners
Roy Kramer and
Mike Slive; current Commissioner
Greg Sankey; and
Harris Pastides, university president and chairman of the NCAA Division I board of directors.
I was honored to moderate the 90-minute discussion before 300 people in an event held 25 years to the day South Carolina accepted an invitation to join the SEC. You could hear a pin drop as Kramer told the story of calling former South Carolina President
Art Smith, who was in attendance, and setting up a hastily arranged news conference over fear the news would leak out.
 |
Madkour with SEC commissioners past — Roy Kramer and Mike Slive — and present, Greg Sankey
Photo by: MICHAEL SMITH / STAFF
|
It was a special experience to be on the stage with the three leaders of the modern SEC era. Kramer (1990-2002), Slive (2002-15) and Sankey have visible admiration and respect for one another. The conversation touched on the conference’s evolution, its sustainable success, its collegiality and the passion of its fan base. Kramer noted how fans often chant “SEC! SEC! SEC!” at championship events, taking a shot at rivals by saying, “I’ve never heard anyone chant ‘Big Ten.’ I’ve never heard anyone chant ‘Pac-12.’”
While Slive is very good at staying in his lane, attendees got a clear sense of how stern he could be when he talked about new coach initiation, firmly stating that if they knowingly cheated, he’d do everything within his power to make sure they get fired. Strong stuff.
Sankey was deferential to his predecessors, and combines an easy manner with obvious intellect. You could sense his emotion when he talked about the honor and challenge of being SEC commissioner. Asked what he’s learned after three months in his new role, Sankey didn’t miss a beat, acknowledging that the heightened pace of being commissioner “doesn’t stop.” “I knew that, but I didn’t know that,” he said to laughs.
It was quite a day for the group, including a pre-dawn wake up. Slive and Sankey left Birmingham, Ala., and picked up Kramer in Tennessee before going to the SEC Network in Charlotte. An early afternoon trip to Columbia allowed for some rest before the panel discussion and a reception/dinner that evening. And it gave me great comfort to see the good health of both Slive and Kramer, two men I admire. Slive, who has been battling prostate cancer, was recognized the following day at the South Carolina football game as part of the SEC’s Prostate Cancer Awareness effort. His energy and his color were both very good. It also was great to see the 85-year-old Kramer still sharp as a tack. “Coach” Kramer can still bring the fire, and closed the session with an impassioned plea for purity and competitive integrity in intercollegiate athletics.
Driving home, Smith and I replayed the conversation, which was so rich with stories that we joked it should have been on the SEC Network. It was a very special afternoon with real giants in college sports.
Abraham D. Madkour can be reached at amadkour@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
