C-USA has benefitted from Banowsky's leadership

Harry · July 30, 2014

It’s taken all the negotiating skills of Henry Kissinger for Conference USA to survive the chaotic realignment process that recently caused a seismic upheaval in college athletics.

But who would have thought that nearly three years after more powerful conferences began feasting upon those with fewer resources that C-USA would improve its football TV profile and stabilize its postseason bowl contracts?

That’s exactly what C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky has managed to do for his oft-maligned, far-flung league. For that, Banowsky probably hasn’t received enough recognition.

Banowsky led an aggressive expansion process that added nine new members, including Old Dominion. Even shorn of some of its best football programs, Banowsky negotiated a TV deal this summer that nearly doubled the number of conferences games on the tube.

And he managed to sign 10-year agreements with ten football bowl games that guarantees C-USA at least five postseason bids per season.

Eleven of ODU’s 12 games this season will be on television, and when the Monarchs are ready for prime time, there will be bowl game opportunities.

ODU president John Broderick, who had the final call when the school decided in 2012 to leave the Colonial Athletic Association for C-USA, said Banowsky had much to do with the decision.

“When we were in the process of discussing our future, talking with people from around the country, his name kept coming up,” Broderick said. “We heard from a lot of people that he was really a quality commissioner.

Read more: http://hamptonroads.com/2014/07/cusa-has-benefitted-banowskys-leadership

VideoEagle · July 30, 2014

Everyone always seems to hate their conference commissioner. I hear that from Sunbelt fans, CUSA fans, Big 12 fans and the one Air Force alum I talk to says Craig Thompson is out to "get" them. I'm not suggesting any of these commissioners are great, but most of the real decisions are made by the University Presidents in closed meetings and later announced by the commissioners.