Possible candidates to replace Mike Slive as SEC commissioner

SEC commissioner Mike Slive took the college football world by surprise when he announced Tuesday afternoon he will retire from his position on July 31, 2015, due to an ongoing battle with prostate cancer.

Slive has served as commissioner for 13 years, and his impending retirement will force the conference to begin searching for his replacement. According to Nick Zeppos, chancellor of Vanderbilt University and chair of the SEC presidents and chancellors, the conference will execute a national search for Slive’s successor.

Whomever is chosen will become the eighth commissioner of the conference since its inception in 1933.

In the immediate aftermath of Slive’s announcement, it is difficult to speculate who might be the favorite to replace him as SEC commissioner. Nevertheless, here are a few candidates who might make the short list of contenders:

The Favorite

1. Greg Sankey: Sankey is the Executive Associate Commissioner and COO of the SEC, and many consider him to be the unofficial commissioner-in-waiting for the conference. He gained valuable experience as the commissioner of the Southland Conference for close to seven years, and has worked at the SEC office in Birmingham, Ala., for nearly a decade. Sankey currently oversees the SEC’s championships staff and is active within the NCAA’s committee structure, including his service on the Division I Legislative Council, the Committee on Academic Performance and the Committee on Infractions.

Many longtime SEC writers seem to think Sankey is the early favorite to take over Slive’s job.

SEC Commis Mike Slive–Most powerful man in college athletics announces retirement—what a pleasure to work w/–Greg Sankey=natural choice

— Chris Landry (@landryfootball) October 14, 2014

I would be stunned if anyone other than Greg Sankey succeeds Slive. One of the most respected people in the biz, has been his right-hand man

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 14, 2014

Let me join a Twitter chorus in suggesting SEC CEO Greg Sankey as a possible replacement. Former Southland commissioner is sharp, sharp guy. — Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) October 14, 2014

Other Names Worth Noting

2. Jeff Long: Long currently serves as the athletic director at the University of Arkansas, and this year has taken over as the chairman of the inaugural College Football Playoff selection committee. He already serves as an integral part of college football’s national landscape, and he has administrative experience as the AD at Arkansas since 2008, and as the AD at the University of Pittsburgh before that. He also served as an administrator at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Michigan and Virginia Tech during the earlier stages of his career. Aside from Sankey, Long is a name many experts feel deserves consideration as Slive’s replacement.

I’ve always said if Jeff Long is going to to leave the University of Arkansas, it will be to become the SEC commissioner. We’ll see 7/31/15 — Ryan Higgins (@rhiggins479) October 14, 2014

3. Herb Vincent: Vincent currently serves as the SEC’s Associate Commissioner for Communications, and is another name worth considering in the search for Slive’s replacement. He was hired to his current position at the SEC office in May of 2013 after serving as an administrator at LSU overseeing communications, marketing and promotions. He also spent time as LSU’s associate athletic director, and his experience as an administrator in the SEC could make him an appealing candidate as a hire-from-within.

4. Archie Manning: Manning is perhaps the most popular choice to serve as Slive’s replacement among candidates from outside the current administrative framework. Manning is an SEC icon, as are his sons Peyton and Eli (you may have heard of them), but more than just a fantastic bloodline, Manning remains heavily involved with the college football world on a national level. He’s a current member of the College Football Playoff selection committee, and has impressive connections with most major players in the SEC office. He’d be an out-of-the-box selection as commissioner, and despite a lack of administrative experience he is as qualified as anyone to take over the conference he still impacts to this day.

If Only…

5.  Steve Spurrier: Spurrier is still the head coach at South Carolina, but as he struggles through his worst season since arriving in Columbia, the timing would be perfect for him to make the transition into the commissioner’s role. Fans would still be able to second-guess every decision he makes, and we’d still be graced with his fabulous “Spurrier-isms” whenever he addresses the media. Spurrier is a College Football Hall of Famer as both a player and a coach, so it’d be tough to argue he wouldn’t be able to succeed as commissioner. No, Spurrier has no relevant experience, but my goodness would the SEC be relevant with HBC at the helm.

6. Paul Finebaum: Finebaum is a pivotal figure in the SEC’s media masses, and he commands the opinions of millions of fans of the conference every day. So why not give him the keys to the car and let him lead the SEC into a new generation of college football? He has a top-notch understanding of the conference’s history, direction, its member schools and the significance of SEC athletics, and he’s as polarizing a figure as there is in the Southeast. Again, Finebaum has no relevant administrative experience, but the SEC’s brand would immediately become more relevant than ever before if PAWWWWL took over.

Who do you think will (or should) be the next SEC commissioner?

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.