Our favorite anecdotes displaying the love and respect Mike Slive held around the SEC
If you somehow missed the news on Wednesday, former SEC Commissioner Mike Slive died in Birmingham at the age of 77.
Leaving behind an unparalleled legacy, the SEC won 81 championships during his time as head of the league from 2002 until 2015 — that included seven consecutive BCS National Championships won by the SEC, the expansion of the conference with the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri, and the creation of the SEC Network, Slive appeared to do nothing but win affection around the league while lifting the league to new heights in every regard.
In honor of Slive, we’ve collected our favorite anecdotes people have shared since the news of his passing.
Clay Travis of Outkick the Coverage:
Awful news about former SEC commissioner Mike Slive. Prayers to his family. He was a phenomenal person, brilliant and kind. Two stories for you: morning after my second son was born, the phone rang. It was Slive congratulating me, the first non-family member to call.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 16, 2018
I wrote a profile on Slive a decade or so ago. Before it ran, he called me with a request. When he’d been talking about how much SEC fans mattered to him and the extent to which he cared about the conference he tested up & started to cry. It was real and authentic.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 16, 2018
He was concerned if I wrote that he’d cried in the article fans would believe he’d become too old and soft and lost control of his emotions. So he asked me to leave it out of the story. I did. But I’m sharing it now because I think it evokes how much he loved the SEC & his job.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 16, 2018
Slive was a fantastic man. Best to his family. College sports lost a great man today.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 16, 2018
Nick Saban, via ESPN college football writer Chris Low:
Nick Saban told me when Mike Slive retired in 2015 as SEC commissioner that he couldn’t imagine anybody in college football having a greater impact over the last 10-15 years than Slive and that he did it with “honesty, integrity and treated people with a lot of respect.”
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) May 16, 2018
Former LSU coach Les Miles:
Mike Slive will be missed.. The conference was his to align, enlarge and position to be the most powerful and productive College conference in America. Commissioner Slive knew what was possible and headed the SEC in that direction! LM
— Les Miles (@CoachLesMiles) May 17, 2018
I took exception with conference scheduling. I didn’t see the validity in playing a talented team like Florida every year when other teams played less capable annually! He schooled me, describing the foundation of the SEC as our rivalries! Its best for the league! Salute Commish!
— Les Miles (@CoachLesMiles) May 17, 2018
Longtime Florida writer for Gator Sports Pat Dooley:
The passing of Mike Slive makes me want to cry. We had a special relationship with our common issue of prostate cancer. He treated me like a younger brother, even allowed me to go on his private plane to three bowl games in one day. He made the SEC what it is today.
— Pat Dooley (@pat_dooley) May 16, 2018
SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent:
Seeing the softer side of Mike Slive was one of the great benefits of working for him. Here he paused during a busy @SEC Basketball Media Days schedule to play with his Abigail. My favorite photo. pic.twitter.com/HY1o9Zb3u7
— Herb Vincent (@SECherbvin) May 16, 2018
Kentucky coach John Calipari:
I am devastated tonight over the passing of my friend and mentor, Mike Slive. I knew Mike was not feeling great and, earlier this week, I wrote about his impact on my life. I shared this with Mike earlier today and wanted to share it with you, as well. https://t.co/yqiKZLjUQe pic.twitter.com/x6QhXVhS40
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 16, 2018
ESPN Director of College Programming Jeramy Michiaels:
This is Commissioner Mike Slive watching the @SECNetwork come on the air for the first time on 8/14/14. He had many lasting legacies but this one impacted my life the most. Thank you, Commish. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/c5sJqMSjwA
— Jeramy Michiaels (@JeramyMichiaels) May 16, 2018
