Report: Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren a Candidate to Become Next President of the Chicago Bears

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JHicks74's picture

Prayers on the way for Justin Fields…

B Buehler

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Takemysnare79's picture

Bring back Delaney out of retirement?

JI row end 78

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buckeyenut74's picture

Looks like a good job for J.T. 

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Capt. Kline's picture

If your reference is to James Patrick Tressel, I'm sure you receive some agreements with that recommendation.

Me first.

Born and bred a Buckeye - Buckeye 'til I die

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Capt. Kline's picture

But I think Ellen will squash that idea.

Born and bred a Buckeye - Buckeye 'til I die

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JackTatumsAfro's picture

Naturally I'm all for it. But for the rest of the Big 10 that would go over like a Lead Zeppelin.

- Bobby Boucher is the best Foosball QB since Joe Mantegna -

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Monclovabuckeye's picture

But then again, it might be a stairway to heaven!

Everyone then me.

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DS117's picture

Justin just can't get away from him.

I'm at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, I've just had a mirror put over my kitchen table. - Rodney Dangerfield

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LouBuck35's picture

Don't threaten me with potential great news.

I want a fall Saturday in Ohio Stadium..

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tcm1968's picture

Be careful what you wish for. GREAT ADs don't grow on trees... Gene Smith would be at the TOP of the list to replace Warren..

Go Bucks!!!!

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LouBuck35's picture

I think Gene is a lot closer to retirement than being the B1G commish.

I want a fall Saturday in Ohio Stadium..

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tcm1968's picture

He's 58, and by all accounts getting burnt out doing the AD thing..

If he's got 5 more years in him ( or more) rather it be at OSU.....  you can make a list a mile long of how new hired ADs have fu**ed up big time programs..

Not to mention we are looking for a new President... just prefer the stability.. and not finding out Warren leaves, Gene leaves and we have to replace the two most important hires ( in terms of football)..

Go Bucks!!!

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CreekBuck's picture

Hmm bio says Dec 31, 1963...58 going on 59.

Muck Fichigan

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Monclovabuckeye's picture

So he played for ND in 1973, when he was ten?

Everyone then me.

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CreekBuck's picture

good point. lol. trying to get an accurate Birthdate on Gene seems elusive. 

Muck Fichigan

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Calamity Hoe's picture

Agreed.  He can go.  
Haven't gotten over the screw job he did to the Big in 2020. 
I'll get to finally change my tag line below. 

"FireKevinWarren"

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JHicks74's picture

You could maybe charge Bear fans to use your tagline if it is copyrighted

B Buehler

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Recovering_Buckeye's picture

The Bears just can't get a break....

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.

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3ydncloudofdust's picture

You’re telling me. As a long time Bears fan this is the proverbial lump of coal for Xmas. 

I’m sorry, I can’t hear hippies. - Ron Swanson 

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GoNutz27's picture

Warren must still be salty about the backlash from his Covid year screw up and probably doesn't want to mess with all the transfer portal/NIL nonsense.  NFL job is easier until you're fired for poor on-field results.

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Darksungm's picture

Hate to see him go... It hurts to even joke about that.

Negativity is a choice I seldom make. Everything has a positive spin. Sometimes you simply have to look a little harder

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BuckeyeatTSUN's picture

But love to watch him leave???

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Darksungm's picture

Wouldn't everyone?

Negativity is a choice I seldom make. Everything has a positive spin. Sometimes you simply have to look a little harder

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IloveSaturdays's picture

Boom?

I have to return some videotapes

-Pat Bateman

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GoNutz27's picture

Gene Smith take over as conference commissioner?  Figure he's a pretty viable candidate.

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Bignut's picture

Would happy to see Gene leave Ohio State after all of the NIL stuff lately. 

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allinosu's picture

I still don't understand that reasoning since the NIL is pretty much out of an AD's hands.

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Bignut's picture

Go back to the post where Gene Smith is practically begging fans to play into NIL collectives instead of tapping into boosters such as Brian schottenstein. 

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SlayerBuck's picture

Or how he’s said he’s telling big boosters to continue giving to the school rather than the NIL collectives.

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allinosu's picture

The university requires that. The athletic department is required to be self sufficient to exist.

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SlayerBuck's picture

Yeah how on earth can an AD survive on a massive tv contract distribution and the game day receipts we make? The point is, Geno doesn’t have to hoard all the boosters. He needs to learn to share.

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Bignut's picture

A school like Ohio State with the resources it has should not be begging the average fan for money to pay for NIL

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RBloodworth's picture

You’re right, but, the reason Gene felt the need to go to that measure is because the real powers that be at this university are not willing to commit to the structural changes that other power programs in CFB have already made.  If you think Gene Smith is at the root of the problem that Ohio State has had with adapting to NIL and the transfer portal era, you are woefully uninformed.  In fact, I would say that the exact opposite is true:  Gene Smith and Ryan Day are banging their heads against the proverbial wall that is a university leadership that is either in denial of the sweeping changes that have taken place in major college athletics, or is simply unwilling to adapt with the times.  I honestly fear for the time when Gene decides to leave his role, as I believe the BoT is going to install a “Yes Man” who will do their bidding.  That will be a nightmare.

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allinosu's picture

Neither of us know how much he tried to hit up contacts for donors and businesses but I'm betting he was trying to reach everyone. I don't know what you meant by as big as OSU but I'm guessing the fan base. If not the athletic department does do NIL and even if they did they barely cover their own budget.

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zurdo248's picture

Gene Smith is top 3 ADs in the sport and you want him to leave?

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Jcole737's picture

If we get rid of Warren, Gene Smith, and win a championship all in 1 week, that'd be a pretty good week.

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LeftCoastBuckeye's picture

Sports gods willing, our Christmas present is coming late this year! Must have been flying Southwest.

My aim, then, is to whip the Weasels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.   - William Tecumseh Sherman (with apologies)

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BuckeyeBig2012's picture

Bad first impression on the Covid thing followed by a spectacular television contract and the addition of the two most visible Pac-12 teams. I'd say that he'll leave the B1G better than he found it if he goes to the Bears. 

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Alexinytown's picture

In the history of worst impressions, his first impression in the B1G definitely ranks up there as one of the worst.

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Kernfan's picture

Agreed Buckeye.  Covid turned into a shitshow which seemed particularly stupid since at first it seemed they had a good plan that season. Who knows over the long term but today the USC/UCLA addition looks better from a football perspective than the Texas/Oklahoma addition to the SEC, and the TV contract is sweet.  

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RickRocket's picture

"The Covid thing" was worse than bad as first impressions go, but he eventually landed at a reasonable place given that the whole world was insane during 2020 and that it was a short-term decision.  Swiping USC and UCLA from the PAC12 is reshaping the college landscape and will have legacy effects for years.

Time and change will surely show how firm thy friendship, O HI O.

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mockjocks's picture

Won't be sad to see him go if it happens - though I would want to ensure a seamless transition and no risk at all to the pending conference expansion, whatever that expansion may be (even whatever is cooking and not reported). Just get us to 2024 in a strong and healthy position to complete the new school additions, the mega TV deal, and CFP expansion. He failed miserably with the pandemic, but was finally earning his paycheck with the expansion and TV deals. Divvying out the TV rights the way it reads was a lucrative power play. 

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Lighteyes's picture

Your first sentence is right where I'm at.

I think Warren had a shaky tenure overall, including a very bad job with the pandemic...but part of that was absolutely due to his inexperience in the industry and newness to the role. It's a cliche to say that "nobody is qualified for a job in the first month" but there's certainly some truth to the idea that it takes time to get used to the role, get other people familiar with you, and build up trust.

Now, the B1G is apparently starting that process of "getting your feet wet" all over again, with a bunch of other key long term things are on the table - finalizing the 12-team CFP, smoothly transitioning to new TV deals with CBS et al, integrating USC/UCLA, helping shape the future of NIL, and so forth.

Long term it's likely they get a better pick than Warren, but the short term could certainly be a bit rocky when the B1G goes through that transition phase again for the second time in three years. Especially since if he leaves for the Bears, I'd assume they'd want him in ASAP and the next guy won't get much of a transition/on-the-job shadowing time.

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mockjocks's picture

Agreed. The next 12mo is going to be a critical time for the conference commish - whoever it is. So much stuff being closed out as a conference ahead of the 2024 season, it all needs to be flawlessly executed by whoever is steering the ship.

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actionstanleyjackson's picture

Good riddance. He wants to take over for Goodell. He’s a lackey, 

Stay gold, Ponyboy.

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Hovenaut's picture

"Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness." - Yousuf Karsh

Enough talk.

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bull1214's picture

The Windy City about to get windier.

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matti's picture

Also hopes this makes the California conference expansion go away some how 

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RunEddieRun1983's picture

I bid you adieu, Felicia.

The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!

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bucknuthoffy7's picture

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Kevin. He has never impressed me as commissioner. What he tried to do during the Covid season was embarrassing. I feel bad for Justin Fields if the Bears hire this guy.

"Enjoy every Buckeye victory, cherish past Buckeye championships and look forward to future Buckeye victories and making special memories" -Chad

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TMac's picture

GO WARREN GO!!!!

#ItsGreatToBeABUCKEYE

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jwilly's picture

Sounds like they weren't ready for the news to get out-

JWilly3

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MercyTex's picture

Sounds like a perfect match in communication performance.  I wish him luck on his new job.  May his grasp exceed his reach this time.

Our people are everywhere, Esto Dignus.

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MaxMermelstein's picture

Let it be so!
This guy is a clown. And this is a huge step down, IMO. Might be getting forced out…

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allinosu's picture

Next year I was seeing things looking up for the Bears with all the cap available and now that dream is killed.

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stlbuckeye15's picture

I don’t have an ounce of respect for Warren. Would be happy to see him move on. 

“If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.”
-Jack Handey

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earthpig's picture

Be careful of what you wish for. Granted the management of COVID was the most jacked-up thing I've seen in years, but his moves on the media contract, expansion, and CFP expansion have been solid. With the upcoming CFP expansion and media rights that will come with it, he would be an asset. My fear of the B1G would end up on the short end again with Sankey being the main power broker. 

Pigskins & Porkrinds

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AltaBuck's picture

Hopefully, Kevin can include moving his wall of fame into his contract with the Bears.

"You ever hear of the saying "you run into an asshole in the morning, you ran into an asshole; you run into assholes all day, you're the asshole." - Raylan Givens

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DataBuck's picture

Good news for the Buckeyes...bad news for Justin Fields. Hopefully he signs his next contract with a team that isn't trying to get him killed...

The truth is in the details...

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BrutusB's picture

The President has basically no connection to the players.  They hire a GM once every 5-10 years, who in turn hires and fires coaches.  

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ShawneeBuck74's picture

First thought… Poor Justin.

Second thought…Gene to the B1G? 

You win with people. 

And so forth...

9 Units Strong!

 

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mikeweezer's picture

This has been a rough month for my sports fandom.

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Jcole737's picture

can I submit a letter of recommendation?

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buckinraleigh's picture

First I've heard of the role of "president" of a professional team.  I mean, you got the head coach, and then the general manager is his boss.  What the hell does the president do anyway?  Seems largely ceremonial.  A player on the team would likely not interact with him  much at all.

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Lighteyes's picture

Every single team has a team president and it is absolutely NOT a "largely ceremonial" role. Instead, it's primarily a managerial position.

Speaking very broadly, the Team President is responsible for managing practically everything that happens behind the scenes - set goals for ticket sales, coordinate contracts with arena/stadium vendors, deal with internal personnel/HR issues, review marketing materials, and all sorts of other managerial stuff. Of course, you have department heads and subordinates who handle all of these things directly, but the President is responsible for high-level management of all of it. Think of the duties handled by the CEO of your company and you're probably in the ballpark.

Okay, but I know what you're thinking: I'm a fan, I don't give a crap about that, just tell me how does the Team President affect the field? Coach and GM hiring/firing, drafting of players, free agency targets, and other similar decisions about on-field personnel are what matters to me!

And the answer to *that* is that it's all over the dang map depending on the team. Some teams have the President very heavily involved with player personnel as almost a pseudo-GM or even make it a dual GM/President combined role, other teams let the GM handle personnel items but give the President final veto power over major transactions, and yet other teams have the GM report directly to the owner while keeping the President's role focused exclusively on the off-field things described above.

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YoungBossBuckeye's picture

The Bears are gonna hire this halfwit? The same dipshit who tried to rob his QB Justin Fields of his 2020 season? You cannot make this up. 

Justin has to find a way to get the fuck away from that franchise. 

BOATS and HOES. 

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mooboy's picture

Agree , Databuck! With an  out of control NIL , HE AND OTHER  CONFERENCE COMMISSIONERS blew it, should have placed some rules on it, LIKE TAMPERING WITH PLAYERS WHILE STILL ON THEIR TEAM,   USC GOES AFTER PLAYERS IN SEASON, THEY SHOULD BE PENALIZED WITH BOWL BANS OR ANY OTHER TEAM THAT CONTACTS PLAYERS OR THEIR AGENTS OR FAMILIES,  they helped ruin college football, AND ADDING USC THE BIGGEST player in this game is a crock,  it'll dominate BIG TEN

Jlr byby   mooboy

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mooboy's picture

PS , PLEASE TAKE SHIT HEAD SMITH WITH YOU!!!!!!

Jlr byby   mooboy

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stcburn's picture

Don’t let the door smack you in the ass on your way out.

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stcburn's picture

Don’t let the door smack you in the ass on your way out.

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Flam7's Grand Prix's picture

Bears fans: "Please, Lord, it's been so long! Please rid the Bears of Ted Phillips!"

God: "No problem. Hahahahahaha!"

“I have researched and found that some of my relatives spelled it 'Greene' and others 'Green' and the latter is correct."

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WarBuck's picture

Please

I hope Michigan never wins another game.

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B07841's picture

Please, please take him.

I would have said hire Johnson, but she killed her resume here.

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milhouse4588's picture

Not attending either playoff game featuring a Big Ten team is such bullshit.

To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

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B07841's picture

Just shows how clueless he is.

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OSU56's picture

Just shows how clueless he is.

No surprise there.....

Enjoying daily the back to back ttun beat downs.

 

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Run_Fido_Run's picture

Maybe we can all pass the hat to sweeten the deal for the Bears organization to take Warren off our hands?

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puddy's picture

Please take the job !

puddy

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Hal Lancer's picture

Our addition-by-subtraction gain is the Bears' loss.

Some pro sports franchises have been cursed for decades. The Chicago Bears are among the most obvious examples, 1985-1986 being the exception that proves the rule. The Bears' most recent NFL championship before 1986 was in 1963, and before that 1946 (though they did win the NFL championship six times between 1932 and 1946). Until the McCaskey family has taken the money and slinked out of town, I don't see this changing. I weep for Justin Fields as I did the day the Bears drafted him, and pray he can stay healthy enough long enough to choose a better-run team when his rookie contract runs out in 2025-2026.

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BuckeyeinFlorida's picture

We can hope he takes the job. I don't like that man.

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funky123's picture

The sooner the better!

GO BUCKS!!!

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Art Harrell's picture

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah...Go Bucks

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RBloodworth's picture

This might go over like a lead balloon, but, IMO, too many of you placed far too much blame on Kevin Warren for the COVID fiasco from 2 years ago.  Much like Roger Goodell and Rob Manfred, Warren’s authority is limited to what the real powers that be in this conference (in this case, the university Presidents and Boards of Trustees) allow him to have.  He could not- and cannot- do anything without their approval.  The blame for that disaster should fall mostly at the feet of the Mark Schlissels of the world, not Kevin Warren, although he was not entirely blameless.

IMO, it would be a disaster for the B1G if Warren were to leave.  The Pacific Coast expansion and new TV deal were coups that matched and even exceeded anything Jim Delaney did.  My fear is that he sees what a lot of other people see- that too many members of this conference are led by a bunch of out-of-touch elites that are either in denial of the sweeping changes that have taken place in this sport or are simply unwilling to adapt to the times.  He can foresee the conference falling so far behind the SEC in the new landscape of CFB that it might as well be a lower division, and is getting out before things get truly apocalyptic.

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BuckeyeTed's picture

Oh no! Whatever will the B1G do without the invaluable leadership of Kevin Warren? /s

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Solomon's picture

Please leave, Kevin Warren.

Warren to the Big Ten:  "When do you want me gone, and which door should I use?"

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Kyson12's picture

Bittersweet here, because I was hoping they would FIRE KEVIN WARREN!!!!!!!!! Best news yet. 

Fire Kevin Warren

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BucksHave7's picture

Is he being forced out?

I would have thought running a P5 Conf is more prestigious than running just one of 32 teams of one of the 4 major U.S. sports leagues.

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buckeyedude's picture

At this point, i couldn’t care less what Kevin Warren does. 

As you get older, three things happen: The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two.

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Hillski17's picture

Bold Prediction: He gone.

AND

Gene Smith is the next commissioner of the Big Ten. 

"Rivalry adds so much to ones conquests [like beating Michigan. Annually]" -Louisa May Alcott

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Luckobucko's picture

I scrolled through all the comments to make sure no one else said this..

The term Peter principle comes to mind if the bears hire this guy. I’d nominate Barry Alvarez for the B1G job, I think he’s be a great fit.

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Scarlet and Great's picture

That’s a Bingo on the Peter Principle!

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CreekBuck's picture

Chicago, Windy  City, Blows

and Kevin Warren Sucks.  Perfect match. 

Muck Fichigan

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Buckets At Fletcher's's picture

Such a shame he may be leaving. I was hoping to see him get fired. Not sure that was really a possibility though.

"Everyone has a plan, 'til they get punched in the mouth."

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