Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren has emerged as a strong candidate to be the next president of the Bears, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.
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What direction would the B10 go wothout Warren? Who could be the potential candidates to replace him? Would Gene Smith consider this position?
Gene would be good. The conference commissioner position has transitioned to being more business/corporate oriented in recent years due to the financials, but from a practical competitive standpoint the Big Ten needs to pair that with someone with an AD mindset.
Their path is further expansion over the next 5, 10, 20 years, and they need a leader capable of balancing financial and athletic potential for maximizing the league's potential and brand.