Big Ten Will Not Languish in Bureaucracy
2022-07-26 · Kevin Warren, Commissioner, Big Ten Conference (Big Ten)
At Big Ten Football Media Days, shortly after the USC/UCLA announcement, Warren delivered a speech positioning himself as a transformational leader who does not let process slow him down.
What he said
I will make it very clear in everything we say today, we do today, we do tomorrow and in the future that the Big Ten Conference will not languish in bureaucracy. We will be innovative, we will be creative, we'll be bold, we'll be strong, we'll be powerful.
I get asked every single day, what's next? It may include future expansion, but it will be done for the right reasons, at the right time, with our student-athletes' academic and athletic empowerment at the center of any and all decisions that we will make.
We will not expand just to expand. It will be strategic, it will add additional value to our conference.
It is important for all of us in business to recognize that we're in a time of change. I think there's two types of people in the world: They look at change as it's a problem, or they look at change as an opportunity. And I'm one of those individuals that when change occurs, I get excited about it.
The fact-check
- "The Big Ten Conference will not languish in bureaucracy. We will be innovative, we will be creative, we'll be bold, we'll be strong, we'll be powerful." — Rhetoric
- Self-promotional leadership rhetoric. "Bold" and "powerful" are aspirational, not verifiable claims.
- "We will not expand just to expand. It will be strategic, it will add additional value to our conference." — Rhetoric
- Standard corporate framing. The "strategic" expansion was primarily driven by TV revenue potential.