Roy Kramer, who served as SEC commissioner for 12 years and was the force behind the creation of the Bowl Championship Series, has died at the age of 96, the SEC announced Friday.
Kramer became one of the most powerful executives in college football, and oversaw SEC sports during a period in which the conference became the most financially successful in the country.
“Roy Kramer will be remembered for his determination in challenging times, his willingness to innovate in a tradition-driven industry and his unwavering belief in the value of student-athletes and education,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “His legacy lies not just in championships or commissioner decisions, but in his dedication to believing in the power of sports to lift up student-athletes and shape the lives of young people. Although he stepped away from formal roles several years ago, the foundation he built on SEC campuses and college sports will resonate for generations to come.”
After the SEC expanded to 12 teams in 1992, Kramer negotiated lucrative TV deals for the SEC and established an annual conference championship game – the first conference championship game in NCAA Division I-A history.
Using a complex formula to place teams in the BCS – Sugar, Fiesta, Orange and Rose Bowls – may be considered Kramer’s most notable and controversial effort. Kramer became head of the BCS committee in 1995.
He served as athletic director at Vanderbilt for 12 years, beginning in 1978, until being named SEC Commissioner in 1990.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
