Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott and Expansion: A Firsthand and Personal Account

When the news hit recently that Texas A&M plans to leave the Big 12 for the SEC, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott's phone began to ring—over and over again. Scott received phone calls from almost all of the Big 12 schools, with most of them trying to convince him how their school would fit right into a potential Pac-16. 

With it being a forgone conclusion that Texas A&M will eventually be allowed to leave for the SEC, and also that the Big 12 will disband, the Pac-12 has suddenly been handed an immense amount of power.

Schools want admission to the Pac-12, and everyone is looking out for their own best interests.

At the very front and center of all of the chaos is Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott.

Scott holds the keys to the college football landscape. Should Scott decide to expand the Pac-12 into a Pac-16, he would be setting off a domino effect and would essentially cause the SEC, ACC, and Big Ten to expand as well in order to remain competitive. Scott's decision could change the fate of certain schools for decades, as well as change the college football landscape forever. 

It's a lot of responsibility for anyone. But fear not, Larry Scott is not one to worry. 

Every summer, my family heads to Cal alumni family camp (Lair of the Bear) for a week to sleep in wooden tents, relax, socialize with other campers and to play sports. Last year, Larry Scott and his family happened to be camping during the same week that we were there.

Fresh off of being named Pac-10 commissioner, Scott and his family were taking a vacation. The only problem was that this was Cal family camp, and nearly everyone there knew who Scott was.

Expansion rumors had been swirling all summer, and everyone at camp was dying to get some inside information as to who would be joining the Pac-12. After meals, or simply walking around camp, you could always see campers approach Scott, asking him questions or trying to get some information out of him. 

But Scott remained cool, calm, and seemed like any other camper. Scott doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary, and when it came time for the annual camper-staff softball game, Scott took the field for the campers.

Now, one might expect the most powerful man in college football (at the moment) to be some attention hogging, stuck-up, corporate executive type, but Scott couldn't have been more of the opposite.

He jogged out to his position. It was not shortstop, not pitcher, and not third base. Scott jogged out to left-center field and took his spot in the four person outfield. It was nothing special. He was simply an outfielder.

At the plate, Scott grounded out to shortstop, and then hit a single up the middle. Once again, nothing special.

After the game, Scott joined the rest of the team for some beers, and clearly just wanted to be one of the guys.

Later that week in camp, Scott gave a talk about the Pac-10 and a potential expansion. Scott wore blue jeans and an old t-shirt, nothing fancy. He patiently answered questions, but at the same time, he looked as if he felt weird being in front of everyone. 

He loves his family, and he spent a lot of time playing with his kids that week.

Scott was an ordinary camper, with nothing that set him apart other than his job title. He's a normal, everyday guy with a love of sports and a successful business career that's led him to his current position.

So while Larry Scott may have the power to shape college football in his hands, it's not a bad thing. Scott is your ordinary fan who is just very good at his job, which is to look out for the Pac-12's best interests. So, next time you hear rumors about the Pac-12 expanding, just know, that your fellow fan Larry Scott is taking care of it.