For the past week or so, all we've heard from the media, myself included, is that the Big 12 could be dying a slow death.  It looked like an almost certainty that the league was going to fold.  I went so far last week as to say that Baylor needed to come up with a Plan B, in case the league did fall apart. 

Athletic Director Ian McCaw wouldn't even talk about options other than keeping the Big 12 together.  And while the truth is, I'm almost certain that he was planning for life without the Big 12, all he would say publicly is that he was focused on keeping the Big 12 together.  And guess what .... it did stick together.

I don't know what kind of role McCaw had in the league's survival, but I do know this: he showed some fine leadership this past week.  His school was facing the possibility of dropping down to a lower-level conference, and he didn't flinch at all.  He stood tall, saying he was going to try and save the league, even if it seemed like it would take a miracle.  He didn't even hint about possibly heading to the Mountain West or some other conference. 

Like I said, without being in the meetings, I can't know what kind of role McCaw played in saving the conference.  But I do know that Ian McCaw proved to be a powerful advocated for Baylor's best interests.