A&M notebook: For sake of job security, Loftin hands-on in athletics

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COLLEGE STATION - Two years ago at the annual Big 12 meetings in Kansas City, a mustachioed man in a bow tie strolled past a gaggle of reporters. He was recognized by only a few among the media members eager to catch university presidents for their response to pending conference realignment.

Since that time, Texas A&M's R. Bowen Loftin has become the face of the Aggies' shift to the Southeastern Conference, and his hands-on approach to athletics is unparalleled for an A&M president. At a conference realignment forum recently in the Zone Club of Kyle Field, Loftin explained why.

"Ultimately, the buck stops at your desk," he said. "And the accountability directed at you by your board has to be dealt with. If we screw up in a major way in terms of making a decision in athletics, that may be the end of your presidency."

Loftin was named interim president in June 2009 and president in February 2010. He said his job description - and that of university presidents across the land - has changed in that span, partly because of realignment.

"The presidents are engaged (in athletics), and they need to be engaged," Loftin said. "It's important for students and important for the institutions. We've seen a shift in my short time from when it was laissez faire, a view of things where (athletics) kind of run themselves and let the (athletic directors) take care of it, to where the presidents are directly involved.

"Some might not like that. Some ADs and commissioners might not like the presidents being involved, because we might be regarded as amateurs on these matters."

Following the forum, Loftin said he and A&M athletic director Bill Byrne were "in conversations" about Byrne's future. On Wednesday, Byrne in his weekly online report addressed Loftin's revelation.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Silve, left, the University of Florida president Bernie Machen, center, and Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin pose for a picture as Texas A&M officially enters the SEC, Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, in Kyle Field in College Station. ( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle ) less Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Silve, left, the University of Florida president Bernie Machen, center, and Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin pose for a picture as Texas A&M officially ... more Photo: Nick De La Torre Photo: Nick De La Torre Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close A&M notebook: For sake of job security, Loftin hands-on in athletics 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

"I've been looking forward to my life after athletics," Byrne wrote, in claiming he's at a "point of transition" from AD. "This is a wonderful time at Texas A&M and I look forward to announcing, with President Loftin's support, my next steps."

The Aggies officially enter the SEC on July 1, and Byrne's "next step" likely will have taken place long before then.

On a related topic, one issue Byrne will no longer have to deal with is non-conference scheduling in the SEC.

The Aggies and Loftin have made it clear they'd particularly like to continue playing rival Texas in all sports as a non-conference foe. The Longhorns have said no across the board, however, and Texas Tech and Baylor have mostly followed form.

However, Baylor baseball coach Steve Smith bucked the trend this past weekend when he said he would love to continue playing A&M beyond this season.

"The crowds are great, and the players from both teams have had an experience this weekend they'll never forget," Smith said. "Do we really want to deny players that opportunity because we're mad?"

brent.zwerneman@chron.com twitter.com/brentzwerneman