Just over six and a half years ago, Mike Slive made a trip to Columbia to welcome the University of Missouri to the Southeastern Conference.

Commissioner Slive’s role in Missouri’s move from the Big 12 will forever grant him a spot in Mizzou’s history.

On Wednesday, Slive passed away at the age of 77.

Mike Slive, the seventh commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and one of the most respected and accomplished leaders in the history of intercollegiate athletics, died Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of 77.

Michael L. Slive is survived by his wife of 49 years, Liz; his daughter Anna; son-in-law Judd Harwood; and granddaughter Abigail who is almost six years old. [...]

Slive served as commissioner of the SEC from 2002 until his retirement in 2015. Named to the post on July 2, 2002, the SEC enjoyed unprecedented championship success under Slive’s leadership. He led the adoption of a new and effective league-wide NCAA compliance initiative, engineered landmark television contracts, including the launch of the SEC Network, and guided the conference through expansion, welcoming two new institutions. [...]

During Slive’s tenure at the SEC, he developed initiatives designed to maintain and improve the SEC’s preeminent position in intercollegiate athletics, both on and off the fields of play. These included the SEC Task Force on Compliance and Enforcement which developed policies and procedures to assist league schools in NCAA and SEC matters; SEC University (SECU), the conference’s academic initiative; and an SEC Sportsmanship initiative consisting of policies and procedures designed to foster sportsmanship and encourage positive fan behavior. [...]

As a prostate cancer survivor, Slive founded the Mike Slive Foundation for Prostate Cancer Research upon his retirement. The Mike Slive Foundation’s mission is to raise awareness about prostate cancer and generate funding for prostate cancer research to eradicate the disease.

Rest in peace, Grandpa Slive. You were an awfully welcoming host.

More Links:

• Well, if you were looking to tailgate in Fayetteville, I hope you got that knocked out this year because it appears the Arkansas’ home football games against Mizzou will be in Little Rock moving forward. Odd.

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

• The KC Star took a look at what Michael Porter Jr. and Jontay Porter need to do to make an impression at the NBA Combine.
• Mizzou Baseball welcomes Tennessee to Columbia with a spot in the SEC Tournament on the line. The Tigers also welcome back one of their own: current Vols manager and former Tiger player and assistant Tony Vitello. Series starts this evening.
• By the way, here’s my latest appearance with George and Jay on The Closers, if you’re inclined to check it out.

• Mizzou Men’s Golf saved its best round for last at the NCAA Regionals but finished eighth overall, six shots from qualifying for nationals. Meanwhile, star Hayden Buckley lost a sudden death playoff for the last individual spot at nationals. Damn.

• NEW PAPN! My Pac-12 previews just began, so we talked about the Pac-12’s health, future realignment scenarios, whether Oregon State is worse than Kansas, and where I’m going next week for a mystery work trip.