The Southeastern Conference expected to benefit financially from the launch last August of the SEC Network.
Just how much became evident Friday afternoon.
On the final day of the league's spring meetings in Destin, Fla., outgoing commissioner Mike Slive announced a record revenue distribution of $455.8 million. Each of the conference's 14 member schools will receive a record $31.2 million, with the league office receiving roughly $19 million.
"The ability to provide a significant distribution of revenue is more critical than ever for our institutions as they offer more financial and educational benefits to current and former student-athletes," Slive said in a news conference. "Beginning this year, our schools will fund new costs associated with providing scholarships based on full cost of attendance, enhance lifetime educational opportunities to former student-athletes, and they are developing new facilities such as athletic nutrition centers to the benefit of student-athletes."
Last spring, the SEC distributed a then-record $309.6 million, with each school receiving $20.9 million.
The league also announced Friday that Slive would serve as commissioner through the weekend, with Greg Sankey taking over Monday. Slive decided last October, when he began treatment for a recurrence of prostate cancer, that he would work through July. In March, Sankey was tabbed by SEC presidents as Slive's successor.
According to a league release, Slive will remain with the SEC in an advisory role through July before beginning a four-year stint as a consultant to the conference.
Slive repeatedly emphasized the importance of the enhanced revenue given the cost-of-attendance increase that is taking place among the power five conferences -- the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12. That increase will allow those leagues to cover incidental costs for their athletes beyond tuition, room and board, books and fees. The commissioner said more than 6,500 student-athletes receive financial aid on an annual basis in the 21 sports the SEC sponsors.
"This increased revenue is important for our athletics programs to continue to fully support broad-based athletics programs for both male and female student-athletes and to give them the opportunity to compete at the highest level, both in the classroom and in competition," Slive said.
Missouri received $9 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011, which were the last two years the Tigers were part of the Big 12 revenue distribution. The Tigers didn't receive a share in 2012, when they left the Big 12; they received $20.7 million and $20.9 million in their first two years in the SEC.
The distributed revenue comes from television agreements, bowl games, the inaugural College Football Playoff, the SEC football championship, the SEC men's basketball tournament, NCAA championships and a supplemental surplus distribution.
UGA proposal passes
A proposal initiated by the University of Georgia banning the transfer of a student-athlete who has been disciplined for "serious misconduct" at a previous institution passed Friday. The definition of serious misconduct includes sexual assault, domestic violence and other forms of sexual violence.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor was dismissed by Georgia last July for felony domestic assault. He enrolled at Alabama earlier this year only to be dismissed again.
Penalties stiffening
Slive insisted this week he was going to make it tougher on fans storming the field, and Friday he revealed the new punishment scale. Previous fines were $5,000 for the first offense, $25,000 for the second offense, and $50,000 for third and subsequent offenses.
Now the first offense is $50,000, the second offense $100,000, and third and subsequent offenses $250,000.
Lambert touring SEC
Florida and Georgia were in the picture earlier this month when former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson elected to use his final season of eligibility at Florida State.
Now there is another possibility for the Gators and Bulldogs.
Greyson Lambert, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder who's about to graduate from Virginia, is scheduled to visit Georgia this weekend and Florida on Monday, according to 247Sports.com. Lambert, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, threw for 1,632 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall at timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.