A teary-eyed Bob Bowlsby walked out of a Stanford auditorium to a roaring ovation from university coaches and staff members Thursday, leaving behind a lasting legacy at one of the nation's top athletic programs for a conference in desperate need of a strong leader. The Big 12 made it official Thursday afternoon, announcing Bowlsby as its commissioner. He will take over for interim commissioner Chuck Neinas -- who replaced the ousted Dan Beebe in September -- on June 15 after six years as Stanford's athletic director.
