While I don't disagree with you on a basic level, I still think that Phillips should have been expected to be more of a visionary leader, particularly since he came from the Big 10.
---He should have done something to remove the GOR extension date, because it is not only a weapon to be used against current teams, IT ALSO SERVES TO DISSUADE EXPANSION CANDIDATES who do not want to be locked into a term that is egregiously longer than what any other conference requires. And what would ESPN have done? Cried?
---He should have been more proactive on the issues with getting **** ESPN+ streaming and Bally Sports timeslots. If ESPN wanted to push back, then sue them for bastardizing our content and prioritizing it so obviously below that of the SEC. And I realize that people are going to say "but Alabama and Georgia have better teams". Yes, but this stuff is all inter-related, it doesn't just happen overnight. I guarantee you, if the SEC gets better treatment than the ACC over a period of time, it will result in more recruits picking SEC schools over ACC schools.
---Merger possibilities with either the Pac 12 or the Big 12 - missed opportunities, plain and simple.