Mississippi's Khayat says he is not a candidate for SEC post

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat says he is not interested in succeeding Southeastern Conference commissioner Roy Kramer. <br> <br> Khayat was recently mentioned for the job in a Nashville newspaper and other media outlets. <br> <br> The 72-year-old Kramer recently announced his retirement. He will remain commissioner until a successor is chosen. No timetable was given for selecting a new commissioner. <br> <br> Kramer has overseen SEC sports for 12 years, a period in which the conference became the most financially successful in the nation. The SEC took in $95 million in revenues in 2000. <br> <br> Khayat, in a statement issued Wednesday, said he intends to complete his professional career at Ole Miss. <br> <br> ``It is a compliment to Ole Miss for me to be suggested for the position of Southeastern Conference commissioner, but there are others more qualified than I,&#39;&#39; Khayat said. ``My desire is to work with the other presidents to find the most qualified person to succeed Roy Kramer.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Khayat is in his second year as president of the Southeastern Conference, which oversees athletics for 12 member schools, including Mississippi and Mississippi State. <br> <br> Khayat has been chancellor of Ole Miss since 1995 and is a former chairman of the NCAA Foundation. <br> <br> Charles Bloom, the SEC&#39;s associate commissioner, said Khayat ``is widely respected in athletic and academic circles.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Former Georgia president Charles Knapp is leading the search for a new commissioner. A committee of SEC-member school presidents is overseeing the search.