Hogan’s a hero with Montana sports fans

Steve Guiremand

Monday, July 28, 2003 | 9:09 a.m.

Gordie Fix has owned the popular sports bar "The Press Box" just across the Clark Fork River from the University of Montana's Washington-Grizzly Stadium for 20 years.

"Some days we get 600-700 people crammed in here after a game," Fix said. "They can walk over the bridge and get here in no time. We have lots of TVs to watch the games. This area lives and breathes Montana sports. We're all very hardcore Grizzly fans."

So Fix's reaction when told by a reporter that Montana athletic director Wayne Hogan would begin two days of interviews for the vacant UNLV AD job starting today might surprise some.

There was no tinge of bitterness in his voice. He didn't use words like "traitor." Far from it.

"I think he's a helluva man," Fix said. "He's paid his dues at this level. I think a fit in Vegas would be perfect for Wayne. He's a great salesman and a good guy. He's one of the up-and-coming atheltic directors in this country."

Hogan, 48, who came to Montana in 1995 after a 20-year stint at his alma mater, Florida State, that included a brief term (1994-95) as interim athletic director, flew into Las Vegas on Sunday and met with UNLV search and selection committee chairman Andy Fry.

Today he was scheduled to meet with the selection committee as well as members of the athletic department. He is scheduled for more meetings on Tuesday before flying back to Missoula.

"I look at what is in place here -- the coaching staffs, the facilities and the location -- and the potential here is staggering," Hogan said. "I think I've got a blueprint that works to move this program forward."

Fix agress.

"I give Wayne a lot of credit," Fix said. "When he got here he walked into a real ugly situation with the refurbishing of the Adams Center Fieldhouse here. But he reorganized the plans and eventually got it to where they cut it down from 9,800 seats to 8,200. It's a real nice facility with all theater-type seats.

"He raised $1 million to get some synthetic turf put in (Washington-Grizzly Stadium) two years ago. It's made a big difference in the number of injuries we've had and also the condition of the field later in the season when the weather turns. It's been a big plus. He's also done a great job of promoting the school. Every football game is televised ... home and away."

Fix also gave Hogan high marks for his coaching hires which included Joe Glenn, who compiled a 39-7 record and won the NCAA Division 1A title in 2001 before leaving for Wyoming last winter, and raising funds to continue the expansion of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

"I think we had 14,000 seats when he got here," Fix said. "Now we'll have 23,000 seats this season and the first two games are already sold out. I would say that probably five of our seven games will sell out this year. Plus he's toughened up our schedules.

"Did you know we beat Stanford in basketball last year and we also played Michigan State and Purdue? We also take charter planes everywhere. I'd say in football we probably bring at least 2,000 fans on the road for us for each game."

Hogan is also proud of one other fact that is sure to catch UNLV President Dr. Carol Harter's attention in the next couple of days.

"We've done it the right way," Hogan said. "We've had an admirable graduation rate and we've done it all within the rules."

Will that be enough to convince the folks around UNLV that Hogan is the man to replace popular John Robinson as athletic director however?

"(Mountain West Conference Commissioner) Craig Thompson encouraged me to apply here," Hogan said. "He felt it would be a great fit. I look at it that I've got a great situation at Montana but that this might be the next natural progression for me.

"I'm sure I'll be meeting and talking with an awful lot of people here in the next couple of days which I'm looking forward to doing. They didn't give me any timetable which is find with me. I'm willing to let the process play itself out."