Bley-Vroman can take AD panel’s advice — or leave it

In 2002, take-it-to-the-bank word around town was that the University of Hawaii athletic director’s job was Dick Tomey’s.

Right up until the time that UH President Evan Dobelle saw Herman Frazier’s Olympic medalist resume, that is.

As one former AD long ago put it, “It is never over until they call the press conference — and even then you should look around to see who else is standing at the podium.”

We bring this up because the current process to hire an AD shows signs of not being over. Just because the search advisory committee is said to have concluded its interviews and is polishing up its official recommendation to Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman doesn’t necessarily mean the white puff of smoke from Hawaii Hall is imminent.

Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin got high marks from the committee and is widely expected to get the august body’s “official” endorsement. Perhaps as soon as next week.

But the drama thickened considerably Friday after insurance executive Keith Amemiya was seen on campus with Bley-Vroman.

A UH spokesman declined to “either confirm or deny” a meeting took place.

But since Amemiya and Hawaii News Now general manager Rick Blangiardi hadn’t been invited for interviews by the search advisory committee, it opens up a lot of possibilities and even more speculation about the tight-lipped enterprise.

We know, for example, that Blangiardi did not formally apply but was nominated by Central Pacific Bank CEO John Dean before Dean chose to exit the committee. Amemiya, a UH official said, did apply. 

Whether that distinction accounts for Amemiya’s presence on campus remains to be seen. We also wait to see if Blangiardi —  or anyone else — is next to round Varney Circle.

Technically, of course, the eight-member search advisory committee that was convened in January is just that — a search advisory committee. It serves at the Manoa chancellor’s pleasure and he is not bound by its recommendation. 

He may embrace its collective judgment — or politely thank the committee for its efforts, wad up its findings and slam dunk them in the nearest trash receptacle. 

Over the years there have been pro and con examples of both. 

In the absence of information from the committee, many have been left to wonder why Blangiardi and Amemiya were passed over for interviews. Maybe, as the controversy has bubbled, Bley-Vroman has come to question the process as well. 

No small concern since, for all the talk about the “integrity of the process,” his name will be attached to the eventual hire, whoever it is.

Perhaps the meeting was window dressing, a campus-wide picture window at that, so he could diffuse matters and demonstrate having done his own due diligence. Or, maybe, he just wanted to assess for himself if the ball had been badly dropped.

Either way, Bley-Vroman’s action suggests this process, for all its meandering, might not be the rubber stamp decision many have expected it to be. 

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.