Potential still
key word for Frazier

Herman Frazier to his alma mater, Arizona State? Perfect.

I could see why he'd be in the speculation. I could see why he'd go.

You couldn't blame him if he did.

But there are a lot of steps between here and there.

Before he was passed over for that very job a few years ago, he was Mr. ASU. Sun Devil track star, then a 23-year lifer employee. When it opened up in 2000, he threw his hat in the ring for his dream job.

Not so fast, my friend.

He was Jim Donovaned. And so it was off to Alabama-Birmingham for his first job as a head AD.

Unfortunately, that was a mess. Circumstances played a big role and blame could probably be cast in any and every direction. You can say it wasn't his fault. But Frazier's time at UAB did not end with a coronation parade.

But then he landed on his feet here, an Evan Dobelle "American hero" cannonball splash of a hire.

And he went to the Olympics and he signed June Jones and a national title was revoked and he's got a five-year plan.

I have always said and continue to say that with his intelligence, experience and well-rounded resume, Frazier could be a great athletic director.

Well? Well, he's been here three years. And if we play word association, I'm still stuck on "potential."

Maybe it takes that long to lay the groundwork, I don't know.

Still, he's an impressive guy, and on paper he's a perfect fit for ASU. He's had some time as the head guy since he last applied for the job. He's been seasoned. He'd be a favorite son coming home.

Perfect.

Maybe too perfect.

Newspaper accounts coming out of Arizona paint ASU's new president as somewhat of a Dobelle type, in that the prez is looking for splashy hires, offbeat and out of the box and off the wall. He doesn't sound like a guy who would put much stock in the convention of looking to the past.

In fact, you get the idea he'd rebel against it.

And Herman Frazier might be a little too perfect.

He was one of those candidates here. For ASU, he's as in the box as it gets.

» Tough assignment with Florida State coming to town, but the baseball 'Bows can't afford to let these early home games slip away. If they hope to reach their goals -- and Mike Trapasso beat us all to the punch by being the first to apply the pressure on this, his fourth season -- now, at home, is when they have to win.