Holmoe has Y. on upswing

Tom Holmoe is in his 15th month as BYU's athletic director and most fans don't know what to make of him or the job he is doing.

He hasn't become a lightning rod, but he hasn't found a cure for cancer either. In short, people don't dislike him, but he's not leading the Freedom Festival Parade either. They just don't know him.

When football coach Bronco Mendenhall joins him speaking to booster groups, Mendenhall comes off as a Pentecostal preacher while Holmoe's performance reminds some of a stake high councilman on circuit. Nobody leaves a booster meeting screaming, "Guess what Tom just said/promised/predicted."

"That's a fair assessment," Holmoe said.

Flying under the radar at a job one high-ranking administrator calls a job from hell, suits Holmoe just fine.

"All emphasis should be on the student athletes, and if they're doing well and get acclaim and coaches are respected in the community and successful, then I'm doing my job," Holmoe said.

Generally speaking, BYU fans are in a holding pattern — a kind of wait-and-see. A few years ago they barked about being in a BCS bowl, now they're quiet on that front. These days, a football and basketball championship would be good. So would a bowl victory or win over a chief rival.

Being ordinary in football in Provo sits on the gut like funeral potatoes.

Holmoe says he knows the score. As for his own status, he'll take the heat, but he's not asking for front row camera face time.

Holmoe says he's not into self-promotion and doesn't see a need to market himself. He's been a player and coach at every level and now he's an administrator.

"I don't need to be in the paper, on the radio or be seen on TV." He wants coaches to do the barking while he minds the pound. If you break down Holmoe's job performance over a year, he's frank about the challenges and any successes. Generally, he calls it a work in progress. A scan of the scene with Holmoe:

• HIS TIE WITH BOOSTERS: Holmoe's generally had a good 15 months, gained favor with some boosters, offended some others with whom he's disagreed. He reads all his correspondence and e-mails but doesn't respond to those who are disrespectful.

"I believe the core BYU fans are committed to the program ... there are enough people who are antsy to go forward."