There Has Been Little Hedging on Hedges : Washington: Colleagues expect her to overcome lack of football background as athletic director for the Huskies.

Colleagues of Barbara Hedges say it’s virtually impossible to find any flaws in her resume as an athletic administrator.

Even so, she had seemingly reached the highest rung available for a woman at a university with a nationally recognized sports program when she was promoted to senior associate athletic director at USC in 1989.

Hedges climbed higher, though, when she was recently named athletic director at the University of Washington.

Mary Alice Hill, who was athletic director at San Diego State from 1983 to 1985, is the the only other woman who has been in charge at a football-playing Division I-A school, and that wasn’t on the scale the sport holds at Washington.

As at USC, football is the revenue-generating sport at Washington and the one that boosters and alumni identify with at their gatherings.

And it has been pointed out by the media in Seattle that although Hedges administered 17 sports at USC, she has never been actively in charge of football, men’s basketball or baseball.

Mike Lude, 68, the outgoing Washington athletic director who resigned in a dispute over his contract and the school’s mandatory retirement age, perhaps echoed the sentiments of good ol’ boys, who support the football program, when he told the Seattle Times:

“It will be tough (for Hedges) because the money sports are masculine in nature.”

USC Athletic Director Mike McGee said: “Washington asked me (about) that when they were considering Barbara. I think it can be done. I think it will take some time for it to be as smooth as Barbara would like. I think we’re looking at some time for her to get fully integrated into those circles that normally would be the decision-making areas . . . how she will network nationally in scheduling and representing Washington nationally in the major revenue sports. But it’s just a matter of time.”

The good ol’ boy syndrome, McGee said, is “a little passe.”

“We have all dealt with Title IX, and I think in most cases there is an appreciation for gender equity,” he said. “Where there’s not, they’d better get up with the times.

“It’s just been a matter of time and too late in coming for women to assume this role. There will be adjustments on both parts. There are enough of us in this position who will support Barbara.

“We are excited for her and what it means for women in administration. We’ll probably have to hire a committee of people to replace her.”

Also, it should be remembered, Hedges was hired as athletic director, not the football coach.

USC football Coach Larry Smith says it’s not a requirement for an athletic director to be thoroughly knowledgeable in the intricacies of the game, adding that Hedges was hired for her administrative skills, which he maintains are considerable.

“Barbara has energy and enthusiasm,” Smith said. “She’ll do a tremendous job.”

Other male coaches who worked with Hedges at USC concur.

Ted Tollner, the former USC football coach who is now an assistant with the San Diego Chargers, knows Hedges as an administrator and tennis partner.

“She’s got Don James so he knows how to run football,” Tollner told a Seattle newspaper. “It’s a matter of communication, and she has the skills there. Whether she knows X and O football doesn’t matter. Some ADs may think that does matter, but I think those are the ones who cause more problems for you.

“I worked with her for five years, and she’s a tough and fair person. I’ve seen her make the hard decisions. She’ll be a good AD on the Division I level.”

Stan Morrison, the former USC basketball coach and assistant athletic director who is now basketball coach at San Jose State, was effusive in his evaluation of Hedges.

“In my estimation, she’s easily one of the most prepared, competent people for any major athletic directorship, regardless of whether she’s wearing a three-piece suit or a skirt,” he said.

“The great strength of Barbara Hedges is that she knows herself better than anyone, and she’s not afraid to consult those who have expertise in areas where she might not feel as strong as she’d like to be.

“She’s not afraid to be assertive. She has the charm, sophistication and savoir-faire that lends itself to the dignity and class that any first-rate academic and athletic institution would want.

“Anyone who has coached at USC while Barbara Hedges has been there would be delighted to have her as their athletic director. Her vision is not cramped by any preconceived notions. She knows how to pull in the reins when necessary.

“She has the ability to say no and still give you an alternative so that you can come back and make it a yes. That’s a real talent.”

Hedges, 53, who was a finalist for the USC athletic director’s job in 1984, was regarded as an outstanding fund-raiser during her tenure at USC.

“She also put on the single, greatest event that any of us have ever been to,” Morrison said.

He was referring to a “Salute to the Olympians” night at the Coliseum in the fall of 1983, preceding the 1984 Summer Olympics. It was a black-tie affair honoring approximately 120 USC Olympians.

Hedges is aware that she will be thoroughly scrutinized in her new position at Washington and that her lack of active involvement in football could be a sticking point.

“The reason football comes up as an issue is that I’m a female and have not been directly involved with a football program,” she said. “So it’s a legitimate question.

“However, as a result of being at USC for 17 years, I’ve been intimately involved with the football program and the coaches. I’ve observed on a first-hand basis the running of a very large football program.

“Also, the skills I’ve developed in administrating all the other programs, the fund-raising skills, and working with the NCAA and Pacific 10, are all applicable to the football program. The skills are transferable.”

Hedges said she has already had two phone conversations with James, the dean of Pac-10 football coaches, and plans to meet again with him soon.

It was another famous football coach, John McKay, who hired Hedges at USC when he was also the athletic director.

“With Barbara, there is no referral service,” McKay said. “She just gets the job done.” Hedges said it will be difficult to leave USC because of the strong attachments she has forged during her 17 years at the school.

But, she said, the challenge of administering Washington’s athletic program stimulates her.

Hedges said that she wants to build on the success of Washington’s athletic programs. Despite that success, the school has never won an NCAA championship in any sport. Under Hedges’ supervision, USC’s women’s teams have won 13 national championships.

“I’m not going to let (being female) become an issue,” she said. “It has never been an issue in the past. What I hope will happen is that I have a certain period of time to be able to do what I think has to be done and then be held accountable for that.

“That’s how I hope people would perceive me to be. Not the fact that I’m a female, but whether I’m qualified and can do the job and evaluate me in a year’s time.”

Morrison noted that Washington’s colors are purple and gold.

“Barbara Hedges will bring new meaning to the purple and gold,” he said. “Purple is the color of royalty and they just invested in royalty.”