Click here for Bob Asmussen's report from the Rantoul scrimmage.

OK, Illini jocks, serve yourselves some high-fives.

The university hired a sports enthusiast for president. Michael Hogan once broke two minutes in the half-mile, served as a two-year halfback on his high school football team and has attended all variety of events during his terms as a professor and administrator on the campuses of Iowa, Ohio State and Connecticut.

He may be 66 but, based on his exuberance, he's nowhere near retirement age.

"I like just about every sport," he said from his new Wright Street office.

"I've always had trouble at major universities because they have so many sports to attend. I like to be involved in all of them. When I was at UConn, I attended softball, baseball, soccer, you name it. I seldom missed a home basketball game, men or women. I became a big fan of volleyball."

OK, where did it start?

I was active in baseball when I was growing up in Waterloo, Iowa. And after 35 years, I still hold a record that I don't think anyone will beat. I was and still remain the smallest and slowest guy to ever play halfback in the whole state of Iowa. I scored one touchdown in two years, and it was called back for stepping out of bounds. I played for a new Catholic consolidated school, the Columbus Sailors ... a great nickname for the middle of the prairie. I started 16 of 18 games, and we never won once. But I loved playing anyway. New schools don't win many games. We were pretty much overmatched against East Waterloo, West Waterloo and others. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the organized aggression of it all.

You've been a dedicated jogger. How did you get into that?

I went out for track because the football coach required it. Our track team was good. I ran 1:59 officially once in the half-mile, and I did 1:56 once in practice. I only lost one or two races per year, and mostly in the state meet when I was running three or four events.

So you kept running after your school days?

The carryover was that I went on to jog for years, running 4 to 6 miles almost every day for the better part of 30 years. Then I became a dean and a provost and a president and it got hard to find the time. And also, over time, the body and the knees wear down. So I got into walking, minor weightlifting and the treadmill. I try to keep that pace with some irregularity.

What will be your involvement in varsity sports at Illinois?

In the past, it has been different according to each school and the setup. At UConn, athletics reported directly to the president's office. I was very involved in overseeing it. I met on a regular basis with the athletic director, Jeff Hathaway, and he was part of my cabinet, called the senior leadership team. But here the athletic director reports to the campus (chancellor).

The NCAA prefers direct reports up to the president. I'm sure it'll be a big part of what I do. I'll want to keep my hand in. Bob Easter is doing a terrific job as interim chancellor, and we'll be launching a search by the end of the fall term and hope to have a new chancellor in place by next July.

What have you heard about the DIA so far?

I know Ron Guenther runs a very clean program and, academically speaking, is very successful ... very strong in compliance, fundraising and facilities. That's something to be proud of. As for football, we've had ups and downs.

Guenther's contract runs through December. Can we expect an extension announcement soon?

Frankly, I have yet to meet Ron Guenther. I've only been here four weeks, and it's been a whirlwind of meeting new people. I'm looking forward to sitting down with him. I have talked about it to Bob Easter. I have a list to see: donors, alums, legislators, members of the congressional delegation, people on all three campuses. It is a very long list, and Guenther is at the top of it.

Among other things, I want to attend football practice when the team returns from Rantoul. I attended several practices at UConn. I like doing that. I did that for basketball, too.

Since the 1980s, Big Ten presidents have taken charge of a conference that was once run by chosen faculty representatives. Stan Ikenberry was the first chairman of the Council of 10 (it'll soon be 12). It's a big commitment of time.

I hope to be very involved. I know most of these presidents. I worked with Gordon Gee during his first term at Ohio State. Sally Mason became president at Iowa while I was still there. Mary Sue Coleman was at Iowa before she went to Michigan. I look forward to working with them again.

Every president wants every college and department to be successful. Does this carry over to winning games in football?

I think it is very important. On the business side, it is the major money-making sport, and it supports the other things we do in the athletic program. We want seats that are full to capacity and to take advantage of other forms of revenue that football can generate. Illinois can be successful in football. We're seeing what is happening at Iowa. It can be done.

How can you help that?

I'm not going to be the coach or the athletic director. But I can be the university's No. 1 fan, and I intend to be.

You arrived late for Big Ten expansion. Would you have favored Nebraska?

I would have voted for Nebraska. I think that's a very good fit.

As for the future, if Notre Dame wanted to join the Big Ten, we might start searching for a 14th school. We have to be open to that possibility. UConn wouldn't be a stretch. When I was president there, I'd have been very interested. The Big Ten is a coherent group of academic institutions, and there are very strong academic advantages. UConn has a huge fan base, including television. It would make some sense.

Any closing comments?

Yes, I want to say that Illinois has a strong and historic sports tradition, and it contributes in immeasurable ways to the life and spirit of the campus. It draws alumni and breeds loyalty. It is the front door for alumni and donors to fan out and support all aspects of the university.

When I think of sports, I want it to be clean and big time and compliant. Within that framework, sports can add much to the vibrancy and vitality of campus life.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.