They were standing in the university’s old, cramped gymnasium. Minutes before, Keiser had fired then-AD Mike Mullally. Bleymaier said he thought he was about to lose his job as well.
That shock turned into a storied 30-year career.
On Wednesday, it was Keiser’s turn to be shocked when he learned Bleymaier was fired by current President Bob Kustra. Keiser said he’d heard the news a couple of days before from Bleymaier himself.
“I think it’s unfortunate,” Keiser said. “I don’t think there is an athletic program in the United States that has made more progress in the last 30 years than Boise State in terms of facilities, in terms of achievement as far as teams are concerned, in terms of publicity as far as football is concerned.”
Keiser pointed to BSU’s growing status as a football powerhouse and to physical landmarks of Bleymaier’s leadership: Taco Bell Arena, the famed blue turf and a growing Bronco Stadium.
From the early 1980s until Wednesday, Keiser said he’s maintained a friendship with Bleymaier and his family.
“We’ve stayed pretty close and I’ve always admired his loyalty to his family and his kids and the success that he had. That has been reflected in the athletic program,’’ Keiser said.
Charles Ruch, another former BSU president, learned only Wednesday evening that Bleymaier was out.
“Gene was a superb athletic director and I enjoyed working with him immeasurably,” Ruch said. “During my tenure he was extremely involved in building the program and the city.”
Ruch also pointed to Bleymaier’s involvement in launching the Humanitarian Bowl (now Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) and conference changes from Big Sky to Big West to Western Athletic to Mountain West.
“He has been singularly influential in building the athletic program,” Ruch said.
At least one major booster said Kustra’s decision was a mistake. Rich Fedrizzi and his wife, Patsy, previously donated $500,000 for the Fedrizzi Fitness Center Annex, a weight room expansion that was completed in 2004.
“I think it is a poor decision,” Fedrizzi said. “I think Gene has done a tremendous job. I think he has tremendous support from the boosters. I think he has led the program, not only 100 percent, but 120 percent in the 30 years he has been here."
Former Boise State gymnastics coach Sam Sandmire said, “It is a really sad day for Boise State because Gene Bleymaier built the program from nothing. I’m not sure why this came down, but if it had anything to do with NCAA violations, they couldn’t have found a worse choice for a scapegoat.’’
Personnel decisions are best left to presidents, said Mark Browning, spokesman for the Idaho State Board of Education. The Board would never weigh in, he said.
“That’s a personnel issue on campus,” he said. “We have one employee on campus, and that is the president. That’s why the presidents are on campus, so they handle those things.”
Katy Kreller: 377-6418
