Today is the 108th day since Jim Donovan was officially named University of Hawai'i athletic director.

But, who's counting?

Well, you might be if you still didn't have a contract.

And, Donovan doesn't. Officially, according to a spokesman for the Manoa Chancellor's Office, Donovan's contract is, "still pending."

Pending what, exactly? Someone untying red tape surrounding it? Someone growing tired of playing power games?

Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw was quick and thorough, especially by UH standards, in hiring Donovan, a popular pick back in March. It turns out, it took considerably less time to scour the nation for candidates and make the choice than to get the winner's contract done. And that was with the two biggest items, salary and length of the agreement, pretty much decided up front.

Donovan isn't saying much about the contract holdup at the moment. Probably out of fear that, if he did, the whole thing might not get done before his AARP card arrives. When asked, he maintains he believes a deal will get done and things taken care of if he just keeps working hard.

Ideally, it would be so. To be sure, in 91 days in the AD's chair, he has plugged ahead trying to clean up the financial mess that has become UH athletics. Once he'd seen the balance sheets and $4.4 million in accumulated net deficit, you would have thought UH would have wanted to lock him up, lest he change his mind and bolt for something more solid, like the airline industry.

But, amazingly, he's still here, having quickly rolled up his sleeves and gone to work with several ticketing initiatives and contracts. He's been a welcome breath of fresh air and openness. He's been impressive in getting down to business, not to mention an uncanny ability to do it without much sleep. He's apologized for the sins of his predecessor and some of those above him and worked to make sure they aren't repeated.

Glowing testimonials aren't hard to find. "He's been great for the job," said KFVE/KHNL vice president and general manager John Fink. "He bleeds green and black and has the best interests of the university and state at heart. He'll do the best job anyone could ask for."

Somehow, it is hard to imagine that whatever is holding this up it could be Donovan asking for the moon. Especially when he knows UH doesn't have it.

More likely is that UH has taken crossing T's to some absurd lengths. Or, still smarting from the whole Herman Frazier episode and big bucks buyout, it is insisting on some curious contract language or clauses. If so, it needs to rethink the situation.

All Donovan asked was a chance to turn around the athletic department at his alma mater and he's subsequently put his heart into doing it. Thankfully, too, because somebody else might have thrown up their hands and left.

More than three months into it, you'd hope UH would recognize what a good situation it has now and find a way to get a deal done. It isn't because it hasn't had enough time to figure it out.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.