As Aggie Nation stands at its athletic department’s crossroads, my hat is off to UC Davis Acting Chancellor Ralph Hexter.

While there is no official confirmation of where the selection of a new athletic director stands, from all off-the-record accounts I’ve received, Hexter is making sure the right person takes the reins at UCD.

Hexter has spent the past two weeks re-vetting the final five (yes, five) candidates to replace interim boss and able administrator Teresa Gould (who replaced Terrence Tumey 13 months ago).

One source told me Hexter “is well aware of the far-reaching impact of making the right choice for this super-vital position. It means the future of Aggie football; the future of Aggie athletics in general.”

The selection of the next athletic director should come by Friday, May 20. A 12-person committee has finished its work and forwarded its recommendation to Mrak Hall. Another person, once I promised anonymity, confided: “Hexter doesn’t necessarily have to follow that panel’s recommendation.”

The fact that it is rumored that Hexter is going over the candidates with a microscope is a significant revelation. He knows this appointment will get filed away in his legacy folder — and it’s no secret that the future of UCD athletics, and the sanity of its fans and supporters, is at stake.

Hexter, like on-pause Chancellor Linda Katehi before him, has been lobbied by various candidates’ supporters.

Former Syracuse AD Daryl Gross — an ex-Aggie student-athlete and coach who toiled for a decade at USC before moving East — seems to be getting a lion’s share of the off-campus support.

Gross, who is the Orange’s vice president and special assistant to the chancellor, would love to “come home,” friends of his tell me.

While perceived candidates, school officials and committee members won’t talk about the 11th hour of The Process, letters, emails and phone calls of support for Gross are finding their way to the fifth floor at Mrak Hall.

In one such letter to Hexter, signed by (among others) Mike Bellotti, Cathy and Jack Raycraft, Jane and Fred Arp and Bill Cochran, Gross is lauded for his accomplishments at USC and Syracuse.

In opening, the letter by alumni, donors, friends and former student-athletes says, “We truly believe that Dr. Daryl Gross is the best person to guide the athletics program at UC Davis and strongly recommend his candidacy.

“His extensive and successful career in athletics and athletics administration is remarkable and praise-worthy.”

It’s no secret that Gross elevated the Syracuse national reputation. He paid close attention to gender equality and took the university from outside the top 100 in the Learfield Director’s Cup rankings to No. 2 last year.

Despite the NCAA investigation into Syracuse basketball violations, the probe’s lead investigator praised Gross for his “forthright approach” in cooperating with NCAA officials. Gross was never charged with any wrongdoing. In fact, in several instances, he blew the whistle on violations.

In addition to Bellotti, a 1973 UCD grad and former Oregon football coach; Cochran, a Cal Aggie Alumni Association board member; the Raycrafts, longtime Aggie donors; and Arp, retired Aggie assistant head football coach, 14 others signed the letter to Hexter.

“We want only the best for UC Davis and firmly believe that Dr. Daryl Gross is the only candidate to lead UC Davis athletics forward,” the letter concludes.

“Although we know his career to date speaks for itself, we want to make certain that you understand that it would be a shame to miss this opportunity to bring on board someone who already has the respect and support of so many of the Aggie family.”

Now the ball’s in Hexter’s court …

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or 530-320-4456.