THE FRONT ROW WITH BRUCE BOURQUIN: April 11, 2014

In early March, ESPN football analyst and former NFL running back Merril Hoge was added as an inductee into this year's class for the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.

AND DON'T think that just because Hoge was part of the professional sports world and appears several times per week on the worldwide leader in sports, that he does not totally appreciate the honor.

"I'm extremely flattered," Hoge said. "To be a part of some great football players is truly an honor. I'm excited about it."

At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, Hoge will join Dr. James A. "Doc" Lynn, Mike Cox, Keith Gilbertson, Ryan Phillips and the late Gary "Big Daddy" Rasmussen. During the event, the 49-year-old Hoge will also be the guest speaker.

"I've always tried to encourage kids to put in the work required," Hoge said of young football players. "Establish the right habits, be excellent at what you want to be good at. Just because you are from Idaho, doesn't mean you can't be playing well against someone from Pennsylvania or Florida or Texas. Because that's why in Pittsburgh, I said (to myself), I'll take my high school team and take on North Allegheny and we'll whip ya. I'd go, 'You may have better athletes at certain positions, but we have a better team. We've got kids who played who'll blow your mind. You'll burn all of your timeouts in the first three plays. We'll throw a formation at you, that you'll be like, 'What the heck?"

Originally, Hoge was going to be inducted in 2008, but because he often appeared as part of ESPN's NFL Draft coverage in mid-April, he could not attend it. But because this year's draft was moved to May 8-10, he can make it to North Idaho this year.

HOGE SAID his days spent playing as a four-year starting running back at Idaho State helped him adjust quickly to the NFL, after he was drafted in the 10th round in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Back in college, ISU ran different forms of offenses, from the I-formation to split backs to pro style, and he played tailback, fullback and at times, played slot receiver.

Before that, he was a running back at Highland High in Pocatello, where in 1983 the Rams lost in the first round of the state 5A playoffs to Coeur d'Alene and former Vikings linebacker Mike Cox - one of the six Hall of Fame inductees on Saturday.

"I fractured my right hip. It was Cox who hit me in the hip," Hoge recalled. "I actually didn't know it was injured until when I went to the NFL combine like, four years later (in 1987), where they were X-raying me and (they asked), 'When did you fracture your hip?' I'm like, 'I never knew I did.' Then I started thinking, 'No wonder my hip hurts so bad.' It hurt and it took several days before I could walk."

ON FEB. 14, 2003, Hoge was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer, but quickly beat it by July 2 of that year. According to www.merrilhoge.com, Merril's then 9-year-old daughter, Kori, said at the time, "Dad, find a way", which inspired Hoge to try to beat his illness. Hoge also went through the death of his mother when he was only 19. Hoge is also a board chairman of the Highmark Caring Foundation and Caring Place centers in Pittsburgh, which provide a place for grieving children, adolescents and their families to cope with the loss of a parent or loved one.

"When someone tells you have cancer, I don't have the words to describe it," Hoge said. "You can't be prepared for that. It was the darkest day of my life. All the things I learned from the game of football, I used that skill set to help me overcome it. That's what I love about the game about football and about sports. People are affected one of three ways. Either you have it, know somebody who has it or you know somebody who has had it, so being a caregiver is a challenge, too. Then my foundation, the Caring Place, a center for grieving children and with my mom (dying) at a young age in life and I like to be able to help kids and families that suffer the loss of a loved one, actually give them a sanctuary that they can go to and I didn't have that, I didn't have that peace."

Due to post-concussion syndrome, Hoge had to retire fairly early at the age of 29 after an eight-year career, after playing for the Chicago Bears from 1993-94. He was hired by ESPN shortly after he retired, in 1995.

"My NFL career was littered with fabulous experiences," Hoge said. "I had great relationships. I played for probably the greatest coach to ever watch a sideline, Chuck Noll (Steelers coach). I got to play against players like (former Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers defensive end) Reggie White. Mike Webster (a Steelers Hall of Fame center) was my roommate during my first year. He was like your dad, he was 36 years old. He was always kind to me. It was fun."

At the time of his retirement, Hoge had played in 122 consecutive games, the longest streak in the NFL at that time.

He also led the team in rushing and receiving in four of his first five seasons, setting a record in his third seasons for receptions by a running back. Hoge started 84 career NFL games and played in 114. In his NFL career, Hoge rushed for 3,139 yards and 21 touchdowns, and had 2,133 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

"I played against the Houston Oilers in the wild card game in 189, which we won (26-23) in overtime and against the Denver Broncos in 1989," Hoge said. "It (a 24-23 loss at Denver's Mile High Stadium) was one of the best playoff games."

Hoge rushed for 120 yards on 16 carries in the loss to Denver and caught eight passes for 60 yards.

HOGE, BORN and raised in Pocatello, owns a cabin in Island Park, located 79 miles northeast of Idaho Falls. His brother, former ISU player and current business owner Marty Hoge, lives in Pocatello.

"I worked on a farm and a ranch at 12 years old," Hoge said. "Part of my world was doing stuff like moving pipe and hauling hay. Sports allowed me to experience things in life."

When Hoge was a 22-year-old rookie, the words 'culture shock' applied to him in a big way.

"It was actually brutal," Hoge said. "The first time I flew into Pittsburgh, I had never seen so many rolling trees and hills in my life. It looked like the jungle, like 'This has to be where they filmed the movie, 'Tarzan'. It took me a few years to get used to it. But I love Pittsburgh, there's no greater skyline in the country."

CURRENTLY, HOGE lives in Fort Thomas, Ky., with his 17-year-old son and junior quarterback Beau, and his daughter Kori, 21.

Beau Hoge plays for Highlands High in Fort Thomas and is considered to be among the best quarterbacks in the country and his nephew, Tristen, plays offensive lineman for Highland and has verbally committed to play for Notre Dame.

Tristen Hoge's Rams team lost this past fall to the Coeur d'Alene in the state 5A football championship game, 31-28.

"I know they were heartbroken," Merril Hoge said. "One thing I respect about him is that he's worked so hard to get where he is. He's a phenomenal kid. I talked with (Notre Dame head coach) Brian Kelly and introduced him to Marty and my brother said, 'My son is the best center in the country.' Brian offered him a scholarship, which was an awesome moment."

Having lived a lifetime fit for about a half-dozen people, Hoge heads into Saturday's speech ready to tackle the future and ready to be inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bruce Bourquin is a sports writer at The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2013, or via email at bbourquin@cdapress.com Follow him on Twitter @bourq25