Luck Named To WVU Board of Governors

Oliver Luck displayed a natural talent for leadership both on the field at West Virginia and in positions at the head of NFL Europe and the Harris County Sports Authority, and he has once again been called up to share them with his alma mater.

Luck was named on Friday to the West Virginia University Board of Governors, which was crippled by resignations in the wake of the witch hunt atmosphere surrounding the Heather Bresch controversy. Luck, who has shown ability to provide strong leadership and direction throughout his career, is currently the president and general manager of the Houston Dynamo professional soccer franchise.

Noting the natural ties between the quarterback position and the job of leading any organization, athletic director Ed Pastilong is pleased with the pick.

"Oliver is an excellent addition to the Board, " Pastilong said in a prepared statement. "He has always been an outstanding representative of West Virginia University. It is good to have a quarterback in the huddle."

BOG chairman Steve Goodwin agreed with that assessment.

“Oliver Luck is someone who has made this state and University proud, not only on the college and professional football field but in the academic and business world,” Goodwin said. “As an undergraduate at WVU, he was a 4.0 student and finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship, and following a professional football career, he earned his law degree and has worked in the major sports and entertainment market - both internationally and in his beloved Houston.

“We welcome his participation on our Board as we recommit ourselves to the future success of WVU,” Goodwin said.

Luck, a member of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, helped guide the Mountaineers to a 26-6 throttling of Florida in the 1981 Peach Bowl. His academic credentials included a magna cum laude degree in history and a law degree from the University of Texas.

While never professing interest in the position, Luck's name occasionally surfaces as a candidate for the athletic director's position at West Virginia. Current athletic director Ed Pastilong has announced a retirement date in 2010.

Luck's son Andrew, a highly regarded quarterback, signed to play for Stanford this fall.