Sources said that West Virginia AD Oliver Luck is "the frontrunner" to become the successor to Texas men's AD DeLoss Dodds "from a group of names put forth by the search firm Korn/Ferry Int'l to the advisory committee last week," according to Chip Brown of ORANGEBLOODS.com. The list "also includes" Arizona State VP/Athletics & AD Steve Patterson. Luck's interview with the committee "could come as early as this week," and a contract "could be finalized Nov. 13 or 14, when Texas regents are already scheduled to meet." Nothing is "expected to be announced" before the UT-WVU football game on Nov. 9. Sources said that UT President Bill Powers is "enamored with Luck, a Rhodes scholar finalist who got his law degree at Texas." Sources said that the fact Luck is a former Oilers QB and "has a son who is a rising star in the NFL ... gives Luck a star quality that should work well with UT boosters and fund-raising" (ORANGEBLOODS.com, 10/28). In Dallas, Chuck Carlton cites a source as saying, "It is Oliver Luck’s job to lose. ... He’s No. 1 and No. 1A on their list. Then there’s everybody else." Sources indicated that Patterson and Maryland AD Kevin Anderson also are "expected to be interviewed." A source indicated that Luck "could be hired by Dec. 1." Powers has said that he "hoped to have an AD hire made by the end of November" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/29).
WHOA THERE: In Austin, Kirk Bohls writes, "Disregard the notion" that Luck is "a done deal as the new Texas athletic director, although I still consider him the front-runner and best person for the job." The seven-member advisory committee to Powers "won’t even begin interviews until this week, and they will talk to candidates from all five of the major football conferences, including" Patterson, who "might have the second-best chance of succeeding" Dodds. A source said that Louisville AD Tom Jurich, who "has said he’s not interested," and Michigan State AD Mark Hollis "are not being considered" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10/28).
