Manning, who will serve for eight years, was first selected by a nominating committee. He was then chosen by the NCAA Foundation board itself. Final approval for all candidates came from the NCAA's 18-member Executive Committee, which is composed entirely of college presidents. My four years as a student-athlete at Tennessee provide very special memories for me. I am not that far removed from my days at Tennessee, so I have a good idea of what a student-athlete goes through on a daily basis.
Peavey cites another reason for Manning's selection.
We see on a daily basis the kinds of things he's involved in. He works with youngsters who need a good role model. He doesn't have that much time, but he does donate a lot of his time to children's groups. That's why he was a natural choice for our board. He would not accept it.