Ohio University Commencement Address

ATHENS , Ohio -- Quite a daunting task, giving a commencement speech. Even more daunting to do it twice. Because Ohio University , my alma mater (Class of '79), can't fit all of its 3,300 grads and families into the on-campus arena, the commencement is done twice -- at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. So my 11 minutes of wisdom to the highly impressive class of '08 (and I mean that; OU graduated a bunch of very serious world-savers Saturday) were heard twice.

"Thank you, Dr. King," OU president Rod McDavis said to me when it was over. He'd given me an honorary doctorate of communications degree, and I immediately took out my stethoscope and examined his head. Dr. King? That's for Martin Luther, not Peter. But it was quite a day, and quite an honor, and what follows is my speech, without the little asides from the crowd and me about various NFL passions. Lots of Browns fans in the audience, just like I remember.

----

Dr. McDavis, members of the Board of Trustees, parents, families, friends of Ohio University and, especially, you, the Class of 2008 ... I'm honored and humbled to come back to my roots. I sat where you sat 29 years ago this weekend. Unfortunately, I remember nothing about the commencement speech in 1979, except my father was really bored and annoyed. If nothing else, I'll at least try to be briefer.

First, I'd like all the graduates to stand. Face your parents, please, or whoever is here who helped make it possible for you to attend this university. If your benefactors are not here, just think of them now. As someone who invested his first college-fund dollar when his eldest daughter was 1, I'm going to ask you to do something that you just might forget to do this weekend. Give your folks and support group a standing ovation. Give it up for them.

Thank you. Families, there's your feel-good moment for the weekend. Graduates, now it's about you.

I'll start by paraphrasing that wise old Cowboy philosopher Jimmy Johnson : "How 'bout them Bobcats !''

For the past 19 years, I've written about the NFL for Sports Illustrated , the largest sports magazine in the world. For the last 11, I've written a column for SI.com , Monday Morning Quarterback, that 2 million people click on, usually when they want to play hooky from work or school. I talk to millions Sunday nights during the fall on NBC . But preparing a commencement speech is far more harrowing than writing for, or talking to, millions of people I can't see.

What possible meaningful life lessons can a sportswriter and a face-for-radio TV guy give to 4,000 kids as they start their lives in the real world? What I thought I'd do preparing this is what I do for a living: report. I asked some famous people I know what advice they'd have for the OU class of 2008. I asked Dick Ebersol , the NBC Sports poohbah. He said, "Always ask why.'' I asked Peyton Manning . He said, "Don't forget where you came from. Make your family part of your life every day.'' I asked Bob Costas . He said, "Things are very seldom black and white. Don't demonize. Try to understand.'' I asked the 35-year-old coach of the Steelers , Mike Tomlin , who some of you might love ... and some might not. He said, "When we're kids, we dream wildly. As we grow up, we dream realistically. We shouldn't. I got where I am today by being a ridiculous dreamer.''

Valuable stuff, I thought. But those guys aren't here. You're stuck with me. And I think we have something in common. I came here, as most of you did, as a nothing freshman. My parents sent me $20 a month, so I had to watch every dime. True story: When times were toughest, I sold my blood plasma once a month for $7 at a place off-campus. I lived on West Green, East Green, in the Lakeview Apartments, and then in a little dump on Central Avenue. I had a work-study job in the library. I ate at Miller's Chicken. I drank at The Union. I fell asleep on College Green on a nice day more than once. I ate bagels and Chinese food for the first time here. I graduated with a 3.3 grade-point, surviving more than flourishing academically. And, most importantly, I met a great girl here -- and 28 years ago today, married that great girl in Galbreath Chapel.