Scott Van Pelt of ESPN to speak at UW-Madison commencement

[hawing]

Link to UW-Madison News site

 

I don't watch ESPN enough to be familiar with this guy. I am mildly surprised that UW-Madison appears to have broken from its tradition (I thought) of graduation speakers who are alumni. The only connection I see in the news item is that Van Pelt thinks Madison is America's best college sports town.

[ccbrew]

Hmm. Thanks for the heads-up, as I'll be among the graduates this Winter. At least he may be entertaining..

[JimH5]

The most prestigious public school in the state, with a world-class reputation and Scott Van Pelt is the best they could do?

 

I understand that December commencement isn't quite the same as May, but still. . .

 

That's pretty weak.

[brettac1]

John Anderson was already booked?

[trwi7]

John Anderson was already booked?

 

Stuart Scott was going to be the guy but his eye was on California, well one eye was the other was somewhere towards Utah.

[ccbrew]

Yeah, considering the fact that his only connection to the school is a short segment he did on the radio during a slow news day last summer, I can't help but think that UW was scrambling to find somebody. When do they typically announce these things? Graduation is on December 16..seems to me like it's kind of a last minute deal.

 

Then again, I don't know what the standard is regarding these things in winter..or May for that matter. Anyone know who it was for May 07?

[JJHardy7]

I wouldn't mind him at all. It sure beats the speeches I've witnessed -- go out there and do great things, bla bla bla. As a big sports fan, I'd much rather take a SportsCenter anchor over any alumni that made a ton of money by inventing some object that I could care less about.

[RyDogg66]

You guys have to remember that public schools cant dish out the same kind of cash for commencement speakers like private schools can. That is why they usually do an alumn. For my law school graduation I think we had Tammy Baldwin, my college graduation (La Crosse) was just an assistant dean or something. It isnt like this is Brown University where they can pay someone a large chunck of money to come in.

 

Also, it IS just the winter commencement.

[hawing]

considering the fact that his only connection to the school is a short segment he did on the radio during a slow news day last summer, I can't help but think that UW was scrambling to find somebody

 

I don't remember announcements for previous graduation speakers being made much farther in advance than this one. Plus, if you do have to scramble, why pick someone out of ESPN with no obvious tie to UW or Wisconsin?

 

Commencement seems to have been one part of the campus culture that hasn't been permeated by the athletic department (perhaps until now). After I read the press release, I wondered for a moment whether this choice is intended to remind UW backers of what they love about Badger athletics - maybe to displace some of the ill will created by the Big Ten Network saga? I'm not a conspiracy theory kind of thinker, but this speaker choice seems out of character for UW-Madison.

[uecker9]

It's gotta be the two lakes!

In July of 2007 Mr. Van Pelt proclaimed The University of Wisconsin-Madison to be the #1 College Sports Campus in the Nation. He declared this after visiting multiple campus establishments including Amy's Cafe & Bar, State Street Brathaus, and Wando's (which he thought was great because of the copious amounts of bacon served). Van Pelt also cited State Street (Madison), Camp Randall Stadium, and "the two lakes" as reasons for his decision.

[hawing]

Well, there you go. Lakes Mendwingra and Kenona (or are they Wingdota and Mongonsa? I always forget).

[ccbrew]

After initially being confused, I'm warming up to the idea a little bit more. It'll be a fun story to tell at the very least, and I think he's among the more tolerable SC anchors.

 

The link to the extended radio clip that I bookmarked is now dead..anyone have it saved? They used it for the Camp Randall football intro this season too.

[TooLiveBrew]

Andy North had a prior committment? Van Pelt will probably be a fine choice.

[Roscoe Chill]

I don't know why anyone would want to go to the ceremony anyway. That said, it is kind of funny that Van Pelt is the best they can do...and I think Van Pelt is the about the only ESPN talking head I like.

[homer]

I went to the ceremony to hit on women. I graduated in December too and I don't even remember who gave our commencement speech. I do know that Al Toon received his diploma that day and got a big cheer (it was like 12 years after his playing days).

[ccbrew]

Just to update everyone, his speech was alright. Got a couple of chuckles from the crowd, but I'm afraid people wouldn't "get" his jokes if they weren't sports fans. He even referenced his infamous drunk-dial that got released on the internet last year.

 

If you're curious.. http://uwbadgers.com/video/Default.aspx?mid=1576 , about 1/4 of the way through.