Former University of Wisconsin quarterback and Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson was announced Wednesday as the 2016 spring commencement speaker.
Senior Class Secretary Bill Mulligan said the senior class officers wanted to select someone representative of what UW stands for, which they felt Wilson embodies.
Citing Wilson’s work in the community, Mulligan said his inspirational role extends beyond the football field.
“One of the things that we really feel strongly about as senior class officers is the Wisconsin Idea and that we should be striving to impact and improve our community and we think that Russell Wilson does a really good job with that,” Mulligan said.
Darrell Bevell, also a former Badger quarterback and Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, announced Wilson as the spring commencement speaker in a YouTube video.
“It’s an honor to be the 2016 Spring Commencement speaker,” Wilson said. “I’m looking forward to it. As always, on Wisconsin.”
Mulligan said UW does not pay commencement speakers to speak at graduation but do cover their flights and hotels.
Russell will succeed last year’s spring commencement speaker Katie Couric.
Many UW students tweeted their reactions to the news. Some were thrilled:
So pumped Russell Wilson is speaking at our commencement for gradation. That guy is the man #canigetasignature? @DangeRussWilson
— Austin Schneider (@A_Schneids) February 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/MaraHuber/status/695051113217855488
Russell Wilson is the mf commencement speaker this year o m g
— tay (@tayfendos) February 3, 2016
SO EXCITED THAT @DangeRussWilson is the 2016 spring commencement speaker! #proud badger #onwisconsin
— Sarah Golob (@golob_sarah) February 3, 2016
Others not so much:
Of course UW would get Russell Wilson, walking cliché, for their commencement speaker. 😑 #notafan
— Jenny (Scherer) Benkert (@jenny_benkert) February 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/stevenfels/status/695042127374503936
Russell Wilson is the commencement speaker. Fuck everything.
— CCC (@moderndaybc) February 3, 2016
Praying 🙏🏼 that Russell Wilson doesn't bring up god too much in our commencement speech
— lokis mom (@sobertacious) February 3, 2016
Mulligan said he thinks Wilson will remind graduating seniors of some of their best times at UW.
“I think everybody can relate to the experience in Camp Randall and…to have him come back one more time as graduating [seniors] I think will be really inspirational for us.”
Commencement will take place May 14 at Camp Randall.
