Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback and former Wisconsin star Russell Wilson returned to Madison this Saturday to give the guest of honor speech for spring commencement 2016. Wilson gave the new graduates some words of wisdom which he learned in the years following his graduation for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wilson, the 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year, 2015 NFL leader in his passer rating, and Super Bowl XLVIII champion, delivered a refreshingly funny and valuable speech. Despite his successes in life, Wilson focused on the failures, on the “no’s” in his career, that have led him to his many accomplishments.
“I’ve stood in this end zone many times before, but never quite in a uniform this ridiculous. I’m just waiting for the Jump Around,” Wilson said to begin his speech.
He went on to talk his excitement at coming back to Madison, particularly his nostalgia for Wando’s and their famous fishbowls. With a sense of humility and humor, Wilson discussed his selection for the 2016 spring commencement speaker.
“When there’s a 300-pound guy chasing me down the field with a big G on the side of his helmet wearing green and yellow, the last thing I’m thinking about his ‘How do I use my liberal arts degree?’” Wilson joked.
While Wilson was only at UW Madison for about a year, he had a lot to say about his alma mater and lot of advice to give to his fellow Badger students.
1. “If you’re dating a woman way out of your league, ask her to marry you.”
( Along with his mother and sister, Wilson’s new fiancée, pop and R&B singer Ciara, was in attendance at UW’s commencement.)
2. “If you can throw a football 80 yards, for some reason, people think it’s really cool.”
3. “You can’t do it alone. You’ve got to surround yourself with good people.”
4. “Make the most of whatever talents we were born with, whatever gifts God has given us.”
5. Potential just means you haven’t done it yet.”
(Wilson shared several wise words from his father, who passed away in 2010. Whether that be with T-Ball or collegiate baseball and football, Wilson’s dad pushed him to do his best but never let his talent become cockiness.)
6. “The moments that really matter are the moments when life tells you no”
7. “When life tells you no, ask yourself honestly, ‘What am I capable of?’”
8. “When life tells you no, find a way to keep things in perspective.”
9. “Find a way to keep things in perspective.”
10. “Go make it happen. Time to write your own [story].”
Wilson’s speech was a bit of a sting to his former school, North Carolina State University. Yet, the “no” Wilson received from NC State following his junior year of college, became the “yes” from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which translated to three Pro Bowls, two NFC Championship wins, and one Super Bowl victory.
Wilson praised his alma mater for living out the Wisconsin Idea.
“[It’s] not just a motto,” Wilson said. “It’s a commitment to work hard and surround yourself with good people, to never stop improving and to make the world just a little bit better every day.”
Photo courtesy of UW Madison, Jeff Miller.