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Texas Tech sports figures that would make perfect commencement speakers

By Matthew Conner

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 15: A recent graduate watches Oprah Winfrey speak during a virtual graduation ceremony held by Facebook from his laptop on May 15, 2020 in New York City. The online event featured numerous celebrity speakers after the majority of graduation ceremonies around the country were canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 15: A recent graduate watches Oprah Winfrey speak during a virtual graduation ceremony held by Facebook from his laptop on May 15, 2020 in New York City. The online event featured numerous celebrity speakers after the majority of graduation ceremonies around the country were canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images) /
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NFL players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce attend the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
NFL players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce attend the 2019 NCAA men’s Final Four National Championship game  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

As former Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes prepares to be this year’s commencement speaker, let’s look at other Red Raiders that would be great in that capacity.

Friday, we learned that the most unusual graduating class in Texas Tech history would have one of the most famous commencement speakers imaginable.  Former Red Raider quarterback and reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is going to be delivering the 2020 commencement address for this year’s May 23rd virtual graduation.

With the coronavirus forcing Texas Tech to call an audible for the ceremony, it’s only fitting that the world’s best QB is honored with the opportunity to address this year’s graduates.  It sure beats the typical speakers that graduates have to sit through.

I couldn’t tell you anything about the speaker at my commencement other than the fact that he was some generic businessman who was the president of a company I’d never heard of.  I wasn’t as fortunate as my roommate, who had Texas Tech alum and country music star Pat Green deliver the address at his graduation.  Had a former NFL MVP been my speaker, it would have made the experience truly memorable.

Having not wanting sit through my graduation but doing so to please my mother, I would have loved the idea of a virtual graduation.   But to support this year’s graduates, who may feel cheated by the loss of an in-person ceremony, some of the most famous people in the world are acting as commencement speakers in on-line ceremonies.

Facebook is holding a nationwide commencement ceremony, which will feature Oprah, Jennifer Garner, and Lil Nas X, the later of whom will always remind Texas Tech basketball fans of the 2019 run to the Final Four.  Meanwhile, to honor the graduates of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), President Barack Obama will be giving an online commencement speech.  The 44th President will also participate in a graduation event airing on Youtube on June 6th.

Mahomes is certain to be far more exciting for this year’s graduates than the run of the mill state legislator or business mogul.  He has to be the most famous speaker Tech has brought in for graduation given that he’s been everywhere over the last two years since taking over the starting job in Kansas City prior to the 2018 season.

Winding up on the Forbe’s Magazine list of the top 30 athletes under 30 years old in December, he has already amassed an impressive portfolio of endorsements.  His list of sponsors includes Oakley, Head and Shoulders, State Farm, Hunt’s Ketchup, and many more.

But Mahomes wouldn’t be the only Texas Tech sports icon who could deliver a powerful graduate address.  So let’s take a look at other Red Raiders that would make excellent commencement speakers.

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