Texas Tech sports figures that would make perfect commencement speakers

Chris Beard

Being as Texas Tech basketball coach Chris Beard is the most popular man in West Texas these days if he were to give the commencement address, they might have to move the ceremony to Jones Stadium to accommodate everyone that would show up.

There’s no question that Beard would be an engaging and entertaining speaker and one that the graduates would remember.  Best of all, he likely wouldn’t give the standard speech stuffy and boring address that is chalked full of cliches about life.

Not long ago, we looked back at some of Beard’s best press conferences and if they are any indication of what he would talk about in a graduation speech, we would be regaled by anecdotes about Whataburger, enchiladas, and who knows what else.

Certainly, Beard’s journey from the vagabond head coach of an A.B.A team who lived out of a hotel through the lower ranks of the college game and on to stardom at Texas Tech would be one that has taught him quite a bit about life.  That’s an experience that would give him plenty of tidbits to share with graduates.

There’s also no question that Beard can motivate people.  On a nearly annual basis, he’s been able to bring the best out of teams that have seen at least half of their rosters swapped out for new players.  Trying to inspire a room of graduates would be easy by comparison.

One has to wonder if Beard would freelance more than the average graduation speaker though.  That’s when he’s at his best, as we so often see in his wildly popular Fireside Chats.  

Regardless of whether or not he worked from a script, Beard would be the ideal commencement speaker.  Especially if he works some Whataburger metaphors into his remarks.