Enberg's Commencement Address to MU Class of 2009

[Marquette Mama]

For those interested, here is a link to Dick Enberg's address, delivered at yesterday's MU commencement ceremony.  Includes nice homage to Al.

http://ow.ly/7yZR

[Robyrd5]

As someone who graduated yesterday, I loved this speech. But isn't the "Eat the banana" part missing?

[MU_Warrior44]

I don't remember Enburg telling the banana story, and I thought I had paid attention to his speech. I heard that someone speaking at the College of Communications graduation told the banana story though so maybe that's what you're thinking of?

[Robyrd5]

I don't remember Enburg telling the banana story, and I thought I had paid attention to his speech. I heard that someone speaking at the College of Communications graduation told the banana story though so maybe that's what you're thinking of?

Ah, you're right. Dr. Turner told that story. Thanks for setting me straight!

[SoCalwarrior]

Added to the wiki. By the way, if you happen to have a speech not on the wiki, please add.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

Great, great speech.  Jealous of my friends that got to both hear Steve Rushin in '07 and Enberg this year at their graduation/sibling's graduation.  I got stuck with Cokie Roberts for mine in '05 and some guy I don't remember for my sister's in 2008 

[Ari Gold]

Enberg was great but did anyone else think he name dropped a little? I didn't mind

I think our assumptions about the student speaker were right. -same with the CoC girl- Self righteous much?

[IAmMarquette]

Enberg was great but did anyone else think he name dropped a little? I didn't mind

I think our assumptions about the student speaker were right. -same with the CoC girl- Self righteous much?

By no means am I an accomplished public speaker, but man, did the student speaker sound like she was in 8th grade? Her attempt to speak clearly just made her sound slow.

[downtown85]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&hl=en-GB&v=hIOJkBr8Tzg



2009 commencement address now up on Youtube.  Lot's of Al references. 

[Robyrd5]

By no means am I an accomplished public speaker, but man, did the student speaker sound like she was in 8th grade? Her attempt to speak clearly just made her sound slow.

Agreed. Kind of robot-like. And I wasn't a fan of the content either (nor was anyone in my general vicinity). She didn't seem to find the right balance between relatable and cliche. I'm sure it was inspirational for the people who managed to stay awake long enough to hear it all.

[🏀]

Agreed. Kind of robot-like. And I wasn't a fan of the content either (nor was anyone in my general vicinity). She didn't seem to find the right balance between relatable and cliche. I'm sure it was inspirational for the people who managed to stay awake long enough to hear it all.

Did she take out her retainer?

[DJO's Pump Fake]

Agreed, everyone sitting by me as well as myself thought she was an awful speaker....hard to pay attention and/or awake during that one.

[Jam Chowder]

Good golly you guys are a tough crowd.  Granted, not the most exciting speech I've ever heard, and more than a little cliche, but lay off.  Enberg was great, and the student was about what was to be expected.  No need to beat up on her.

[chapman]

Agreed. Kind of robot-like. And I wasn't a fan of the content either (nor was anyone in my general vicinity). She didn't seem to find the right balance between relatable and cliche. I'm sure it was inspirational for the people who managed to stay awake long enough to hear it all.

I don't know anyone who was able to follow the five minute story spoken in the least storytelling manner possible. 
But as far as individual schools, I heard from two different people that the Health Sciences speaker was very interesting.

[MUfan12]

Good golly you guys are a tough crowd.  Granted, not the most exciting speech I've ever heard, and more than a little cliche, but lay off.  Enberg was great, and the student was about what was to be expected.  No need to beat up on her.

Frankly, I think they should do away with student speeches anyway. They are all the same cliche, sterile material that serves no purpose but to drag the ceremony out further.

I was far more entertained by the dentists exploits than the student speaker (who I thought was nauseating).

[Robyrd5]

Frankly, I think they should do away with student speeches anyway. They are all the same cliche, sterile material that serves no purpose but to drag the ceremony out further.

I was far more entertained by the dentists exploits than the student speaker (who I thought was nauseating).

Yeah, I didn't think our comments were that harsh. It's always important to know who your audience is, and I think she definitely missed the mark.

[augoman]

My youngest daughter spoke at Northwestern's Master of Engineering Management ceremony, and I could feel the restlessness in the room as soon as she was introduced..., prior to her opening her mouth, and regardless of her theme or delivery.  There is a presumption of banality that automatically accompanies these speeches, usually not far off the mark.  That is why both my wife and I had our diplomas mailed and we did not attend.

[Jam Chowder]

I think the selection process and subsequent screening by the university is primarily responsible for the quality of the product.  I think they are okay with the same thing every year as long as it doesn't go against the grain.  Par for the course with the administration, but I don't think we'd expect anything else.

[Steak]

I don't know anyone who was able to follow the five minute story spoken in the least storytelling manner possible. 
But as far as individual schools, I heard from two different people that the Health Sciences speaker was very interesting.

Health Sciences did not have a college graduation, they had individual majors' ceremonies. If you're talking about the Biomedical Sciences, yeah, it was interesting all right. It was a combination of self-serving and sob story.

I'm sad to say that both that speaker, and the student speaker at commencement were both in my major. Even sadder is the fact that I sat through both speeches and did not even think to go to sleep. It's embarrassing how terrible both speeches were.

[77fan88warrior]

Enberg was great but did anyone else think he name dropped a little? I didn't mind

I think our assumptions about the student speaker were right. -same with the CoC girl- Self righteous much?

Did he mention Chicos?

[rugbydrummer]

Health Sciences did not have a college graduation, they had individual majors' ceremonies. If you're talking about the Biomedical Sciences, yeah, it was interesting all right. It was a combination of self-serving and sob story.

I'm sad to say that both that speaker, and the student speaker at commencement were both in my major. Even sadder is the fact that I sat through both speeches and did not even think to go to sleep. It's embarrassing how terrible both speeches were.

oooh do tell!  about the BISC speech, that is.  Who was the faculty speaker? Dr. Bell?  Dr. Bell is the best.  last year he didn't tell us to copy and distribute JournalWatch amongst ourselves  and you gotta love Dr. Kos as the emcee.

Also ditto on you, student speaker.  Last year's (Annie) was much better, but then again an Honors English major I think I'm sorry you can't isolate your audience by droning on about a service trip than only 10 other people were even involved in. 

Last year's Commencement speaker was Andrew Natsios, Distinguished Professor in the practice
of diplomacy at Georgetown University http://www.marquette.edu/graduation/natsios_speech.shtml

Dick Enberg rocked, what can we say?!

[TallTitan34]

I won a bet we made before the speech.  I had Enberg making 18 Al references and he did just that.  Muwarrior87 foolishly overbid with around 26.   

Myself and the others around me also felt the student speaker sucked.  The guy who spoke at my high-school graduation was 18 times better.

[Steak]

oooh do tell!  about the BISC speech, that is.  Who was the faculty speaker? Dr. Bell?  Dr. Bell is the best.  last year he didn't tell us to copy and distribute JournalWatch amongst ourselves  and you gotta love Dr. Kos as the emcee.

Also ditto on you, student speaker.  Last year's (Annie) was much better, but then again an Honors English major I think I'm sorry you can't isolate your audience by droning on about a service trip than only 10 other people were even involved in. 

Last year's Commencement speaker was Andrew Natsios, Distinguished Professor in the practice
of diplomacy at Georgetown University http://www.marquette.edu/graduation/natsios_speech.shtml

Dick Enberg rocked, what can we say?!

Well, the student speaker for BISC started out strong, content-wise. She was sick, so her voice was cracking, which was simply awesome. She was basically telling her autobiography. However, she was cracking jokes about the faculty so it was okay. She then got to a personal tragedy in her life that sucked any fun out of the room. She continued her autobiography and tried to crack jokes, but nobody was laughing anymore. She finished up by talking about how she was going to UW-Moscow for med school and she "never could have imagined she could turn down Harvard and Northwestern for medical school" earlier in her life.

As for the faculty speaker, it was indeed Dr. Bell, for the second year in a row. He meandered around with different topics, he hesitated a lot. He cracked all these dry jokes. He pulled out a copy of a book called The Dumbest Generation, and told us to prove the book wrong. He told us that we do not need to read the book, but rather go to Barnes and Noble, take the jacket off, and photocopy it. He made reference to the fact that he "touched generations of students"  In other words, it was classic Dr. Bell. The students roared with laughter because it was exactly what we wanted. Our parents were not as pleased.

[rugbydrummer]

Well, the student speaker for BISC started out strong, content-wise. She was sick, so her voice was cracking, which was simply awesome. She was basically telling her autobiography. However, she was cracking jokes about the faculty so it was okay. She then got to a personal tragedy in her life that sucked any fun out of the room. She continued her autobiography and tried to crack jokes, but nobody was laughing anymore. She finished up by talking about how she was going to UW-Moscow for med school and she "never could have imagined she could turn down Harvard and Northwestern for medical school" earlier in her life.

As for the faculty speaker, it was indeed Dr. Bell, for the second year in a row. He meandered around with different topics, he hesitated a lot. He cracked all these dry jokes. He pulled out a copy of a book called The Dumbest Generation, and told us to prove the book wrong. He told us that we do not need to read the book, but rather go to Barnes and Noble, take the jacket off, and photocopy it. He made reference to the fact that he "touched generations of students"  In other words, it was classic Dr. Bell. The students roared with laughter because it was exactly what we wanted. Our parents were not as pleased.

so it was like Slumdog Millionaire for Marquette? 

oh, good ol' Dr. Bell!  he's the best!