J.J. Watt took the podium as the University of Wisconsin’s commencement speaker in 2019.
The former Badgers star and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was already a fan-favorite in Madison, but he had an idea that would’ve sent his Wisconsin legend into the stratosphere.
Watt wanted to put his favorite Wisconsin-brewed beer, New Glarus Brewery’s Spotted Cow farmhouse ale, under every graduating student’s seat.
“I wanted to put a Spotted Cow under every single seat in the stadium, I’ll pay for it all. I’ll pay for the labor to put it under the seats… At the end of my commencement speech I was going to say, ‘And now to congratulate you, just reach under your seat and have a cold one on me,'” Watt explained on Green Light with Chris Long.
Unfortunately, the university shut the idea down.
Way to really drop the ball on this one @UWBadgers pic.twitter.com/OuPDcmuBsH
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) June 27, 2023
Watt countered with an offer to pass out drink vouchers for a local bar, but the university again refused.
“They said, “We just can’t associate alcohol with our graduation,'” Watt explained.
While it never actually panned out, this is a great story that truly captures Watt’s character and his love for his alma mater.