Once again, Rutgers is in the spotlight — and not for good news.
The latest public relations nightmare came after paralyzed football player Eric LeGrand revealed Monday night he was offered the opportunity to be the school’s commencement speaker — before the invitation was pulled two days later and it was announced former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean would speak instead.
Rutgers officials were forced to scramble Tuesday, backtracking amid the backlash. University president Robert Barchi announced LeGrand will speak and described the back-and-forth as a “miscommunication.”
“I felt I was being disrespected at first because nobody was answering me,” LeGrand said in a phone interview. “It was tough to see. I didn’t understand it. … I’m just glad everything worked out. They had a miscommunication on their part. We finally got together on the phone to figure everything out.”
LeGrand, 23, said he received a call Saturday night from Gregory Jackson, chief of staff for Barchi, asking whether he wanted to speak at the May 18 commencement after former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice withdrew. On Monday, athletic director Julie Hermann informed him via voicemail the invitation to speak had been withdrawn. LeGrand, whose recovery of motor function following a horrifying on-field incident has been a source of inspiration, said he was upset because Jackson didn’t return his calls. LeGrand spoke with Barchi on Tuesday to settle the issue.
“I am a part of Rutgers,” LeGrand said. “I’m just glad I can be part of the commencement. I’m proud to do that.”
It’s just the latest in a series of PR black eyes surrounding the Rutgers athletic department, beginning with the Mike Rice bullying scandal last spring and several subsequent controversies involving Hermann and new basketball coach Eddie Jordan.
“Over the past year, it’s been rough over there,” LeGrand said. “It’s tough to see a school being talked about negatively. But they’re a part of me. So I’ve got to be a part of it. I can’t walk away from them. I’ll do whatever I can to fix the problems.”
LeGrand said he is thrilled he will have the opportunity to address Rutgers’ graduating class, despite the miscommunication. LeGrand had his life altered during his junior football campaign when he sustained a paralyzing neck injury while making a head-first tackle in a game against Army on Oct. 16, 2010, at MetLife Stadium. Displaying perseverance, he has become a national celebrity for his “bELieve” campaign.
This past January, LeGrand earned his degree in labor studies. Now, he will give the commencement address at his former football stadium with his retired No. 52 jersey hanging from high atop a coaching booth.
“I’m going to share my story with them. I hope they walk away with inspiration and hope in themselves and belief in me,” he said. “I have an idea of what I’m going to say. I’ll speak from the heart. I never write anything down [when I give speeches].
“I hope I can leave them with something they can remember for the rest of their life.”