Overview
- O'Neal, who walked Saturday at LSU in Baton Rouge, received a Master of Liberal Arts and delivered the commencement address.
- An emcee introduced him as “Shaquille ‘I Hate Charles Barkley’ O’Neal,” a playful nod to their on-air rivalry that drew loud cheers.
- In his remarks, he urged graduates to never stop learning and to use failure as motivation, then slipped in product plugs for “Shaq‑A‑Licious” gummies and Icy Hot.
- His thesis, titled “Interdisciplinary Approach to Mentorship through the lens of the epic poem – ‘The Odyssey,’” pressed for first‑person guidance for developing athletes.
- The ceremony doubled as a celebratory LSU homecoming as he wore Omega Psi Phi regalia, and viral clips highlighted him keeping a long‑stated promise to his mother.