Live updates for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh's Paramus Catholic commencement speech at the Prudential Center. Watch video
NEWARK -- As the football camp he had just presided over ended, a player from Paramus Catholic approached Jim Harbaugh with a simple message.
"I'm excited for you to speak at our commencement tomorrow,'' the player told the Michigan coach Wednesday night.
"I'm looking forward to it,'' Harbaugh replied. "I'm ready to go.''
One day after directing Michigan's satellite camp, Harbaugh will once again take center stage in North Jersey, serving as speaker for the Paramus Catholic High School commencement ceremony Thursday, 6:30 p.m., at the Prudential Center.
"We put some thoughts down,'' Harbaugh told reporters Wednesday night, "and I'm excited to deliver them.''
The Paramus Catholic commencement is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Harbaugh will be one of two commencement speakers. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-10th Dist.) will deliver the opening remarks, and Harbaugh will take the podium after the valedictorian and salutatorian speeches, according to Paramus Catholic president James Vail.
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"The first speech will be by Congressman Donald Payne,'' Vail said, "and I'm sure he'll have a great message.''
As for the message he hopes Harbaugh will express to his graduates, Vail said: "I anticipate that Mr. Harbaugh will come from the perspective of the reasons why we picked him. All our speakers in the past were at the pinnacles of their respective careers. How did you get there? How do you serve the interests of your community? What does it take to succeed? I don't expect him to talk about football, and I even suggested that he not even bring up the word 'football.' Life, lessons, inspiration. All those things I'm sure will be part of it.''
You can follow live updates throughout the day in the Twitter feed below:
Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.