Jim McMahon set to graduate from BYU after 37 years

Thirty-seven years after enrolling at BYU, former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon is finally set to graduate from college.

Author:
Extra Mustard
Publish date:
Sep 18, 2014

Thirty-seven years after enrolling at BYU, former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon is finally set to graduate from college.

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Despite playing four seasons at BYU, McMahon had not accrued enough credits to graduate and was too busy leading the life of an NFL quarterback to finish his degree in the ensuing years. McMahon told the Deseret News he finally found the time and energy to complete his studies in 2014.

"I got real tired of studying. I think I studied more in the last eight months than I did in the five years of school that I went there. I'm glad it's over with. It's taken me 37 years, but I got it done."

McMahon added that, just like a real college student, the first people he called when he finished his last course were his parents.

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The "punky QB" is currently in the College Football Hall of Fame, but was not eligible for BYU's until he completed his full course load.

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Athletes at Graduation

Kim Clijsters

Kim Clijsters received an honorary degree from the Free University of Brussels this year, prompting the former tennis star to say, "It was important for me to be playing tennis and to be as good as possible. The fact that I'm here because of a sporting career is truly a great honor... It's my first degree ever." Here's a look at some other sports figures at graduations.