Knoxville Students Thrilled by Peyton Manning’s Surprise Visit as Guest Speaker

Knoxville Welcomes Peyton Manning as Guest Speaker

Knoxville, TN – This week, the University of Tennessee was graced with a visit from football legend Peyton Manning, who made a special appearance in a sports promotion and branding class. The surprise was a thrilling moment for students who had eagerly awaited their guest speaker.

An Unexpected Invitation

The excitement began when an email landed in the inbox of Josh Lively, an assistant director of strategic communications for Tennessee athletics. Lively, who had been teaching as an adjunct professor for just a few semesters, received a shocking announcement. He was selected to host Manning as a guest speaker.

“I’m like, holy cow, how did you guys select me?” Lively exclaimed when reflecting on the news. The email instructed him to keep the information private, and for five long months, it was his secret. Lively finally had the chance to reveal Manning’s visit to his 99 students on the first day of class.

A Moment of Surprise

To build suspense, Lively teased his students to guess who the guest was. As anticipation built, he displayed a photo of Manning on the projector. The reaction was priceless—a collective gasp filled the room. But Lively quickly played a joke, saying it couldn’t be true.

“Do you legitimately think they’re going to let me have Peyton Manning in my class? Come on guys, let’s be serious,” Lively teased. After a moment of laughter, he revealed, “I’m just kidding. It is, in fact, Peyton Manning. He is coming to our class.” The room erupted into cheers.

Student Engagement

When Manning arrived, he was greeted by an eager group of students. Many showed up early to secure the best seats. Lively noted, “You could just tell, they understood, OK, this is a big deal.” Manning made quite an impression. He spoke for over an hour, sharing insights from his remarkable career, spanning his time at Tennessee to his successful tenure in the NFL and his work with Omaha Productions.

Manning’s Insightful Lecture

Taking on the role of a true educator, Manning kept students engaged. Lively reflected, “He’s clearly very smart, but I think it’s hard to tell how smart he really is because he gives off a kind of comedic personality.” Manning responded thoughtfully to questions and avoided generic answers, diving deep into various topics during his talk.

The Impact of Manning’s Visit

This visit meant a lot, not just for the students but also for Lively, who had long admired Manning. “I was talking to him, and I could physically see the emotions in his face as he was answering,” Lively shared, noting how surreal the experience felt.

The enthusiasm from the students was palpable, as they lined up to take photos with the football icon afterward. Many expressed their excitement. CCI Dean Joe Mazer remarked to Lively that this would be the most memorable class the students would ever experience. “There’s nothing that can touch this because, I mean, the dude’s an icon,” Lively recalled.

Looking Ahead

Going forward, Manning is set to take on the role of a professor of practice at the UTK College of Communication and Information starting in the fall 2023 term. This new position will see him working alongside faculty, teaching various topics as a featured expert.

As students left the class, they carried with them not just the thrill of meeting a sports legend but also valuable lessons and insights from Manning’s experiences. This event certainly left an indelible mark on both the students and professors involved, proving that sometimes, unexpected surprises can lead to unforgettable moments in education.