Marquette University today congratulated former Golden Eagles star and NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade with a half-page, color ad in the print edition of USA Today. Wade helped the Miami Heat clinch its first NBA championship with a victory in Game 6 Tuesday night in Dallas.

"Thousands of Marquette alumni across the country share our pride in Dwyane Wade. Through his excellence both on and off the court, he has shown the world what it means to be from Marquette," Brigid O'Brien Miller, Director of University Communications told us.

The ad features Wade in his MU uniform with the following text:

"The World is watching your game. We're watching you, and have never been more proud."
"Dwyane Wade. 2006 NBA Finals MVP -- Miami Heat NBA Champions.

"Excellence. Faith. Leadership. Service. These are the pillars of the Marquette Mission, we see them shining in you."

The University's logo, Web site and tagline "Be the Difference," close the ad.

Wade is alum of Marquette based upon total undergraduate credits, but he has yet to fulfill requirements to receive his degree. There is talk in the campus community that Marquette will retire Wade's jersey No. 3 after he earns his degree.

The open rate for a one-time, half-page, national ad in USA Today is $108,070. University officials negotiated a substantially discounted rate by working directly with the publication. USA Today claims an audience of over 5.2 million readers.

5 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on July 13, 2006 at 7:36 p.m. (report)

Mike MU '96 said: It is good to see a graduate...oops...attendee from the University excel in something they love. BUT, we shouldn't "honor" someone (this is not directed at Wade - a generalization of most professional sports) for inspiring today's youth to put everything you've got into your sports talent, maybe enter college, and if you do, drop out at the first chance you get at going pro. Bank the rest of your life on one shot that could end instantly in an injury. Who needs education anyway? There's always some social service program to keep you going. Kristen Maskala was an awesome ball player, graduated with all sorts of academic honors, and continues to serve the community above and beyond the norm. Good for her! That's the kind of honorary add we should see in the paper.

Posted by OMCreader on July 13, 2006 at 4:42 p.m. (report)

Sportsbook Steve said: Shorewood State!! High-larious. Show me the funny. Honoring someone and serving your own best interests are not always mutually exclusive . . . unless you attended Shorewood State I guess. . .

Posted by OMCreader on July 13, 2006 at 9:38 a.m. (report)

Jen said: Yes, it was an ad for MU, and a really smart move on the part of the university's marketing department. I was really impressed to see that.

Posted by OMCreader on July 13, 2006 at 9:26 a.m. (report)

Real Chili said: No, instead he said thanks to the University and was shocked and honored to see the ad. Let me guess, you went to Shorewood State???

Posted by OMCreader on July 13, 2006 at 8:18 a.m. (report)

Big P said: Thats no honor to Wade. Thats a half page advertisment for MU. Seriously, I wonder if Wade gets any yearly student tuition royalties for for this endorsment.

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