ESPN analyst, host, and sideline reporter Maria Taylor can often be heard on the airwaves speaking proudly of her alma mater, the University of Georgia. She got to do one better on May 13, delivering the commencement address at her alma mater, giving the Class of 2021 both advice as well as perspective.

May 13 also marked the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of the University of Georgia, a school Taylor's grandmother, Lavonia Matthews was unable to attend when she graduated high school due to that very reason. Taylor spoke about the significance of being able to represent the school on behalf of her later grandmother.

The Georgia-native graduated from The Grady College with a degree in journalism in 2009, and also earned her MBA from UGA in 2013. Taylor recently appeared on the Steam Room, co-hosted by Charles Barkley and fellow UGA alumni Ernie Johnson, who also delivered the commencement address in Athens back in 2017. Barkley asked each to describe their nerves before giving the speech.

"You definitely have some butterflies, but the excitement of being able to do that and the honor of being able to do that far outweighed any of that," Johnson said. "I can't even describe the honor and the privilege that that was."

"I was more nervous to give the commencement speech than I am doing most shows that we do," Maria Taylor said, noting the live audience and gravitas of the moment. "You recognize what an honor that really is."