I Wish Taylor Sheridan Gave My Commencement Speech

Taylor Sheridan is a horned frog. That’s no insult, Yellowstone fans! The most in-demand TV creator was recognized with an honorary degree from Texas Christian University (TCU) over the weekend, where the horned frog mascot is the pride of Fort Worth. Recently, Sheridan filmed scenes for the first season of Landman on TCU's campus. He provided real-world experience in the industry for many TCU film students, vowing to prove that great stories are born right in the heart of Texas.

Sheridan didn't stop there. The Yellowstone creator lassoed collegiate crowds like a cowboy for degrees this weekend. He also spoke to the Class of 2025 at the University of Texas at Austin for their university-wide commencement ceremony on May 10. Sheridan told the crowd to go out into the world and “prove them wrong.”

"There will be rejection," Sheridan said to the audience of young graduates. “Look at it as a gift, because it is showing you a person who does not have the ability to understand your vision.” Then, Sheridan told the crowd to push forward and “never look back for their reaction to your success. Because they are standing exactly where they need to be standing, which is obscured by your shadow.” You can watch Sheridan's full UT commencement speech below.

Sheridan's honorary degree marked a major milestone for the TV writer and creator, since he never finished college himself. According to the local FOX 4 KDFW News in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Sheridan grew up in Fort Worth and attended various Texas universities until he dropped out to pursue a job in Hollywood. In his speech, he joked about having a 2.2 GPA and an 890 on his SATs. “You get 400 points for signing your name,” he joked. “So, my application [to the University of Texas] was denied. It should come as no surprise to anyone here that my 2.2 GPA did garner me an acceptance letter to the University of Oklahoma."

Sheridan now helms several successful series for the Paramount Network, including Landman, Tulsa King, Lioness, Mayor of Kingstown, Yellowstone, and several spin-offs. Outside of his TV empire, Sheridan is also currently working on his dream film project, an adaptation of S.C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon.

“In the immortal words of Mike Tyson, ‘Everyone has a plan until you punched in the mouth,’” Sheridan told the UT crowd. “And trust me, life punches hard. So, you take the lick, and then you punch back harder.” Then, he told the graduates to, “Hook ‘em. Every damn one of ‘em."