So on Friday's roundup I wrote about how UCLA was looking a new graduation speaker after James Franco had pulled out (and there is speculation that idiotic protests by the Daily Bruin editorial section and some opposition via facebook groups might have had an impact on him pulling out). Lot of folks were pulling for Conan O'Brien. But it looks like UCLA came through with a pretty solid replacement:

Brad Delson, a UCLA alumnus and lead guitarist for the Grammy-winning band Linkin Park, will deliver keynote remarks at the UCLA College of Letters and Science commencement ceremony on June 12, campus officials announced today.  

Delson earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from UCLA, graduating summa cum laude in 1999. His band Linkin Park was signed by Warner Bros. Records in 2000 and has released three albums that have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The group's unique blend of alternative rock, hip-hop and electronic music has earned them critical praise, numerous industry honors, Grammy awards and an international audience of millions of devoted fans.  

Delson and his bandmates are devoted to several social causes. Linkin Park established a nonprofit organization called Music for Relief to aid victims of world catastrophes and combat global warming. Since its establishment, the organization has raised nearly $3 million, helping victims of the South Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the recent Southern California wildfires.  

Delson and his wife established the Delson Scholarship Fund at UCLA, which annually awards four-year scholarships to extraordinary students from Huntington Park, Calif.  

"Brad Delson is not only an innovative musician, but he is also a social activist who is committed to change through education," said Judith L. Smith, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education in the UCLA College of Letters and Science. "I am thrilled that Brad will be helping to commemorate this important occasion in the lives of our graduates and their families, and we are grateful that he has agreed to do so on short notice."

Brad also bleeds out blue and gold. Here is just one example:

I am certainly envious of all the grads who are going to be walking into Pauley in a week or so. They get to walk in with Aikman and Drew Olson and then get to hear from a great Bruin.

I don't even remember who spoke at my graduation years ago. I remember how incredible it felt that whole day though including the moments from gathering at Drake to that walk into Pauley.

GO BRUINS.