This is one of the greatest thrills of my life. It's a wonderful college where they can teach you everything from Shakespeare to welding, and I'm just glad to be a part of it.

He's been very dismissive of the media all his public life ... There's a certain diffidence. It's not arrogance, [more like] why should I waste my time?

I did a little practice. I watched the college dunk contest on TV. I've always played H-OR-S-E. I've just never won before because (former teammate) Ashley Gates was too good of a shooter.

I am sad. It's like seeing my oldest son go off to college. I know he is ready for the world, but I still worry.

The whole idea (of accreditation) is that a college education ought to stand for something.

He's not a philosopher. He won't have a cup of coffee with the media and describe the inner mind of Dick Cheney. That's not who he is.