Surprise engagement for Gophers' OJ Smith after graduation

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - It’s been a life-changing week for OJ Smith. On Wednesday, he walked across the stage at the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development commencement ceremony and was handed his degree. Moments later, the Gophers football player was switching from a three-point stance to a one-knee stance, proposing to his girlfriend.

The surprise engagement happened as Smith celebrated his graduation with family and friends. A projector displayed a Valentine’s Day gift Smith had sent to his girlfriend in Florida, setting up the surprise.

“I just want to talk about this picture right here,” Smith said. “It’s weird. I don’t know if you know, but I had trouble getting you this. I didn’t know if I wanted chocolate or a bear or a balloon. You were so far away from me in Florida that I just didn’t know what to get you so I got all three.”

“But you missed one thing though. It didn’t say Happy Valentine’s Day,” Smith said, referring to the writing on the balloon. “It said Will You Marry Me?”

That’s when Smith dropped to one knee and placed a ring on his girlfriend’s quivering finger.

“Best decision I ever made!” Smith posted on Twitter.

The moment was captured in a well-produced video by Emma Jorgensen, which had already been viewed more than 30,000 times on Twitter by Friday afternoon.

Congratulations OJ!