Mother's Day is always special, whether your kids are still going to school or they're fully grown adults making a living out in the real world. Mother's Day gifts also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most moms can remember every single one of them.

In the case of Joyce Brinkley, the mother of Minnesota Vikings' linebacker Jasper Brinkley, she got a gift this Mother's Day weekend that she will certainly never forget. Yesterday, Mrs. Brinkley was in Columbia, South Carolina, watching her son walk across the stage and receive his college degree in African-American Studies from the University of South Carolina. This makes Jasper, the Vikings' fifth-round pick in the 2009 Draft, the first member of his family to earn a college degree.

Brinkley was anticipating having to take classes online in order to finish his degree, but thanks to the NFL Lockout, he just stayed in Columbia and finished classes instead.

One curious thing about the article is this passage.

As for Mother’s Day, Brinkley says he has something really special planned his Mom. He will do flowers and all that tradition stuff. But Brinkley is also going to surprise her with a 60-inch flat-screen TV, perfect for watching her son on Sundays.

"I am going to make Mother’s Day really special for her," Brinkley says.

Considering the date on this article was May 2, which was this Monday. . .I certainly hope Mrs. Brinkley didn't read anything about her son's graduation on the internet between Monday and Saturday. Would have been harder to pull off that surprise that way.

Congratulations to Jasper Brinkley on getting his degree and keeping his promise to his mother, giving her a Mother's Day gift that she'll always remember.