President Bush Congratulates 11 NCAA Championship Teams
Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity with NCAA Spring Champions
The East Room
2:39 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Welcome. Please, be seated; thank
you. This is Champions Day here at the White House, and I want to
welcome all the champs who are here. I particularly love being around
those who've set high goals, worked hard to achieve them and win.
I want to thank the chancellors, presidents, athletic directors,
supporters, family members for being here, as well. I'm honored to
welcome people of high accomplishment to the White House. You're here
during extraordinary times. This is a time of challenge for our
country. It's really a time to determine the fiber of our nation, the
character of our people. We're being tested. But because we're
Americans, because we believe things hold values deeply in our heart,
we will succeed -- there's no question in my mind.
And one way we're going to succeed is for all of us --
particularly the champs here -- to remember there is a responsibility
that comes with being a champion. I happen to believe you have a
responsibility to set an example for others; that as you succeed on the
field of play, you've got to remember there are youngsters looking at
you, trying to determine how they should live their life. So as you
set high standards for yourself, I hope you remember people are
watching and that you can affect people's lives in an incredibly
positive way.
There's another way you can serve your community, as well, by
loving a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself; that a champion
on the field can be a champion off the field by mentoring a child or
caring for somebody in need or helping to eliminate pockets of despair
and hopelessness in the country. You've got an opportunity as
champions to be champions off the field in the community in which you
live. And there's no question in my mind that when you put your mind
to it, you can. You can help shape the character of the country. You
can overcome -- help overcome evil by doing some good in the
communities in which you live.
So I want to welcome you all here. I want to welcome two members
of the United States Congress -- Jim Walsh and Joe Wilson -- Jim
from New York, and Joe from South Carolina.
I appreciate all the team captains who are up here. And it's now
my honor to kind of go through the roster of the champs, those who have
earned the title of NCAA Champion and, therefore, get to come to this
fabulous place. (Laughter.) My temporary home.
First, out of the state of California, the softball champs, NCAA
Softball champs from the University of California, coached by Diane
Ninemire. These girls beat a tough field. They got a one-hitter from
Jocelyn Forrest to win the championship. It's my honor to welcome the
Golden Bears of California, here to the White House. (Applause.)
Next, men's lacrosse. This year was dominated by Syracuse --
I say "dominated" -- they won the last four games by one goal, but
they were 15 and 2 -- (laughter.) They were 15 and 2. They've won
their eighth National Championship. They are coached by John Desko. A
fine group of people from Syracuse. Congratulations, and welcome to
the White House. (Applause.)
And then the best women's lacrosse team in the history of Princeton
University is with us. At least, that's how they were rated by those
who know something about women's lacrosse. Their coach is Chris
Sailer; Gary Walters, the athletic director. These ladies scored the
most points and the most goals in Princeton history. I know the
Syracuse men beat Princeton; it's lucky you didn't play the women this
year. (Laughter.) Anyway, it's my honor to welcome the Princeton
Tigers, NCAA champs here. (Applause.)
(A T-shirt was presented to the President.) (Laughter and
applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Tennis team. (Laughter.) The University of
Southern California Trojans have been coached by a man named Dick Leach
for 23 years. And under his leadership, they've won four NCAA
champions, they've won 16 in their school's history.
It is my honor to welcome Coach Leach, the University of Southern
California Trojan champions, along with new coach Peter Smith and
Athletic Director Mike Garrett. Welcome to the White House.
(Applause.)
(A T-shirt was presented to the President.) (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Stanford University. They win a lot of things, and
this year the women's tennis team is here at the White House because
they won the NCAA champions. They're coached by Lele Forood. They
have been here a lot. They were here two years in a row. This is
their second year in a row. They have won the national championship 12
times in 22 years. It is my honor to welcome a group of ladies from a
school that has had an unbelievable tradition of winning NCAA
championships, and that is the Stanford women's tennis team. Welcome.
(Applause.)
Men's golf. The University of Minnesota won its first NCAA men's
golf championship this year. Incredibly enough, it was the only team
in the tournament to finish below par. That's a hard course.
I want to thank Brad James, the head coach, and Joel Maturi, who is
the athletic director, for coming. And congratulations to the Golden
Gophers Golf Team of Minnesota. (Applause.) Guy must think I play
golf a lot around here. (Laughter.)
And the women's golf team of Duke University is the NCAA champs,
coached by Dan Brooks. This is their second national title. Joel
Aleva is here as well, who is the athletic director. Dan Brooks must
be a great coach -- looks like a pretty young guy to me, and he's
already in the National Golf Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
Congratulations, Duke, congratulations for a victory. These girls
told me they're going to be back next year. I look forward to seeing
them again. (Applause.)
LS&U;, right across the border from where I used to live. I want to
welcome the mens outdoor track and field team and the women's indoor
track and field team. If you ever follow college track, you know that
LSU has been dominate, to say the least. And once again, they have
been dominate. This is the 23rd championship under Coach Pat Henry's
leadership. And I want to welcome first the mens outdoor track team.
Welcome to the White House, and congratulations for a great victory.
(Applause.)
And the women's indoor track team routed the field this year.
Their closest competitor was 14 points. Welcome to the LSU Tigers
women's track team. Congratulations. (Applause.)
The University of South Carolina had never won an NCAA championship
until this year, when the women's outdoor track and field team beat a
tough field. It's my honor to welcome Andrew Sorenson, who is the
President of the university, Mike McGee, the athletic director, Coach
Curtis Frye and the women from the University of South Carolina. It's
a great tribute to your skill and talent. It's a great honor for you
to have won your university's first NCAA championship. Welcome to the
White House. (Applause.)
And finally -- (laughter) -- the mighty Longhorns of the
University of Texas. There were a lot of people here in the White
House that were sweating out the NCAA final in college baseball this
year. I'm probably going to rewrite a little history here, but I was
the governor when Augie Garrido first came to the University of Texas.
And as I recall it, he said, I'm going to win a national championship
for Texas. He just didn't tell me he was going to win the national
championship when I was going to be the President. (Laughter.) He
forgot the second part.
But we're really proud of the University of Texas. We're proud of
Coach Garrido. We're proud of the -- we're proud of all the Texans
here that work here in Washington, D.C. are proud to be able to "hook
the horns." Congratulations. (Applause.)
So that concludes Championship Day here at the White House. We
hope to see you all here next year. In the meantime, I want you to
remember that you're a citizen of the greatest country on the face of
the earth. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless
America. Thanks for coming. (Applause.)