For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 5, 2001
Remarks by the President During Photo Opportunity with University of Oklahoma Football and Softball Teams
The East Room
3:45 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Sit
down. (Laughter.) It's an honor to be here. This
is the first championship teams that I've had a chance to honor since
I've been the President. And it's a big deal for a boy from
Texas to welcome the folks from Oklahoma
here. (Laughter.) I was going to say "my fellow
Texans."
I am so proud of you all; thank you for
coming. Senator, thank you for being
here. Congressman, I appreciate you being
here. President Boren, you had quite a year. You
had quite a year.
First, let me say to the unsinkable bunch of
upstarts, the ladies softball
team: congratulations. Coach Patricia Gasso did a
fabulous job, and I'm honored that you all have come. I am
fully aware of the dominance of California teams in ladies
softball. And you proved that those of us who live in the
middle part of the country can win, as well.
And to the football
team. Congratulations, coach, I know you're proud of these
people. We share a lot in common -- we both started our
respective campaigns as underdogs. (Laughter.) We
both won our championships in the state of
Florida. (Laughter and applause.) There's a big
difference though: it took you all 60 minutes -- (laughter)
-- it took me 36 days. (Laughter.)
But it's my honor to welcome you all
here. I like to remind those who are champions on the field
that it's important to be a champion off the field, too; that there are
a lot of young men and women who look at you all as
champs. And that adds an added burden, an added sense of
responsibility. That if part of our role as role models is
to set the -- to explain the difference between right and wrong to
people looking at us, then we've go to live that way.
Being the champ, the national champ, is an
awesome responsibility. It means not only do you get to
carry a trophy, it means you have the burden of setting the example, of
saying to young kids, somebody cares about you enough so that we'll
help you make the right choices in life, so they get to be a champion
-- not only on the football fields or on the softball diamonds, but in
life; in life. And so, I am so honored you're
here. I really appreciate you coming.
I'm proud of your victory. It's a
big deal to be the national champs. But it's also going to be a big
deal to set the right example for some young lady or some young man who
wonders whether or not life's worth it all; as you've proven it
is. You've proven that if you set a goal and work hard, you
can achieve it. And so congratulations to the great
University of Oklahoma teams. I'm proud to welcome you, I'm
proud you're here in the people's house. It is an honor to
be your President; more than you can possibly imagine. And
it's an honor to welcome you here.
God bless. (Applause.)
(Gifts are presented.) (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all
for coming. I look forward to shaking everybody's
hand. And I guess it's time to get a few pictures.
But, again, I want to welcome you all
here. This is a majestic place, as you can
see. It is a magnificent home, and it's the people's house.
That's what we like to call it. We're just temporary
residents. But it's an honor to have you all
here. I hope you get a good tour and realize this country is
a fantastic place. It's based upon the greatest principle of
all, we're all free, and we're all equal under the eyes of God.
God bless. (Applause.)
END 3:55
P.M. EST
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