    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [April 26, 1993]
    [Pages 511-512]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Champion University of Arkansas Track Team
    April 26, 1993

        Thank you very much. Please be seated. As all of you know, as an
    ardent sports fan I have happily followed the practice of previous
    Presidents in welcoming to the White House various national championship
    teams in college and professional athletics. But this is a special honor
    for me today to welcome to the White House an historic team, the NCAA
    indoor track champions for the 10th year in a row, the Razorbacks from
    my home State and home university, the University of Arkansas.
        I also want to extend a special welcome to my friend, who this year
    became the most successful coach in the history of intercollegiate
    athletics, John McDonnell. I'm sorry it's raining here today. I wanted
    the team to have a chance to try out the new jogging track on the South
    Lawn. [Laughter]
        I also want to say that this team has done some amazing things. I
    would like to just say that it's really worth contemplating how it
    happened and what it means for the efforts they made and the kinds of
    things that ought to be done in intercollegiate athletics and at the
    athletic events and teams of younger people, too. This is the first time
    that any team in any sport has ever won 10 national titles in a row. The
    Razorbacks, under coach McDonnell, have now won 18 national
    championships in cross-country and indoor and outdoor track, which makes
    him the winningest coach in history.
        Just think of it, though, John: If you had come here last year they
    might have called you the failed coach from a small southern State.
    [Laughter] Before the coach came to the University of Arkansas we really
    had no history of track success there; football got all the attention.
    He left his native County Mayo in the west of Ireland and made his way
    to Arkansas, and he's been bringing our track teams the Irish luck ever
    since.
        I am told now that every one of our school's indoor and outdoor
    track records is held by one of John's recruits. Over the last three
    decades, since he came to the university in the seventies, he's coached
    10 Olympians in 4 games, including Mike Conley who won the gold in the
    triple jump last year in Barcelona. He's fostered 19

    [[Page 512]]

    individual national champions in 39 different events.
        I actually think that I might hire him to become my training coach.
    [Laughter] I read in Runner's World that I didn't have enough stamina,
    and they told me that I should run up the steps of the Capitol. And so,
    I've started running up the steps of the Capitol every morning, which is
    exhausting to the Secret Service but as yet is having no effect on the
    United States Congress. [Laughter] I thought about this all, and I've
    decided that I should instead prepare for a marathon and leave track and
    field to the University of Arkansas.
        I want to say, too, that this team has twice won the triple crown,
    the combined championships in indoor, outdoor, and cross-country. And
    they're trying for a third triple crown at the NCAA outdoor competition
    in New Orleans in June, and I want to wish them well.
        Again, I want to say that I am especially proud to welcome this team
    here, because I know something about the coach and his values and the
    way these things have been done over the years. You don't win this many
    times over this many years unless you're concerned about the character
    and well-being of your athletes, as well as just about whether you win
    one particular meet or another. And so I want to say to all of you, it's
    a great source of pride and pleasure for me to present to the United
    States this track team and this fine coach.
        Coach, come up here and say a word.

    [At this point, the President was presented with a gift.]

        John, I have something I want to give you in honor of your historic
    achievement. I want to give you this Presidential commendation for doing
    something no one ever did before, one for you and one for the team.
        I also want to point out that in your honor the First Lady made a
    rare appearance at one of my press conferences wearing Irish green.
        At the end of the press conference, I'm going to shake hands with
    the team and take some pictures and say hello to all of you from home,
    but I do have to make a brief announcement about the election in Russia
    and then perhaps answer a couple of questions.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:10 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House.