    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [May 6, 1993]
    [Pages 582-583]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting the Commander in Chief Trophy to the U.S. Air
    Force Academy Football Team
    May 6, 1993

        Thank you very much. Please be seated. I want to say what a great
    pleasure it is for me to welcome the seniors from the United States Air
    Force Academy football team to the White House to receive the 1992
    Commander in Chief's Trophy. With me to honor the Falcons are the
    Secretary of Defense, Les Aspin, the acting Secretary of the Air Force,
    Michael Donnelly, General McPeak, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force,
    and Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, Congressman Martin Lancaster, and of
    course, the Commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin
    Powell--Chairman--I said the wrong word, didn't I? It's been a long day,
    folks. We were inside looking at cartoons making fun of the President.
    That's what General Powell and Secretary Aspin and I were doing.
    [Laughter] It's all I can do to regain my composure here. I also want to
    welcome the Air Force Academy Superintendent, Lt. General Bradley

    [[Page 583]]

    Hosmer, and the Academy athletic director, Colonel Ken Schweitzer.
        This is my first chance to present the Commander in Chief's Trophy,
    but I know it's the Air Force's eighth trip to claim it--and the fourth
    year in a row, something no other team has done. Now, I know the Falcons
    are smart football players, the epitome of student athletes. But they
    don't seem to understand the concept of a traveling trophy. I mean the
    idea is the trophy should travel among the service academies, not for
    the Air Force to travel with it between Colorado and Washington every
    year. [Laughter]
        Of course, the Army and the Navy made it tough this year: both games
    were hard-fought to the final gun. But the spirit and determination of
    this team carried the day. Now the class of 1993 has the distinction of
    being the first service academy class to go undefeated against the other
    academies. And who would have thought that the Air Force would have
    accomplished all this with a relentless ground attack?
        In the early eighties Air Force's head coach was Ken Hatfield, a
    native of my State and later the head coach of the University of
    Arkansas. His offensive coordinator was Fischer DeBerry. When they
    installed the wishbone offense, they found a winning combination. Since
    Coach DeBerry took over as head coach in 1984, his teams have won the
    Commander in Chief's Trophy six times and have earned their way to seven
    post-season bowl games.
        But more importantly than the victories or the trophy are the life
    lessons Coach DeBerry has taught in word and in deed. In his own
    inimitable mile-a-minute style, the coach instills the values of
    discipline, teamwork, and faith that produce success on the gridiron and
    in life. His guidance and the leadership of the team seniors sustained
    the Falcons through the challenges and triumphs of a 7-5 season that
    closed with a heartbreaking loss to the University of Mississippi in the
    Liberty Bowl.
        The University of Arkansas has lost some Liberty Bowl games, too; I
    know about that. Through it all the 1992 Falcons lived up to their
    credo: Together, one at a time. Sticking together, believing in each
    other, taking one game at a time brought them here today. I might add,
    it will take us as Americans a long way if we can follow those rules.
        In honoring the team spirit of the Falcons today I can't overlook
    one special player, Cadet First Class Carlton McDonald, whose efforts
    set a standard of All-American excellence at corner back. If you don't
    believe me, just ask the quarterbacks and the kickers who were
    terrorized. Whether intercepting passes or blocking kicks, he wreaked
    havoc on opposing offenses. I'm glad that he will be on our side as an
    Air Force officer.
        In fact, I am proud that in 20 days--26 days and a wake-up--all of
    you will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air
    Force. I encourage you there to carry on your spirit of dedication and
    selflessness as you become leaders for our Nation.
        So now it is with great pride that I present this 1992 Commander in
    Chief's Trophy to the team captains of the Air Force Academy Falcons,
    Jarvis Baker, Chris Baker, and Carlton McDonald. Will they please come
    up, along with the coach?
        Let's give them a hand.

    [At this point, the President presented the trophy, and the team then
    presented gifts to the President.]

        I want you to know that a couple of years ago my wife and daughter
    went to visit the Air Force Academy, and I think it was one of the most
    important events of her childhood. She came back with brochures and
    pictures, and we talk about it all the time. Just last week we had
    another conversation about it, and she asked me if her eyes were too bad
    to fly. [Laughter] She really loves the Air Force Academy.
        I also want to say something to you, coach. I'm glad the Air Force
    Academy has a coach who doesn't speak with an accent. [Laughter]
        And I can't close, General McPeak, without a little word of personal
    pride here. The President's military aide from the Air Force, Major
    Johnson, over here, was herself a distinguished athlete at the Air Force
    Academy in basketball. She can still run the President into the dirt on
    any given morning. [Laughter] I thank the Air Force Academy for her, and
    I thank all of you for being here today. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:44 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House.