[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.