[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
[May 10, 1996]
[Pages 724-725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Presenting the Commander in Chief Trophy to the
United States Air Force Academy Football Team
May 10, 1996

    The President. Good morning. Secretary Widnall, to our distinguished 
military leaders: General Shalikashvili, General Moorman, General Stein, 
other distinguished military leaders here, members of the Board of 
Visitors of the Air Force Academy, Coach DeBerry, and the seniors from 
the Falcons football team. We gather together for another happy 
occasion; but for the United States and especially for members of our 
military family, this is a sad day, for early this morning, two Marine 
helicopters crashed at a massive training exercise at Camp Lejeune in 
North Carolina.
    At this time, we know that 16 service members were killed and 2 
others very seriously injured. Our hearts go out to the families, the 
friends, and the loved ones of those who lost their lives. Our prayers 
are with those who were injured for a speedy recovery.
    Day-in and day-out, our service men and women put themselves on the 
line so that our country can remain free and secure. We ask so much of 
them, to travel far from home, to be apart from their loved ones, to do 
difficult and often dangerous work. One of the things I confess I did 
not fully appreciate until I became President was how dangerous the day-
in and day-out, year-in and year-out work of our military, just 
training, just doing the defense of our country, is, and our citizens 
should know that.
    The seniors here behind me will soon become the guardians of our 
liberty, just like those fine people who lost their lives last night. 
And though you have been very well prepared for the job you will do, you 
still must assume the risks of defending that liberty. Every American 
owes every one of you who will become an officer or a member of the 
United States military a tremendous debt of gratitude.
    I'm happy to see all you here today. I'm beginning to wonder if I 
can make it interesting. If you ever have really needed proof that we 
have a joint planning and operation and we're really building a joint 
culture in the United States military, we're going to give it today with 
General Shali congratulating the Air Force for another victory over the 
Army. [Laughter]
    The friendly but fierce interservice rivalries should mean that 
almost anything can happen in competition, but at least lately, only one 
thing happens: The Air Force always wins. This is the 7th year in a row 
the Falcons have come to the White House to collect this prize. I hope 
the thrill isn't gone.
    I understand this past November you actually lost the Commander in 
Chief's Trophy for a short time when there was a sneak attack 
masterminded by Army pranksters invading your field house before the 
game. Well, that didn't work, either. [Laughter] You played a great game 
this year against Army. I was especially impressed that you came back 
from a 14-point deficit to win decisively.
    I've learned a little something about what it takes to overcome 
large deficits--[laughter]--and I was mightily impressed. I know there 
were other outstanding highlights of this year's season: beating Brigham 
Young's Cougars for the first time in a dozen tries, being cochampions 
of the Western Athletic Conference, going to the Copper Bowl. The 
Falcons had a very good year.
    If the way you played is any indication of what is to come, coach, 
we expect to see the Air Force back here this time next year. I hope 
I'll be here to greet you. [Laughter] And I should note that, to the 
best of my knowledge, unlike me, you are not term-limited.
    Finally, let me just say that I was most impressed by something that 
Coach DeBerry said earlier in the season. He said that through football 
the players on his team are helped to become better people. That is what 
we need more

[[Page 725]]

of in college athletics and, indeed, in all of our endeavors. It's so 
important that young people be taught not only to take responsibility 
for becoming the best they can be in every endeavor, but also doing that 
in working with a team. That's what makes our military work. That's what 
makes our country work. And I think sometimes we forget that that is the 
ultimate object of all of our human endeavors. Winning is wonderful, but 
everybody who does his or her best and who tries to do it with a genuine 
spirit of cooperation with others is a winner. In that sense, the Air 
Force will always be a winner. But today, for the 7th year in a row, 
you're still the possessor of the Commander in Chief's Trophy.
    Coach DeBerry. Let's give him a hand. [Applause]
    Coach Fisher DeBerry. Mr. President, I appreciate it. Thank you very 
much, kind words, thank you very much. We are honored to be here, a 
great big honor for us because it's your trophy.
    Thank you, sir.
    The President. Thank you.

[Coach DeBerry, Lt. Gen. Paul Stein, USAF, Superintendent, United States 
Air Force Academy, and LeRon Hudgins, Falcons team captain, made brief 
remarks and presented the President with a team jersey and a hat. Mr. 
Hudgins stated that when the President was elected in 1992, he and his 
classmates knew they would get a chance to visit through the Commander 
in Chief Trophy.]

    The President. That's a high level of confidence, that 1992 remark. 
[Laughter] Well, I thank you very much. I will run in the jersey, I'll 
play golf in the cap, and I'll always remember this day.
    One thing I do want to say again is that, as confident as these 
young people are, I've never heard any of these young men say in the 
last 4 years anything that could be roughly interpreted as, ``When we're 
not around they won't have a great team anymore.'' [Laughter] And I 
think again that's a real tribute to the spirit of teamwork that 
prevails.
    So I thank you, I'm glad to be here, and I think we're going to take 
a couple of pictures, and then we'll break up and shake hands.

Note: The President spoke at 10:30 a.m. in the State Dining Room at the 
White House.