    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [March 2, 2000]
    [Pages 360-361]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the 1999 NCAA Football Champion Florida State Seminoles
    March 2, 2000

        The President. Thank you very much. Please be seated. Well,
    President D'Alemberte, I was hardly old
    enough to vote the first time I met you. [Laughter] You're aging well.
    [Laughter]
        Coach Bowden, welcome. I also want to
    welcome all the Floridians who are here. I thank Senator Graham and Senator Mack for coming; and
    Representatives Boyd, Brown, Deutsch, Foley, and Miller. And we have--Senator
    Breaux from Louisiana is here, and
    Congressman Blumenauer from Oregon are here.
    I don't know if they're trying to spy for their football teams--
    [laughter]--but we're honored to have them. The mayor of Tallahassee is
    here, Scott Maddox; and State Representative
    Margie Turnbull. We welcome all of
    them. And mostly, I want to say a warm word of welcome to the Seminoles.
    I want to welcome you back to the White House.
        This was the first national champion football team that I welcomed
    at the White House, in early 1994. And that team was 12 and 1; this team
    is undefeated. I came in with you, and I'm going out with you.

    [[Page 361]]

        This team has won 109 games, this Florida State team, in the
    1990's--truly the team of the decade in American football. In the first
    Sugar Bowl of the new millennium, you played a Virginia Tech team that
    you got way ahead of, but I think you must respect them a lot because
    they didn't give up. And Michael Vick and his
    Hokie teammates turned out to be worthy adversaries, Coach. And for those of us who love football, it was a sight
    to behold.
        We all sat on the edge of our seats as you reclaimed the lead in the
    fourth quarter with your 85-yard scoring drive and quarterback Chris
    Weinke's touchdown pass to Ron Dugans. It was a 46-29 victory, hard won and richly deserved.
    After it was over, I think there wasn't a single football fan in America
    who doubted that Florida State was truly the best team in the country
    and a deserving national champion.
        I could say a lot about all the players and the ones who had
    starring roles in the games, and not just the championship game but the
    other games. I watched several of them on television last year.
        But I want to say a special word of personal admiration and respect
    for Coach Bowden. I have watched him year-in and year-out. I have watched him be gracious in
    victory and gracious in defeat, which is more difficult. Of course, it's
    easy if you don't lose very much. [Laughter] That makes it a little
    easier. But I have been immensely impressed by the leadership that he
    and his team have brought to the young men that have been on this
    football team, especially this year, but also in past years.
        Bobby, I was told that for 24 years you had
    an empty picture frame on your desk, waiting for an undefeated team, and
    I'm glad you can finally fill that picture frame. Congratulations to
    you.
        And let me say to all the young men on this team, some of you will
    play some more football and go on into the pro ranks, and if you do, I
    wish you well. Most college football players, even on national
    championship teams, don't go on to play in the pro ranks, and I wish you
    well, too. What it takes to win on the football team, hard work and
    discipline and devotion to a common effort, give you pretty good lessons
    for life. And if you remember what brought you to the national
    championship, you'll be a champion when you leave Florida State whether
    you play any more football or not.
        That is the ultimate lesson, Coach, of the
    way you run this team. I respect you; I admire you. I congratulate you
    all. And I thank you for giving the rest of us who just watch from the
    stands or on television a magnificent season. Thank you very much.

    [At this point, Talbot D'Alemberte,
    president, Florida State University, and Bobby Bowden, coach, Florida State Seminoles, made brief remarks; and
    player Todd Frier presented the President with a
    team jersey.]

        The President. That's great. I'm going to have to bulk up before I
    can--[laughter]. Well, this is terrific. I want to thank all of you. A
    lot of people here I see made the trip up from Florida, and I want to
    welcome you to the White House and, in closing, just say this: When we
    have an event like this and we're able to invite people to come in here
    and express their pride and support for some remarkable achievement, it
    embodies the motto that the White House is the people's house.
        And I think I should tell you that this is not only the first
    national championship of this new millennium, the first national
    championship team, but you are coming here in the 200th anniversary of
    the White House. It was completed in 1800, and John Adams, our second
    President, was the first person to live here. Every President since then
    has lived here.
        And this house has seen a lot of changes and a lot of things come
    and go. But the feelings you have today and, I hope, the pride you feel
    as Americans in being here are what has sustained us now for 200 years.
    And if we just keep them, a couple hundred years from now, there will be
    another group of young people here celebrating an athletic achievement.
    Chances are they'll still be playing football, and the offensive line
    will average 500 pounds. [Laughter]
        Thank you very much, and welcome.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:22 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Representatives Corrine Brown and
    Dan Miller; and Michael Vick, quarterback, Virginia Tech Hokies. The
    transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included
    the remarks of President D'Alemberte, Coach Bowden, and Mr. Frier.