    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 26, 2008]
    [Pages 728-729]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With NCAA Football Head Coaches
    May 26, 2008

        The President. I just welcomed five of our Nation's university
    coaches to the Oval Office to thank them for going overseas to boost the
    morale of our troops. It was very interesting listening to them. Charlie
    Weis is going to say a few comments about what they saw and heard. But I
    wanted them to know how much I appreciate--and the--of going to say to
    these young men and women, ``Thanks for what you're doing.''
        This is Memorial Day. It's a day to honor not only those who have
    died in combat, but it's to honor those who continue to serve.
    And these
    men make a living motivating young men on the football field, and I
    am absolutely confident that when our soldiers and sailors and marine
    and airmen and Coast Guard men and women met them, that they inspired
    them.
        And most importantly, I'm confident what they heard was America
    appreciates what they do. We can't thank our troops enough for the
    sacrifices they're making on behalf of the Nation. And so I want to--I'm
    so grateful for you all for going, and I'm really grateful that you
    expressed the gratitude of the American people.
        Now, Charlie, you may want to say a few
    things.
        Charlie Weis. Thank you, Mr. President.
        The President. Notre Dame man.
        Mr. Weis. I think that Mr. President
    definitely had the inspired part right, but that inspire part definitely
    worked both ways. Now, we went over there to help motivate the morale of
    the troops, but I think we came home probably more inspired than even
    they were. I mean, it was just an unbelievable experience to watch the
    enthusiasm and the pride and the teamwork over there.
        And I mean, I can't--we saw thousands and thousands of troops, and
    when they heard that we were coming to the White House on Monday, to a
    man and to a woman, almost everyone said, ``Could you just pass on one
    message to the President,'' and asked us to thank him for them--for him
    supporting them. I mean, think about it. They're there for 4 months, 6
    months, a year--it was just unbelievable--from Germany, you watch--you
    know, seeing guys and girls that had gotten injured in battle and the--
    you know, their framework, their psyche--it was just an unbelievable
    experience.
        And I think all five of us said we just wish we could have brought
    our players over there, you know, the 18-to-23-year-olds that we deal
    with, so they could see what maturity looks like at a young age and
    teamwork at its utmost. And I tell you what, on behalf of all five
    coaches--I can tell--it was just an invigorating experience, one that
    we'll always treasure the rest of our lives.
        And we got something special going on over there, because there
    wasn't one person, of the thousands and thousands of soldiers we met,
    that had one negative thing to say. And that's almost overwhelming to
    think about it--not one. And there were a couple at the end of their
    year tours that were very much looking forward to getting their call to
    go home. But I'll tell you what, it was great. And what a perfect way to
    end up our trip, to end up at the White House on Memorial Day.
        Thank you.
        The President. Thank you very much. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:17 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. Participating in the meeting were Tommy Tuberville, head coach,
    Auburn University

    [[Page 729]]

    football team; Mark Richt, head coach, University of Georgia football
    team; Randy Shannon, head coach, University of Miami football team;
    Charlie Weis, head coach, University of Notre Dame football team; and
    Jack Siedlecki, head coach, Yale University football team.