[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
[June 24, 2008]
[Pages 865-867]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Honoring 2007 and 2008 NCAA Championship Teams
June 24, 2008

    Thank you all. Please be seated. Welcome to the White House. It is 
an honor to be here with so many fine student athletes now known as 
national champs.
    It seems like the South Lawn is a fitting place to hold champions 
day. After all, we have a swimming pool, a tennis court, a running 
track, a putting green, and a basketball court, just in case any of our 
athletes here want to squeeze in a little friendly competition. 
[Laughter]
    I appreciate the fact that you showed incredible discipline, skill, 
perseverance. It's hard to become a champ, and that's why we love to 
honor people here at the White House when you become one. And one of the 
things I tell people is, is that if you work hard and become a repeat 
champion, I look forward to welcoming you back to the White House. 
However, this time around it's not going to work. My eligibility has run 
out. [Laughter] But I do wish you all the very best. So the next 
President can welcome you to the White House, but in the meantime, we're 
going to honor the folks here today.
    I welcome the members of the Cabinet. Mr. Secretary, thanks for coming. Members of Congress, thank you all for 
being here;

United States Senators, United States Con- gressmen, student athletes, 
        coaches, school officials, and fans.

    Today we honor 20 teams from 15 campuses in 13 States. These 
athletes excelled from tee boxes in California to ski slopes in Colorado 
to parallel bars in Oklahoma to bowling alleys on Maryland's Eastern 
Shore. You're represented by a wide variety of mascots: the Orange and 
the Golden Bears; the Hawks, the Eagles, and the Ducks; the Bruins, the 
Buckeyes, and two different types of Bulldogs. Despite these 
differences, you all share the right to call--be called champs, a title 
you'll keep for the rest of your life.
    We have two first-time champions here today: UCLA women's tennis and 
the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women bowling Hawks. We have 
two teams that have spent a long time waiting to reclaim their national 
crowns. The University of Oregon men's cross country team brought the 
national title to Eugene for the first time in 30 years. I know you're 
proud, Senator. And the UCLA men's golf 
Bruins earned their first national championship in 20 years.

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    Even more impressive than winning the national title is becoming a 
repeat champion. Some of the teams here have accomplished that feat. 
Cal's men water polo team, University of Tennessee women's basketball, 
University of Georgia men's tennis--they're all repeat champs. 
Congratulations to you.
    And then we've got two teams that have achieved the rare four-peat, 
the University of Georgia women's gymnastics, affectionately known as 
the Gym Dogs. And two Senators are here to honor them. UCLA women's water polo Bruins 
are here.
    On the road to the championship, some teams recorded particularly 
memorable achievements. The University of North Carolina women's field 
hockey team compiled a perfect 24-0 record, making them just the fifth 
team in the sport history to--sport's history to finish undefeated. Penn 
State men's volleyball and Penn State women's volleyball pulled off a 
rare double championship, winning both the men's and women's title in 
the same year. Charlie Dent is here 
representing the team.
    The University of Denver men's and women's ski team competed with 
one fewer skier than their rivals, making them only the second ski team 
in NCAA history to win the title shorthanded. And we congratulate you.
    The USC women's golf team set a school record with five All-
Americans on their championship team. [Applause] And all five just 
yelled. [Laughter]
    Some of the champs here are building on long legacies of excellence. 
Ohio State men's and women's fencing finished in the top five for the 
seventh consecutive year and earned the third fencing championship in 
school history. And we welcome you here.
    Boston College men's ice hockey prevailed in the Frozen Four for the 
third time in school history and the second time in this decade.
    The University of Minnesota Duluth women's ice hockey Bulldogs--
the Senator--earned their fourth championship 
in the past 8 years. It's good to see you again.
    The University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics upset the top seed to 
win their fifth national title in the past 7 years.
    And the Syracuse men's lacrosse team claimed their 10th national 
championship, which sets a new NCAA lacrosse record.
    We honor you all, and we welcome you to the White House. And as 
importantly, we thank you for your contributions to the communities in 
which you live. These athletes have volunteered at food banks during 
holidays. They have visited schools to inspire children with 
disabilities. They've encouraged literacy and good health. They've 
raised money to fight cancer. What I'm telling you are--is, they're 
great athletes and good citizens. And for that, our country is grateful.
    We're glad that you're here. We congratulate you and your families 
and your schools for your achievements. We ask for God's blessings on 
you and on our country. Thank you for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 4:08 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. 
Schafer; Sens. Gordon H. Smith, Saxby Chambliss, Johnny Isakson, and Amy 
Klobuchar; and Rep. Charles W. Dent.

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