[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 39 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Pages 1612-1614]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Honoring the NCAA Spring Championship Teams

September 24, 2002

    The President. Thank you all. Welcome. Please be seated. Thank you. 
This is champions day here at the White House, and I want to welcome all 
the champs who are here. I particularly love being around those who've 
set high goals, worked hard to achieve them, and win.
    I want to thank the chancellors, presidents, athletic directors, 
supporters, family members for being here as well. I'm honored to 
welcome people of high accomplishment to the White House. You're here 
during extraordinary times. This is a time of challenge for our country. 
It's really a time to determine the fiber of our Nation, the character 
of our people. We're being tested. But because we're Americans, because 
we believe things--hold values deeply in our heart, we will succeed. 
There's no question in my mind.
    And one way we're going to succeed is for all of us, particularly 
the champs here, to remember there is a responsibility that comes with 
being a champion. I happen to believe you have a responsibility to set 
an example for others, that as you succeed on the field of play, you've 
got to remember there are youngsters looking at you, trying to determine 
how they should live their life. So as you set high standards for 
yourself, I hope you remember people are watching and that you can 
affect people's lives in an incredibly positive way.
    There's another way you can serve your community as well, by loving 
a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself; that a champion on the 
field can be a champion off the

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field by mentoring a child or caring for somebody in need or helping to 
eliminate pockets of despair and hopelessness in the country. You've got 
an opportunity as champions to be champions off the field in the 
community in which you live. And there's no question in my mind that 
when you put your mind to it, you can. You can help shape the character 
of the country. You can overcome--help overcome evil by doing some good 
in the communities in which you live.
    So I want to welcome you all here. I want to welcome two Members of 
the United States Congress, Jim Walsh and Joe Wilson--Jim from New York, 
and Joe from South Carolina.
    I appreciate all the team captains who are up here. And it's now my 
honor to kind of go through the roster of the champs, those who have 
earned the title of NCAA champion and, therefore, get to come to this 
fabulous place--[laughter]--my temporary home.
    First, out of the State of California, the softball champs, NCAA 
softball champs from the University of California, coached by Diane 
Ninemire. These girls beat a tough field. They got a one-hitter from 
Jocelyn Forrest to win the championship. It's my honor to welcome the 
Golden Bears of California here to the White House.

[At this point, third baseman Candace Harper presented the President 
with a team jersey.]

    The President. Next, men's lacrosse. This year was dominated by 
Syracuse. I say ``dominated''--they won the last four games by one goal, 
but they were 15 and 2. [Laughter] They were 15 and 2. They've won their 
eighth national championship. They are coached by John Desko. A fine 
group of people from Syracuse. Congratulations, and welcome to the White 
House.

[Team captain Josh Coffman presented the President with a signed team 
poster.]

    The President. And then the best women's lacrosse team in the 
history of Princeton University is with us. At least, that's how they 
were rated by those who know something about women's lacrosse. Their 
coach is Chris Sailer--Gary Walters, the athletic director. These ladies 
scored the most points and the most goals in Princeton history. I know 
the Syracuse men beat Princeton. It's lucky you didn't play the women 
this year. [Laughter] Anyway, it's my honor to welcome the Princeton 
Tigers, NCAA champs here.

[Team co-captain Lauren Simone presented the President with a T-shirt 
featuring the final score of the team's win against Yale during the 
season.]

    The President. Tennis team. [Laughter] The University of Southern 
California Trojans have been coached by a man named Dick Leach for 23 
years. And under his leadership, they've won four NCAA champions; 
they've won 16 in their school's history.
    It is my honor to welcome Coach Leach, the University of Southern 
California Trojan champions, along with new coach Peter Smith and 
Athletic Director Mike Garrett. Welcome to the White House.

[Team captain Andrew Park presented the President with an inscribed 
tennis racket.]

    The President. Stanford University. They win a lot of things, and 
this year the women's tennis team is here at the White House because 
they won the NCAA champions. They're coached by Lele Forood. They have 
been here a lot. They were here 2 years in a row. This is their second 
year in a row. They have won the national championship 12 times in 22 
years. It is my honor to welcome a group of ladies from a school that 
has had an unbelievable tradition of winning NCAA championships, and 
that is the Stanford women's tennis team. Welcome.

[Team members presented the President with a T-shirt.]

    The President. Men's golf. The University of Minnesota won its first 
NCAA men's golf championship this year. Incredibly enough, it was the 
only team in the tournament to finish below par. That's a hard course.
    I want to thank Brad James, the head coach, and Joel Maturi, who is 
the athletic director, for coming. And congratulations to the Golden 
Gophers golf team of Minnesota.

[Assistant coach Andrew Tank presented the President with a box of golf 
balls.]

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    The President. Guy must think I play golf a lot around here. 
[Laughter]
    And the women's golf team of Duke University is the NCAA champs, 
coached by Dan Brooks. This is their second national title. Joel Alleva 
is here as well, who is the athletic director. Dan Brooks must be a 
great coach--looks like a pretty young guy to me, and he's already in 
the National Golf Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
    Congratulations, Duke. Congratulations for a victory. These girls 
told me they're going to be back next year. I look forward to seeing 
them again.

[Team captain Candy Hanneman presented the President with a box of golf 
balls.]

    The President. LS&U, right across the border from where I used to 
live. I want to welcome the men's outdoor track and field team and the 
women's indoor track and field team. If you ever follow college track, 
you know that LSU has been dominant, to say the least. And once again, 
they have been dominant. This is the 23d championship under Coach Pat 
Henry's leadership. And I want to welcome, first, the men's outdoor 
track team. Welcome to the White House, and congratulations for a great 
victory.

[Team member Walter Davis presented the President with a gift.]

    The President. And the women's indoor track team routed the field 
this year. Their closest competitor was 14 points. Welcome to the LSU 
Tigers women's track team. Congratulations.

[Team members presented the President with a T-shirt.]

    The President. The University of South Carolina had never won an 
NCAA championship until this year, when the women's outdoor track and 
field team beat a tough field. It's my honor to welcome Andrew Sorensen, 
who is the president of the University, Mike McGee, the athletic 
director, Coach Curtis Frye, and the women from the University of South 
Carolina. It's a great tribute to your skill and talent. It's a great 
honor for you to have won your university's first NCAA championship. 
Welcome to the White House.

[Team member Demetria Washington presented the President with a team 
warm-up jacket.]

    The President. And finally--[laughter]--the mighty Longhorns of the 
University of Texas. There were a lot of people here in the White House 
that were sweating out the NCAA final in college baseball this year. I'm 
probably going to rewrite a little history here, but I was the Governor 
when Augie Garrido first came to the University of Texas. And as I 
recall it, he said, ``I'm going to win a national championship for 
Texas.'' He just didn't tell me he was going to win the national 
championship and I was going to be the President. [Laughter] He forgot 
the second part.
    But we're really proud of the University of Texas. We're proud of 
Coach Garrido. We're proud of the--we're proud of--all the Texans here 
that work here in Washington, DC, are proud to be able to ``hook the 
horns.'' Congratulations.

[Team captain Ryan Hubele presented the President with a team jersey.]

    The President. So that concludes championship day here at the White 
House. We hope to see you all here next year. In the meantime, I want 
you to remember that you're a citizen of the greatest country on the 
face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless 
America. Thanks for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 2:39 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House.