[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 12 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
[Pages 351-353]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Honoring the 2006 NCAA Football Champion University of Florida 
Gators

March 19, 2007

    Please be seated. This isn't exactly ``The Swamp.'' [Laughter] This 
weekend, it would have been ``The Ice Rink.'' Today it is the White 
House that welcomes the National Champion Florida Gators.

[[Page 352]]

    So you might remember, one of my family members held elected office 
in Florida. Yes, that was--[applause]--I hope he's found work. 
[Laughter] And so I said, ``You know, I had the privilege of welcoming 
the Texas Longhorns to the White House.'' He said, ``One of these days, 
you're going to be welcoming a Florida team.'' And he's right. One year 
after the Longhorns came, here comes the mighty Gators. And we welcome 
you, and we're glad you're here.
    So you might call it Gator country. This is the 100th anniversary of 
college football at the University of Florida. It's a pretty fine way to 
celebrate the 100th year.
    I want to thank Coach Urban Meyer and Shelley for joining us. I 
appreciate Dr. Machen, the president of the University of Florida, and 
his wife, Chris. Manny Fernandez, thanks for coming--he's a chairman. 
Members of the Boards of Trustees, we're glad you all are here. Thank 
you for serving.
    Carolyn Roberts, who is the chair of the board of governors, is with 
us. I presume the athletic director is here. If not, he's probably 
done--it's amazing, isn't it--so, like, the basketball team and now the 
football team. Like, what are you doing down there? [Laughter] Yes, 
Gatorade. [Laughter]
    I appreciate the members of my administration who are here, but I 
particularly want to thank the Members of Congress, starting with 
Senator Bill Nelson. Thank you for coming, Senator. Appreciate you being 
here. Adam Putnam--all he talks about is Gator football. Cliff Stearns--
appreciate you being here, Cliff. Corrine Brown, thank you for coming. 
John Mica, Ander Crenshaw, Jeff Miller, and Gus Bilirakis, thank you all 
for joining us. Thanks for serving.
    So the Florida Gators had the Nation's toughest schedule, and 
instead of wearing them down, it made them tougher; instead of, like, 
discouraging them that they got the bad deal when it came to the 
schedule, all that did was cause them to play harder. And it put them in 
pretty good stead going into the championship game. Like, you might 
remember, all the pregame polls said you couldn't win. [Laughter] So 
much for polls.
    I don't know how you felt when the guy ran the kickoff back--looked 
like a rough start--but didn't let you--it get you down. And you showed 
an unbelievable offense and a swarming defense. And we really 
congratulate you; you're a well-coached team of highly disciplined 
athletes.
    I particularly like the story of the two quarterbacks, Chris Leak 
and Tim Tebow. First of all--[applause]. Where's Tebow? There he is. 
It's like the guy is trying to bring the single wing back, you know? 
[Laughter] And so Tebow takes a look at Florida and sees the fact that 
they've got a 4-year starter, but loves the school more than anything 
else and helps Chris Leak be a better quarterback. That's what we call 
teammates, people playing together for the common good. And we thank you 
both for the leadership you've shown. Of course, you wouldn't be half 
the players that you are without the huge offensive line and the 
receivers and backs you've got behind you; I know you would say that.
    I appreciate your defense. I clearly remember linebacker Earl 
Everett. I've seen that face before. [Laughter] So has the whole 
country. You might remember, Everett lost his headgear. He didn't lose 
his head--[laughter]--but he lost his headgear; he went on to make a 
great tackle in a key moment. That's called tough defense, hard-nosed 
defense.
    Where's Ray McDonald? Can I say what Ray McDonald said? Can I quote 
you, Ray? Okay, I will. [Laughter] Here's what he said: ``We don't 
really believe in destiny. We believe when your number is called, you 
make the play.'' What he's saying is, is that there's no chance--``We 
win because we do what we're coached to do, and we're good at it.'' And 
I appreciate the spirit, and I appreciate the caliber of people on this 
team.
    It didn't take Urban Meyer long. Like, the guy shows up; the next 
thing he knows, he's at the White House. [Laughter] Whoever hired him, 
good choice. He's an amazing coach, with a good coaching staff. And so I 
congratulate not only the players, but I congratulate the coaching 
staff. I congratulate all those who pick up the towels and make the 
program run. I thank those who help sell the tickets and the unsung 
heroes of any athletic program. If you're here, we welcome you to the 
White House, and we appreciate what you've done for the national champs.

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    I do want to say another thing about this program, Mr. President. I 
was very pleased to see that the graduation success rate of Florida's 
athletic programs are 15 percent higher than the national average. After 
all, you are representing a great university. And I appreciate the fact 
that people can be student athletes. I appreciate it because at some 
point in time, you're not going to be an athlete. At some point in time, 
you're going to have to use the skills you learned as a student to be a 
constructive citizen of the United States. And so, Coach, I appreciate 
the fact that you work hard with these players to make sure that they 
take advantage of this fantastic opportunity, and that is to be a 
student at the University of Florida.
    I also appreciate the spirit of giving that's a part of this 
football program. I don't know if you know this or not, but Coach Meyer 
hosts the annual Urban Meyer Golf Scramble for Kids. This year, the 
event raised a record $300,000, all aiming at helping youth 
organizations buy equipment, all aiming at touching a soul, trying to 
make somebody's life better.
    Coach, I appreciate the example you set, and I also appreciate the 
fact that 32 of your football players volunteered for community 
organizations; 32 souls said, ``I'm more than a football player; I'm a 
leader when it comes to helping the community in which I live.''
    Jemalle Cornelius just so happens to be captain. Here's what he 
said, he said, ``If everyone took a small leadership role in whatever it 
is they do, we can help eliminate some of the problems that are in our 
society.'' I love the spirit. I love the fact that champions understand 
you've got to be a champ on the field as well as a champ off the field. 
And I believe one of the reasons this program is successful is because 
not only you're good football players, but you're good people.
    And I want to say one other thing about--now that I've got the 
mike--[laughter]--I want to say something at Cam Brewer. Where's Cam? 
There he is, right there--United States marine. I appreciate the fact 
that you wore the uniform of the United States of America. I appreciate 
the fact that you put self--something larger than yourself as an 
important part of your life. It's a good example, isn't it? And now I 
appreciate the fact that you've taken advantage of the educational 
opportunities offered to those who have worn the uniform and gotten 
yourself an education at a fine university.
    Again, I want to welcome you all to the White House. It's an honor 
to welcome you here. More importantly, it's an honor to welcome the 
National Football Champion Florida Gators.

Note: The President spoke at 3:03 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; 
J. Bernard Machen, president, Manny A. Fernandez, chairman of the board 
of trustees, and Jeremy N. Foley, athletic director, University of 
Florida; Carolyn K. Roberts, chairman of the board of governors, State 
University System of Florida; and Ray McDonald, defensive end, and 
Jemalle Cornelius and Cam Brewer, wide receivers, University of Florida 
football team.