[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 15 (Monday, April 21, 2008)]
[Pages 518-519]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Commander in Chief's Trophy to the United 
States Naval Academy Midshipmen

April 14, 2008

    Sit down, please. Welcome to the Rose Garden. Of course, this is an 
old habit for a lot of the players standing behind me. After all, this 
is the fifth year in a row that the mighty Navy football team won the 
Commander in Chief's Trophy. And we're here to congratulate them on that 
amazing achievement. As a matter of fact, coming to the Rose Garden is 
as familiar a place as Bancroft Hall. [Laughter]
    We welcome you here, and we congratulate you. Coach, thanks for 
coming. Proud you're here. This team has had an historic season. For the 
third year in a row, had the

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most rushing yards in the Nation, as well as the Nation's highest 
graduation rate. You went to your fifth straight bowl game, and of 
course you accomplished your most important goal: You beat Army.
    I want to thank the House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, strong 
supporter of the Naval Academy, for joining us. Congressman Hoyer, 
thanks for being here. Secretary Don Winter, Secretary of the Navy, and 
Linda; John Dalton, former Secretary of the Navy and a fine Texan, as 
well as Margaret--thanks for coming. Vice Admiral Jeff Fowler, thanks 
for being here, sir. Proud you're here. Coach--just Coach--[laughter]--
like, you call me George; I'll call you Ken. [Laughter] Glad you all are 
here. [Laughter]
    This team set a school record by scoring 511 points. And with your 
sixth straight win over Army, you established the longest winning streak 
against Army in history. You beat Notre Dame for the first time since 
1963. I'm probably not going to spend much time talking to the Pope 
about it. [Laughter] You had an interesting game in the great State of 
Texas against North Texas, when you won 74 to 62--136 combined points 
were the most scored in a regulation game in the history of NCAA's top 
division. You earned an invitation to play in the Poinsettia Bowl. 
Forget the score, but you made an exciting finish. In other words, you 
brought great credit to a fabulous place of higher institute--of 
learning.
    And I want to thank your head coach and welcome him. He's been a big 
part of the success over the past 6 years, and no doubt in my mind--more 
importantly, no doubt in the superintendent's mind--that he's going to 
be a fabulous head coach for years to come. Congratulations.
    I've been reading about some of the standout performers on the team, 
starting with slot back Reggie Campbell, team captain on offense. He 
holds--he owns eight school records. He was the MVP of the Army-Navy 
game. Linebacker Irv Spencer, team captain on defense--he led the team 
with 95 tackles. Adam Ballard, Texan--[laughter]--Lewisville, Texas--he 
came back from a broken leg in 2006 to score Navy's first touchdown of 
the season. He's a bruiser. Cornerback Ketric Buffin, Rowlett, Texas--
you think I'm only going to talk about Texans, don't you--[laughter]--
had an interception in each of the first four games. He's the first 
player in school history to accomplish that feat.
    Zerbin Singleton--now there's an inspirational story for all. He 
faced great challenges growing up. He overcame injuries from a car 
accident to make it to the Naval Academy. And during the season, he 
received the Disney Wide World of Sports Spirit Award as college 
football's most inspirational figure. He's the brigade commander of all 
4,200 midshipmen at the Naval Academy. He'll soon begin flight training 
as a Marine aviator.
    Proud to welcome all the individual stars here. But no question, 
this team played well because you played as a unit. I want to thank 
every football player for agreeing to put on the uniform of the finest 
military ever. You've signed up after 9/11. You knew the stakes involved 
in the war against extremists and radicals. You knew that your country 
depended on you, and you didn't hesitate to wear the uniform.
    I welcome you as stars on the football field, and I welcome you as 
soon to be sailors and marines who have a major responsibility to 
protect the United States from harm and spread the great blessings of 
liberty so we can have peace. I cannot wait to be able to say to you 
someday, I'm proud to be your Commander in Chief.
    And so I welcome you to the Rose Garden. I congratulate you on being 
fine football players. More importantly, I congratulate you on being 
patriotic Americans. May God bless you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:16 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Ken Niumatalolo, head coach, U.S. 
Naval Academy football team; and Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, USN, 
superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy.