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Skriven 2007-06-18 23:31:10 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0706182) for Mon, 2007 Jun 18
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President Bush Meets with NCAA Championship Teams
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 18, 2007

President Bush Meets with NCAA Championship Teams South Lawn

˙ /news/releases/2007/06/20070618-2.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio


4:44 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Please be seated. Welcome to the South Lawn.
This is an historic day -- after all, this is the largest gathering that
we've had for Champions' Day, and we're glad to welcome the champs here to
the South Lawn. I appreciate being with good athletes, good students and
good leaders -- and that's what it takes to become a champion.

I appreciate the fact that you've endured tough practices, that you've set
big goals, and you worked hard to achieve them. And so we congratulate your
coaches, we congratulate your families -- but, most importantly, we
congratulate you. We honor America's champs. (Applause.)

The Secretary of the Treasury is with us, Secretary Paulson; thank you for
coming, sir. I appreciate the members of the United States Congress that
have joined us, and the United States Senate. You don't need to do the
gator thing. (Laughter.)

The teams here today span 21 different campuses, in 14 different states --
from California all the way over to Florida. You represent eight different
athletic conferences: the Big Ten to the Pac-10 to the West Coast
Conference and to the Ivy League. There's Tigers and Badgers, Huskers and
Anteaters. (Laughter.) Go Anteaters. (Laughter.) Fight Anteaters.

You've distinguished yourselves on fields and fairways, tracks and tennis
courts, rivers and rinks, pommel horses and pools, bowling alleys,
mountains and basketball arenas. You have one thing in common: You have
achieved the great title, "champion," and nobody can take that away from
you.

We have a number of first-time champs here today. The Auburn Women's
Outdoor Track and Field Team is here. (Applause.) I think that would go
"War Eagle."

AUDIENCE: War Eagle!

THE PRESIDENT: There you go. Don't get carried away here, it's a little --
(laughter) -- it's a little hot. (Laughter.)

Speaking about the Anteaters, UC Irvine Men's Volleyball Team is with us.
Congratulations. (Applause.) The Gauchos, UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer
Team. Georgia Tech Women's Tennis Team, the first-time champ. Pepperdine
Men's Tennis Team is with us. Vanderbilt Women's Bowling Team is with us
today. (Applause.) There you go. Wisconsin Men's Indoor Track and Field.
(Applause.)

Some of the teams here have been waiting a long time to reclaim a
championship. Dartmouth Men's and Women's Skiing Team -- they won their
first title 30 years ago, and now they're here at the White House.
Congratulations. (Applause.)

Michigan State Men's Ice Hockey Team -- they won their first hockey crown
more than 20 years ago, and they're back. Congratulations to you.
(Applause.)

We've got some repeat champs here. It's hard enough to win; it's really
hard to repeat. Auburn Women's Swimming Team, back-to-back -- (applause.)
Ready? War Eagle --

AUDIENCE: War Eagle!

THE PRESIDENT: Cal Women's Crew. (Applause.)

A feat that's really hard to do is win back-to-back NCAA Basketball titles,
and we're proud to welcome the Florida Men's Basketball Team. (Applause.)

Not to provoke a rivalry, however, but the Florida State Men's Outdoor
Track and Field Team is with us. (Applause.) Maryland Women's Field Hockey
Team, repeat champs. (Applause.) Wisconsin Women's Ice Hockey Team, repeat
champs. (Applause.)

We've got teams here that have won three championships in a row.
(Applause.) That would be called a three-peat. Georgia Women's Gymnastics
-- (applause) -- Northwestern Women's Lacrosse -- (applause). I might as
well go on the record, all right -- I was disappointed in the footwear.
(Laughter.) It's just too conventional, especially on a hot day.

And the Stanford Women's Tennis Team. (Applause.) A three-peat champion,
UCLA Women's Water Polo. (Applause.) And by the way, their title was UCLA's
100th overall national championship. Congratulations to UCLA. (Applause.)
Five-peat, Auburn Men's Swimming Team. (Applause.)

Some of the teams are adding new chapters to their schools' record books.
Cal Men's Water Polo, they won their 12th water polo championship, which is
an NCAA record. (Applause.) The Colorado Men's Cross Country Team, the
Buffalos won their second title in three years -- and congratulations,
welcome back. (Applause.) The North Carolina Women's Soccer Team.
(Applause.) Eighteenth championship in the 25 year history of the
tournament. Georgia Men's Tennis -- (applause) -- they went undefeated.
They claimed their fifth NCAA tennis title. Nebraska Women's Volleyball.
The Huskers were ranked number one the entire season, and won their third
NCAA championship.

Penn State Men's and Women's Fencing. (Applause.) They won their tenth
national championship, more than any other fencing team in the nation. Penn
State Men's Gymnastics won their 12th national championship. (Applause.)
Stanford Men's Golf. (Applause.) Wire-to-wire victory to earn their eighth
NCAA golf title.

So I'm sitting back there with the captains, I said, do you want the
one-hour speech, or the five-minute speech? They said, you been outside
lately? I said, yes, barely. I said, how about the two-minute speech?
(Laughter.) So I want to conclude this ceremony by thanking all the people
that are here. I appreciate the fact that you're champions on the field and
champions off the field.

You know, I asked some of the seniors what they're going to do, and I
remember one girl told me she's going to be Teach for America. That means
being a champ off the field. (Applause.) It means giving back something to
society. I appreciate the fact that the Pepperdine Men's Tennis Team held a
free clinic for children in Washington, D.C. just yesterday.

In other words, you can win on the athletic field, and you can win in the
classroom, but you can also contribute to our country by helping somebody
in need, by using your championship status to help heal a broken heart or
to help somebody live a better life. And so to the champs, I'm glad you're
here. For those of you who follow presidential politics, you know I'll be
around one more year. I'm looking forward to having you come back. In the
meantime, I ask for God's blessings on you, your family and our country.
Thanks for coming. (Applause.)

END 4:52 P.M. EDT
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