The football team was recognized by President Bush on Fall Champions’ Day at the White House yesterday.
Bush welcomed not only the Buckeyes, but the University of Portland women’s soccer team, University of Southern California women’s volleyball team and the University of California-Los Angeles men’s soccer team.
“It’s a great honor to have these teams here on Championship Day,” Bush said. “I always enjoy rubbing elbows with champions.”
Bush, an avid sports fan, is no stranger to the Buckeyes, especially coach Jim Tressel. When Bush gave an address at OSU’s spring commencement last year, the two met before the ceremonies began.
“Coach Tressel said ‘watch us this year,’ ” Bush said. “He said ‘we are going to be pretty good; in fact, I think we will be visiting you in the White House.’ “
Asked about the remarks after Bush’s presentation, Tressel simply answered, “The president always tells the truth.”
The Buckeyes were by far the most heavily represented team in the East Room of the White House. When OSU was announced, a group of supporters started a short-lived “OH-IO” chant. Only a few players missed the trip, including safety Mike Doss, linebacker Matt Wilhelm, defensive lineman Kenny Peterson, linebacker Cie Grant and safety Donnie Nickey, all seniors, who were participating in the NFL training combine in Indianapolis.
The Buckeyes presented Bush with an OSU helmet. Traditionally, most teams give the president a jersey on Champions’ Day, but Bush had already received one when he gave his commencement address. Former walk-on punter Andy Groom was selected by Tressel to present Bush with the keepsake.
“That was a dream come true,” Groom said. “I didn’t know I was doing it until 10 minutes before it happened. I got to talk to him personally, thanked him for having us out here and just tell him to be a Buckeye fan for a while.”
However, Groom did not discuss any foreign policy matters with the president.
“Coach told me not to do that,” Groom said. “I was going to stay away from that.”
With four teams behind him, Bush addressed the importance of the champions’ image both on and off the field.
“I guarantee you there are a bunch of junior high kids in the state of Ohio wondering what it’s like to be a champion,” Bush said. “Not only does a champion run fast and tackle hard, but hopefully, the champion appears as the signal to make the right choices in life.”
Before the presentation, the team went on a short tour of the White House, the players saw a number of rooms, including the president’s home theater room.
“This isn’t something you can allow yourself to forget,” tight end Ben Hartsock said. “You see a lot of history and feel a lot of energy. You realize that if these walls could talk, they would have a lot to say.”
While the team was leaving to board their charter bus, Hartsock saw an opportunity to leave his footprints in a patch of snow on the White House lawn.
However, Hartsock experienced tight security when a large security guard came running at him, yelling for him to get back. Hartsock apologized and decided to head for the bus.
