Obama has praise for Gators football

President Barack Obama welcomed the Florida Gators to the White House and congratulated them on a second national championship in football in three years.

Obama on Thursday welcomed the Gators to the East Room and said their excellence on and off the football field is worthy of praise. Obama said being a champion doesn't end when the clock runs out and noted that the team volunteers 400 hours each year.

Obama said it showed strong leadership that the team played hard together and works in their communities.

In a moment of levity, Obama said he still supports a national playoff system instead of the current bowl system. But the president also said he's confident the Gators could've defeated any team out there.

The Gators upset the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners, 24-14, in the BCS National Championship in January.

The Gators are the first championship team to be recognized at the White House during President Obama’s three-month reign as U.S. leader. About 225 players, coaches and staff have made the trek to the nation’s capital.

The University Athletic Association will pay for the group’s travel, but trip planning was not complete as of Monday afternoon and therefore final expenses could not be calculated.

The UF football team’s trip to the White House two years ago after its 2006 BCS title cost $96,000, according to a December 2007 Orange County Register report.

It hasn’t always been run-of-the-mill for UF teams in D.C.

Former UF forward and current Chicago Bulls starter Joakim Noah caused quite a stir regarding the Gators basketball team’s trip to the White House after its first NCAA title in 2006. Noah almost didn’t go on the trip because of disagreements with some of then-President George W. Bush’s foreign policies.

“I didn’t want to go because I don’t particularly agree with the president and his views and what he stands for,” Noah told the New York Times in March 2007 regarding the trip. “But at the same time, I felt like after talking with coach Donovan, I didn’t want to put that negative publicity on the team. And I feel like I love this country. I really do. I don’t want to disrespect it. If I was in an individual sport or something … maybe I wouldn’t have gone.”

This time, the trip should be a lot calmer.

Source: Gatorsports.com