Flanked by Gene Chizik, Cam Newton, Nick Fairley and Kodi Burns, President Barack Obama honored the 2010 national champion Auburn Tigers during a 15-minute ceremony at the White House on Wednesday.
An Auburn traveling party of about 150 people, including 90 players, made the one-day trip up to Washington, D.C., to be honored for the Tigers’ 22-19 BCS title game victory against Oregon in January, the school’s first national championship since 1957.
“They won Auburn’s first national title since before I was born,” Obama said. “And I’m getting quite a bit of gray hair. So that was a long wait for the Tiger fans.”
The president began with a “War Eagle” before praising the team for its many come-from-behind victories, including a 28-27 victory against rival Alabama.
“That was unbelievable,” Obama said. “I’m busy. But I watched that game.”
Obama joked about “a guy named Cam who had a pretty good season,” referencing the Heisman Trophy winner, and Fairley, who he said “you don’t want to be tackled by.”
But he praised a few other players, including running back Mike Dyer for not quitting on a 37-yard run late in the game (” Everybody except Michael thought he would have been tackled,” Obama joked) and kicker Wes Byrum for making the winning field goal.
“As crucial as Cam and Nick were to this team’s success, obviously this is a team sport, and you only win it with a team that is passionate and dedicated,” Obama said.
When Obama finished, Chizik briefly stepped to the microphone, saying, “What an honor and a privilege it is for the whole Auburn family to stand here in the White House today and embrace this moment.”
Chizik turned things over to Burns, a senior on last year’s team, who presented the president with an Auburn helmet and jersey that read “Obama” on the back with the No. 1, leading to an extended photo op.
Obama then shook hands with everyone on the team, giving a chest bump with wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor near the end.
The ceremony, which was supposed to take place in the Rose Garden, was moved inside because of excessive heat. Obama joked that the Tigers “brought some Alabama weather up here.”
The president recognized former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, an Auburn native, who he said was “the biggest Auburn fan I’ve ever met.”
The trip was originally scheduled to take place in late April but was rescheduled after deadly tornadoes hit the state. Obama made a trip to Alabama that day to tour the storm damage.
He referenced the storms Wednesday, commending Auburn’s players and staff in joining in the cleanup efforts in Pleasant Grove and Cullman, Ala.
“This team knew what we all know in times like this: We’re all on the same team,” he said. “We’re all Americans.”
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Comments » 61
vol4gzus writes:
Yes we are all Americans even when our opinions/views may divide us. Being Americans is special and carries big responsibilities. Congrats to the Aubies and the chest bumper. "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray,and seek my face,and turn from their wicked ways;then I will hear from heaven,and will forgive their sin,and will heal their land."
TLepage writes:
of course trooper and obama "chest-bumped".... real professional and appropriate way to behave at the white house.... both of them are clowns....
UTKin1992 writes:
Two of my favorite people.
marinevol writes:
No, you're the clown for bringing you politics to a UT sports site.
madmax22 writes:
If you think about it, Trooper knows as much about coaching as Obama does about running a country. Absolutely nothing.
RockyTopRenegade writes:
So when was the last time YOU were elected to, or at bare minimum, invited to the White House there Mr. Happy?
NeylandWest writes:
Chest bumping the President...very cool. Not many get to say they did that ;)
TommyJack writes:
Two useless people
AllforTenn writes:
Well renegade, at least he didn't hold himself out to be qualified to head the country, as the present occupant of the WH did, much to the consternation of millions of Americans.
orangeblood8456 writes:
did they spike any babies?
RockyTopRenegade writes:
....or to the delight of millions of Americans.
Kinda like the ol' Fulmer argument, huh?
All that aside, now Trooper and Marilyn Monroe have something in common, 'cept Trooper kept his shirt on.
ORANGUTANVOL writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
drone#208075 writes:
Get out the slow motion equipment to see if we can see the money change hands during the bump.
westennvol writes:
I just vomited a little bit in my mouth...
volinlouisiana writes:
He also gave him a cash handshake.
volzrock54 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
GatorHater326 writes:
Yeah Obama and the democrats are doing such a great job 9.1% unemployment, and two to three times the deficit that Bush left. It's great listening to democrats cause they always result to name calling instead of using facts to back up their propaganda.
loisgirl writes:
It's better propaganda than what Bush W produced for the Iraq war.
marinevol writes:
I think if you'll take off the blinders you'll see that the name calling is going both ways. In fact, your side seems to have a slight edge. The sad thing is that the country is so divided that we can't even have a UT sports site without people spewing out hatred for anyone who doesn't share their political beliefs. There are Vol fans that are conservative, liberal, moderate and indifferent. That doesn't make them bad people. I just wish people would take all that garbage to another site, and let's keep this one for UT sports.
DalTexVol writes:
Well said, marinevol, well said.
bigsteve92 writes:
how does a team meeting obama have to do with anything with politics. wow the man cant chest bump with out getting criticize. learn to live everything doenst have to be uptight. it doesnt always have to be a handshake and not learning to do stuff for fun.
NeylandWest writes:
D@mn straight, marinevol...totally agree
CrankE writes:
+1
RockyMountainVol writes:
Agree with you, Marine.
But why do you think KNS posted this article in the first place? Just to stoke the fires of controversy on their little website.
As if not having an AD or a baseball coach and heading into an NCAA witch-burning this weekend wasn't good enough already!
rockytop4ever writes:
Too bad he didnt chest bump Obummer off the stage
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Tell me there's a picture somewhere.
GatorHater326 writes:
I agree this is no place for political conversation. My bad...Go Vols
RockyMountainVol writes:
Even better: VIDEO
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/en...
TennVol01 writes:
Gotta be a joke?????
xvillefan writes:
I wonder what behavioral scientists would think of the comments made on this website? It sure does reveal a lot about the character of some of the posters.
ORANGUTANVOL writes:
This website a JOKE. You remove every comment that IS NOT republican propaganda.
No Fair and Balanced here, if you are not a Tea Party FANATIC, you post get deleted.
thetrollhunter writes:
AND HE WADUNT EVEN BORN IN THIS HUR COUNTRY HUR DERP DERP DERP!
81volguy writes:
Wrong. Bush's last budget deficit was $1.3 trillion, same as Obama's. It is probably useless to explain this to people who think George Bush was a good president, but his budget didn't end until the fiscal year ended, in 2009. Also, thanks to the Bush economy, when Obama took office, the nation was shedding nearly a million jobs a month. He slowed it and began to turn it around until gas prices jumped and slowed the recovery. But these are facts, which are unknown to many Republicans.
99gator writes:
this article and the posts that come with it may be able to achieve the most epic epicness of all time
Couchdummy writes:
Amen! I am so glad that the Vols are getting away from the lack of leadership with the likes of Taylor. As for Obama, soon to come with the next election!
Ayres_Hall writes:
Both are highly effective at recruiting overly impressionable teenagers to follow them.
AllforTenn writes:
How ridiculous. The democratic congress set the budget, got Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac so loose that mortgages were given to all over and above what the property was worth or they could afford. So big lenders failed and resulted in the economy tanking. These are the facts.
BobbyJones writes:
I am just so glad it is the fine folks of Auburn as opposed to the Crimson and White. Thank goodness it won't be long before it will be Brother Dooley and the Volunteers! Go Vols! I'm now going to enjoy an adult beverage and a beautiful evening down here in the country. Bobby
pingkr62 writes:
I think the politics is already there.
thetrollhunter writes:
Excuse me, but we are all arguing about politics right now, we don't have to time to deal with trolls bringing in other issues. Please relate all trolling to politics as such.
Thank you.
madisonvillevol writes:
i guarantee you phil does.
BobKesling_is_overpaid writes:
He didn't bring politics in his post. He just said they were both clowns. I'd say one is a clown for sure. That's the one with big ears. He won't be chest bumping in the white house after 2012...God willing.
marinevol writes:
The comments don't say much for the character of Tennesseans. Hopefully, there aren't many people outside the state reading these, and hopefully they will not assume these people are representative of the state. I actually believe that most people in Tennesse have high character and are patriotic. I have had great respect for the two Presidents I have served under. Even though I voted for one and not the other, I still cringe when I see people post immature, childish slurs about either one of them, especially on a UT site.
BobKesling_is_overpaid writes:
Lmao. Now that's hilarious. Obama just threw the babies in a closet.
BobKesling_is_overpaid writes:
Get over the Iraq war losergirl. I don't see Obama sprinting out of there like he said he would. By the way, is Gitmo still open? Ahahaha.
thetrollhunter writes:
Shesh, someone gets defensive pretty easily....
BobKesling_is_overpaid writes:
Uh...the democrats took over the house in 2007, two years before your messiah entered the white house. So therefore, they were writing the laws for 2 years. Before that, I seem to recall 4.7percent unemployment rate. I know facts are stubborn things for you tree huggers, but facts are facts: leftists destroy economies. However, Bush contributed with his big spending(eg.free drugs for geezers). You libs should've loved him then. Oh yeah...Go Vols!
cltvol writes:
I woujld never vote for B.O. but he's a true sports fan and let him have his fun. Rank has its priviledges. Plus I hope he does a good job and turns the usa around, though I doubt he's got the will and skill to do it the way I think. I disagree with him about 85% of the time, but he's my president and I pray for him darn near every day. Just don't see what's wrong with that.
RockyMountainVol writes:
Don't give it a second thought, Marine. I live in Colorado now, and some (too many?) Coloradans would give some (too many?) Tennesseans a run for their money.
My personal thoughts are that much of this "thinking" started when people began to realize that the new President wasn't a WASP like 42 of the 43 prior POTUSes (POTI?). When America's idea of "diversity" is allowing ONE White Anglo-Saxon Catholic to sneak in the White House, you get the idea.
But, to get back on topic, let Auburn and Trooper celebrate. It's probably a matter of time before the NCAA does a Reggie Bush number on Cam Newton, and all the trophies and trappings disappear.
Colliervol writes:
Along with the chest bump, the only two things that Trooper knows how to do.
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