President Bush Recognizes OU's National Champions

March 5, 2001

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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush saluted Oklahoma's national champion football and softball teams at the White House on Monday, urging them to set good examples as role models.

President Bush receives a game ball from University of Oklahoma president David Boren - a ball from the Texas game, no less.

"I'd like to remind those who are champions on the field that it's important to be a champion off the field, too, that there's a lot of young men and women who look at you all as champs," Bush told the two squads, who flanked him in the East Room.

"Being the champ, the national champ, is an awesome responsibility," he said. "It means not only do you get to carry a trophy, it means you have the burden of setting the example, of saying to young kids, 'Somebody cares about you enough so that we'll help you make the right choices in life.' "

Bush likened the Oklahoma football team's championship season to his own presidential victory last year. The Sooners capped their 13-0 season with a 13-2 victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3, and the team presented Bush with a ball from the game.

"We both started our respective campaigns as underdogs. We both won our championships in the state of Florida," Bush said. "There's a big difference, though. It took you all 60 minutes. Took me 36 days."

The softball team beat UCLA 3-1 for its first national championship at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

The president posed for pictures with both teams and mingled at length, but the celebratory room fell silent when Bush faced questions from reporters about Vice President Dick Cheney's health. Cheney checked himself into a Washington hospital Monday after experiencing chest discomfort.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

President Bush Recognizes OU's National Champions

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