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ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump gestures as he acknowledges University of Alabama football team members during a ceremony to honor their 2017 NCAA football national championship on the White House’s South Lawn today in Washington.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump poses with the 2017 NCAA National Champion University of Alabama football team during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington today.
WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump hailed the University of Alabama football team’s “win for the ages” in their latest championship season.
Trump hosted head coach Nick Saban and the players at the White House to honor their fifth national title in nine years.
At one point, Trump singled out Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated from Saint Louis School.
“Where’s Tua? Where’s Tua? Tua, what are you doing up there? What’s he doing up there?” he asked to laughter from the crowd on the South Lawn, which included Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a former Alabama senator.
“On the first play of overtime, Georgia sacked Tua for a big loss. … But the Crimson Tide never gave in — never even a little bit — and it just worked out,” Trump said, according to a transcript provided by the White House.
“On the very next play, Tua dropped back to pass, launched the ball from near midfield — I was watching — and the entire country watched as arms lifted up, and DeVonta Smith caught that ball for the win.”
The president attended the championship game in Atlanta, in which Alabama staged a second-half comeback to defeat Georgia, 26-23.
Trump watched the Jan. 8 game from a private box overlooking the Alabama sideline, flanked by ROTC students. The president departed the stadium during halftime as Georgia led Alabama 13-0.
Trump said Alabama’s triumph is “one of the greatest victories ever.”
Trump praised Saban’s “process” for success and said the coach could “make a lot of money” if he were able to sell the formula.
“In the national championship game, you stuck to ‘The Process,’ even when it was looking pretty tough,” the president said. “I was watching. I said, ‘Coach, not looking too good.’ Down 13-to-nothing at halftime to a great Georgia team, these champions fought back as they did all season long. And they kept fighting and fighting.”
Trump also singled out center Bradley Bozeman, who proposed to his girlfriend on the field after the game. Trump asked: “She’s still with you?”
“She is. Luckily,” Bozeman responded.
Saban talked about what the White House visit meant to the team.
“You know, not many people get invited to the White House, so not many people get invited to see the President and meet the President,” he said. “So this is a special day for our team. A team that is being honored here because of their achievements in terms of winning the college football national championship, which makes me very proud.”
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