For the second straight year, Air Force football made it to the White House.
During Monday’s Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy presentation ceremony, which was shown live on the White House’s website, Air Force safety Jon Davis gave President Barack Obama a No. 18 Falcons jersey – signifying the amount of times Air Force has won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy – and quarterback Tim Jefferson gave Obama a game ball from the Falcons’ win over Navy. Jefferson stipulated that Obama could only keep the ball if he did the Heisman pose, which he did.
The short, lighthearted ceremony featured a few funny moments like Obama’s Heisman pose, and when Davis took to the podium and made a proclamation.
“On behalf of myself and my teammates, I just want to get up here and say, ‘You’re the man,’” Davis said, as the assembled crowd burst into laughter.
At the end of the ceremony, Obama joked: “By the way, I didn’t tell him to say I’m the man. But he knows who he’s going to be reporting to.”
Obama also had a quip ready when he got the game ball from Air Force’s win over Navy, which also included the score of the Air Force-Army game on it.
“I will treasure this, except when Army and Navy come by,” Obama said. “Then we’ll hide it in the back.”
The Falcons take only their senior players on the trip. Obama made mention that he looked forward to seeing the trophy again in May when he visits Colorado Springs for the Air Force Academy’s commencement.
Obama praised Air Force for battling adversity through the season, mentioned that the Falcons went for a fake extra point and a two-point conversion to go for the win against Toledo in the Military Bowl, although it failed (“But I like that in ya,” Obama said), and told the players to be proud of their football accomplishments and to be proud to serve the country after graduation.
“I heard Jon Davis said, with the trophy on the line, ‘You don’t get to meet the president every day,’” Obama said. “Well, today you do.”
(NOTE: All quotes were from the White House website’s live video feed of the event. The picture above is courtesy Air Force media relations.)
Something tells me he wasn’t actually speaking for all of his teammates. Military folk typically are conservative. Sounds like a little puppy love coming from the naive youth at the White House today.
Brandon, feeling a little racial jealousy are you?? Miliitary folk think more of this president than you think. Narrow minded twit.
Or, Brandon, maybe it’s called a sense of humor? Really. There’s a time and a place for everything. Lighten up. That chip must be heavy.
A well deserved honor for the players, staff and all supports.
Now repeat next year with Navy in Colorado.
All hail.
Wash you nose dude, it has a brown streak on the end of it.
Wow, really didn’t think a pretty lighthearted comment by Jon Davis (if you saw the video, it was just that – a funny joking comment, not a political statement) would turn into this kind of discussion.
A great honor for our AFA senior football players, coaches, and in fact, for the entire AFA. Proud of you! It wasn’t and never will be a political event. It is a chance for the members of the team winning teh Commander In Chief trophy to be recognized and congratulated by the Commander In Chief. Good and well written article Frank.
Frank, just one comment. How about doing something to your article so it can be forwarded or at least shared with other people via email. Thanks.
Falcon5, there will be a gazette.com link to this story up on the site soon, perhaps you can share/forward from there? I usually copy and paste the URL when I do that.
Jeff39, I am in the military and, no, we don’t. Yes, the vast majority of black service members love the President (which is mirrored in society as a whole as 97% of blacks voters voted for him). They love him because he is black, like them. Not on his policies or political inclinations, but simply because he is black.
All others, no I did not view the video. Maybe I should have and would have seen that it was just a lighthearted moment. If so, I stand corrected. My apologies, I’m big enough to admit that. But to the casual observer who didn’t see the video (like me!) it gives the impression that the military thinks the President “is the man”. Again, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I don’t usually comment on articles because my statement would be my opinion and we all have them. However, for such a statement to be made referencing race and the president seems a bit narrow. Every president that we have had before this president has been white.The comment of blacks voting for this one is a mute point because he was not elected president on only the black vote. If the president was white would this young man’s comment be applauded as respect rather than brown nosing? Everyone has a right to like or dislike the president we all know this has been our history, his race does not change that. So, regardless of having seen the video or not…the purpose of the team being with the president was a result of receiving the CIC trophy for their accomplishments on the field.
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“But he knows who he’s going to be reporting to.” Hmm, apparently the CINC doesn’t realize that cadets/middies are serving active duty while at the Academies.
I’d venture to say the founder of the CIC Trophy and those who supported his vision coming to fruition would say that every cadet attending the ceremony should be a little awe struck at being honored by their President no matter what their party affiliations/political leanings might be. I am also confident in saying that they would view the comment made here about race as being absolutely inappropriate, demeaning to the event and the Office of the Presidency.
Michael Simler
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