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Obama: 'The Tide is back'

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama honored the national championship University of Alabama football team on Monday at a White House event where the president punctuated his remarks by declaring, "Roll Tide."

Obama congratulated the team for its undefeated season and invoked Alabama coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant as he recognized the program for its first national title in 17 years. He said the team's newfound success is due in large part to the efforts of coach Nick Saban, who quickly turned the program around after arriving in Tuscaloosa and won a championship in his third season.

"I think it's safe to say that the Tide is back," Obama said, to the occasional "Roll Tide" chant from his audience.

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White House confirms Tide trip to D.C.

By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer
Published: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 10:46 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 10:46 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama's national championship football team will visit President Barack Obama and the White House on Monday, and the trip will include a service project for the Crimson Tide, a White House official told The Tuscaloosa News.

The Crimson Tide defeated Texas, 37-21, in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7 to earn its 13th national title. National championship teams typically are invited to visit the President for a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden in the months after football season. The Crimson Tide is expected to arrive at the White House late Monday morning for a visit with Obama, and a tour that is expected to include the Blue Room, the Red Room, the Green Room, the China Room, and other historically ceremonial rooms on the White House's East wing.

Past championship teams, both pro and college, have conducted service projects on visits to the White House, including care packages for troops overseas, clinics on healthy lifestyles, and other such philanthropy. According to a White House official, the Crimson Tide will meet with local D.C.-area youth on the importance of staying in school and making good choices. The youth group will attend the White House ceremony with the team.

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