The Crimson Tide football team visited the White House and President Barack Obama Monday to commemorate Alabama’s 15th national championship.
Junior wide receiver/defensive back Christion Jones said the acknowledgement from the White House is special to him and his teammates.
“Going out and to look at our accomplishments and being able to meet President Obama was a great deal for us,” Jones said. “It’s always a great deal for a team who has won a national championship to be able to do things like that.”
This is the third time in four years the Tide has made the trip to Washington, D.C., and for some players, this is their third visit.
Senior linebacker Tana Patrick experienced traveling to the nation’s capital for a third time on Monday. He said he thought Obama recognized him from his previous visits.
“He looked at me like he remembered me,” Patrick said. “It made me feel pretty good.”
While in Washington, the team went to the Smithsonian Institution and observed the artifacts and exhibits the museum had to offer.
Senior linebacker C.J. Mosley said the team was welcomed by a familiar sight at the entrance of the museum.
“When you first walk in, there’s a big elephant,” Mosley said. “That was pretty interesting to see.”
But the celebration of another national championship did not last long for the president. Later that afternoon, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 100 others, according to reports. Obama was forced to address the nation after the horrible incident.
Mosley said it was quite the turnaround from what he and his teammates saw from the president while they were on the White House lawn.
“Less than 24 hours ago he was all smiles, and we were having a good time, and then something like that happens,” Mosley said. “But I guess he just has to do his job, and you’ve just got to pray for those people and everybody in Boston.”
Despite the bad news from Boston, the Tide had a safe and successful trip to the White House. Obama said he would not be surprised to see this team back again before he leaves office.
Mosley said he hoped to return to Washington next year, because the trip is one he appreciates more as he gets older.
“It was a great experience again, just to accomplish winning a championship, back-to-back, and visit the president two times in a row,” Mosley said. “It was a great deal for a lot of players, and some of the players got to see him for the first time. Once we get older, that’s something we better look back on and appreciate much more.”
