Hail to the Gators.
The UF football team will travel to Washington D.C. on Thursday to be recognized at the White House for its 2008 BCS National Championship.
The Gators will be the first championship team to be recognized at the White House during President Obama's three-month reign as U.S. leader.About 225 players, coaches and staff will make the trek to the nation's capital, according to UF sports information director Steve McClain.
The University Athletic Association will pay for the group's travel, but trip planning was not complete as of Monday afternoon and therefore final expenses could not be calculated.
The UF football team's trip to the White House two years ago after its 2006 BCS title cost $96,000, according to a December 2007 Orange County Register report.
"I've never been to Washington D.C. or anything like that," soon-to-be-sophomore quarterback John Brantley said. "I'd love to go see the House. I think it's going to be a great experience to go up there and meet the president and walk around the House just so I can say I did it."
It hasn't always been run-of-the-mill for UF teams in D.C.
Former UF forward and current Chicago Bulls starter Joakim Noah caused quite a stir regarding the Gators basketball team's trip to the White House after its first NCAA title in 2006. Noah almost didn't go on the trip because of disagreements with some of then-President George W. Bush's foreign policies.
"I didn't want to go because I don't particularly agree with the president and his views and what he stands for," Noah told the New York Times in March 2007 regarding the trip. "But at the same time, I felt like after talking with coach Donovan, I didn't want to put that negative publicity on the team. And I feel like I love this country. I really do. I don't want to disrespect it. If I was in an individual sport or something … maybe I wouldn't have gone."
Expect this trip to be a lot calmer. What would Brantley say if he caught President Obama one-on-one in a hallway?
"Shoot, I don't know. Hi?" Brantley laughed.
