NCAA Football: National Champion Florida Visits White House

The 2006 Gator football team was UF's sixth national championship team to visit The White House.

The 2006 National Champion football squad visited President Bush at the White House on Monday. Photo courtesy: UF Athletics

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The University of Florida football team traveled to Washington, D.C. on Monday to meet with President George W. Bush on the South Lawn of the White House.

The Gators were invited to the nation’s Capitol to take part in a ceremony to honor the 2006 National Championship squad.

The festivities included a photo opportunity on the South Lawn, where President Bush was presented with a #43 Gator jersey from Coach Urban Meyer, representative of President Bush being the 43rd president of the United States.

Quarterback Chris Leak also presented President Bush with a football.

President Bush addressed the Florida traveling party of 188 people that included members of the 2006 team, coaches, athletic staff, some members of the Board of Trustees and UF president Dr. J. Bernard Machen.

The 2006 Gator football team was UF's sixth national championship team to visit The White House, joining the 1996 football team, the 1998 soccer and 1998 and the 2003 women's tennis teams as well as the 2006 men's basketball team. The 1922 Gator football team also visited The White House.

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