Buckeyes meet with President Trump, Vice President Vance at White House

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Ohio State coach Ryan Day all walked from the White House Rose Garden to the podium set up on the South Lawn.

As the music stopped, somebody in the crowd yelled, “O-H!”

They were greeted with “I-O!” from nearly every fan, administration member, Buckeyes player, coach and personnel who was present.

Then the President spoke for roughly 10 minutes about the achievements of the Buckeyes’ national championship season and run.

Trump called out quarterback Will Howard, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith, the entire Buckeyes offensive line and linebacker Cody Simon. Then, of course, he shouted out defensive end Jack Sawyer — and then Day.

Once Trump was finished, Vice President Vance spoke before Day took the podium for remarks.

“Mr. President, Mr. Vice President and other distinguished guests, on behalf of The Ohio State University and the department of athletics, thank you for inviting the national championship Ohio State Buckeyes to the White House this afternoon,” Day said. “We are honored and humbled to be here celebrating with you our ninth national championship in our great university’s history. To be here surrounded by our players, staff and university leadership is a moment we’ll never forget. Traveling to D.C. was the easy part. Earning the right to be here was the hard one. This team made history by winning the most difficult series of games in the history of college football, defeating No. 7 Tennessee, No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl, No. 3 Texas in the Cotton Bowl and No. 5 Notre Dame in the national championship back-to-back-to-back-to-back. No team has ever done that. No team has ever done that. Through discipline and execution, this team dominated, finished the mission and left no doubt. It all started with a group of fourth and fifth-year seniors. They chose each other. They chose Ohio State. They built and lived a culture of toughness, brotherhood and love.

“When adversity hit, they stood tall, stuck together, showed their true character, rose to the occasion and became champions. There’s a quote I love from President (Teddy) Roosevelt displayed proudly in our team room, ‘The Man in the Arena.’ It’s not the critic who counts, it’s not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who strives valiantly, comes up short again and again but who does actually strive to do the deeds. This quote reminds us of the true honor that goes to those who rise to the challenge and stand in the arena unwavered. It took every challenge and we responded with heart, with grit and with determination. That is why this moment means so much to us. Our families, thank you so much for your love and your support along the way. To our coaches, thank you for your hard work and for your leadership. And to our players, thank you for everything, your story will forever be told. And Mr. President, thank you again for this incredible honor. God bless America and go Bucks.”

Ohio State gifted Trump a white Buckeyes jersey with the No. 47 on it, as well as an Ohio State helmet. Vice President Vance, an Ohio State grad, lifted the national title trophy — but the bottom of the trophy fell to the floor, causing gasps and laughs.

Then the band played the Ohio State fight song as the players and Day filed off the stage and into the Oval Office for a private visit with the President and Vice President.

Also notably in attendance were Ohio Lieutenant Governor and former Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LeRose and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, among others. Day’s wife, Nina, and his three children were also in the front row of the crowd.