Will the Team be Invited by President Biden to the White House?

[Padreruf]

Exactly. Love the person in there or hate the person in there, you don’t turn down a chance to see where some of the greatest decisions in history have been made, the center of the greatest nation to have ever existed in history. You’re a fool to turn that down for political Facebook clout.

I hope they get to go somehow.

Attended in 2003 (with Clemson golf team) when George W. Bush hosted the winners of the Spring sports. Very memorable and basically non-political. Yes, the history is amazing...

 

[AlexanderFan]

Attended in 2003 (with Clemson golf team) when George W. Bush hosted the winners of the Spring sports. Very memorable and basically non-political. Yes, the history is amazing...

If a person can’t turn off their bias for a trip like that, it says a lot about them.

 

[Tiderollin32]

Maybe we should try and flip the script this year, have the politicians come to Bryant Denny to take their photo with the hardest working team in America.

 

[CoachJeff]

I agree this is a tradition that needs to die.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Probably not, but I do hope Biden gives the team a "zoom call" and congratulates them as consolation prize for not being able to go to the White House.

 

[Leeroy]

Maybe we should try and flip the script this year, have the politicians come to Bryant Denny to take their photo with the hardest working team in America.

Slugs in the garden.

 

[dtgreg]

And in the modern day, there's two other things (related) that go along with it:
a) social media permits everyone to be a self-centered star, so they get attention for going/not goin
b) outside groups who don't like the leader pressure schools/teams to not go and "send a message," which is pretty dumb.

Side note: when the former Yale first baseman took over for the Gipper, the Super Bowl was played two days later. Between those two days was.....Saturday....as in SNL. One of the skits - and it was pretty funny - had the 49ers winning and Reagan calling and interrupting Bush's call with Bill Walsh and them arguing. It made light of the whole thing.

 

[rja4bama]

I would think no just because of covid.

 

[81usaf92]

Attended in 2003 (with Clemson golf team) when George W. Bush hosted the winners of the Spring sports. Very memorable and basically non-political. Yes, the history is amazing...

I will say being in the presence of the president despite your political opinion is pretty damn cool. I was providing security for President Obama when he landed at Offutt in route to the Iowa Caucuses. It’s something surreal to experience. I have of course been in the same building twice when Trump was there though I was nowhere as close as I was as I was to Obama.

I can see both sides of the argument, but I believe there are probably bigger traditions attached to sports that probably should end before this personally that have political overtones that many people don’t think about. Seeing the president is something one has to experience if someone has a chance.

 

[deliveryman35]

I guess I’m old school—if you are invited by the President of the United States to the white house, you get your nicest suit and tie in the wardrobe closet and go, if nothing else out of respect for the position and not necessarily the current occupant of that position. Not sure many, if any, of our players supported the president in early 2018 but as far as I know they all accepted the invitation and were very respectful in their behavior that day. As far as whether the tradition should be ended, I don’t care one way or the other, that would be up to the current president and/or his administration. The pandemic would definitely be a convenient out to bring it to an end.

 

[jthomas666]

 

[Relayer]

I like the tradition and see no real (maybe some imagined) harm in it. Is it a bit political for the President? Yes, but in today's world it's one of the most absolutely harmless political things a President will do. Most of these players and coaches will never have the chance to meet with a President.

 

[Power Eye]

I like the tradition, and think it would be quite the honor. However, I think it needs to die a quick death if it continues to get politicized by either side. I am hopeful that the last four years are the exception and not the rule when it comes to politicizing White House visits.

 

[bamamc1]

Without getting political take in consideration President Biden hasn’t really had a lot of time this week to set it up. If I’m not mistaken we always saw Obama in some March or April time frame. It really wasn’t until Trump that people started to seeing POTUS within two weeks of the national championship.

If we are invited I’m hoping two things.
1) Tubby has to be shamed into coming
2) They don’t serve our boys McDonalds as a presidential meal.

Agree with tubs. McD's is ok if they let tennessee's boosters hand out the bags lol

 

[JustNeedMe81]

May be postponed to April/May ...

 

[Padreruf]

I have learned to respect the office when I do not agree with the president. However, I would have failed in that regard in recent years...I trust God will forgive me...

 

[Down4ttown]

Still a no for me on principle alone. Player or not, says a lot about a person if he forgets his values for a free trip. Although, values aren’t what they once were

 

[AlexanderFan]

Still a no for me on principle alone. Player or not, says a lot about a person if he forgets his values for a free trip. Although, values aren’t what they once were

Actually, it’s remembering the values of decency and courtesy for a trip, kind of like when I used to visit older unknown relatives

 

[B1GTide]

Still a no for me on principle alone. Player or not, says a lot about a person if he forgets his values for a free trip. Although, values aren’t what they once were

What values are you talking about?

 

[Down4ttown]

What values are you talking about?

Pride, Integrity, Honesty, Patriotism to name a few.