Football

May 26, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: I just welcomed five of our nation's university coaches to the Oval Office to thank them for going overseas to boost the morale of our troops. It was very interesting listening to them -- Charlie Weis is going to say a few comments about what they saw and heard. But I wanted them to know how much I appreciate going to say to these young men and women "thanks for what you're doing."

George W. Bush meets NCAA coaches: White House photo by Chris Greenberg    » read more »

Floor Statement On New England Patriots Videotaping

Washington, D.C. -- May 14, 2008 -- I. WHAT WE KNOW:

(1) The Patriots engaged in extensive videotaping of opponents’ offensive and defensive signals starting on August 20, 2000 and extending to September 9, 2007, when they were publicly caught videotaping the Jets.

New England Patriots cheerleaders: Photo by Paul Keleher (CC)    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- Las Vegas, NV -- Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that District Court Judge Kathy Hardcastle has sentenced Mitchell Adam Chirchick, 40, of Las Vegas, in connection with the sale of bogus travel packages to the NFL’s 2007 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Pro Bowl kickoff rally, Hawaii: Photo by Zach Everson (CC)

Chirchick, who pled guilty to three counts of Felony Theft of Property in Excess of $2,500, was sentenced to consecutive terms of 4 to 10 years on Counts One and Two.    » read more »

April 14, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Welcome to the Rose Garden. Of course, this is an old habit for a lot of the players standing behind me. After all, this is the fifth year in a row that the mighty Navy football team won the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. And we're here to congratulate them on that amazing achievement. As a matter of fact, coming to the Rose Garden is as familiar a place as Bancroft Hall.

We welcome you here and we congratulate you. Coach, thanks for coming. Proud you're here. This team has had an historic season. For the third year in a row, had the most rushing yards in the nation, as well as the nation's highest graduation rate. You went to your fifth straight bowl game, and of course you accomplished your most important goal: You beat Army.    » read more »

House Judiciary Committee to Hold Further Hearings; Examine Possible Legislative Remedy

(Washington, DC) - House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) today announced the release of a 144-page report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) recommending legislation to address the health problems faced by professional football players, and also released the responses to questions posed by the Committee to the NFL and NFLPA.

New York Giants football injury: Photo by John Corbett (CC)    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Good to see you all. Welcome. Go Tigers! Sit down. Please sit down. Thanks for coming.

So I met some of these men in 2004 -- they feel pretty comfortable they were going to be back here. Some of them weren't so sure I was going to be back here. It's good to welcome you back. Proud you're here.

George W. Bush proudly displays a LSU Tigers' football jersey: Photo by Chris Greenberg

Nothing like being called, "National Champs." LSU has the honor of being the first school to win two BCS titles. This year there is no split.    » read more »

Second Annual Event Moves to Primetime on ESPN; Forty-Seven Standout Players Already Selected to Participate

April 1, 2008 -- The second annual Under Armour All-America High School Football Game, an annual all-star football competition spotlighting the nation’s top high school seniors, will be played on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. The event, an ESPN and Intersport collaboration, is moving to Sunday in primetime as part of a new expanded three-hour window (8-11 p.m. ET) on ESPN. Last year, the event was televised in a two-hour Saturday afternoon window on ABC. The event will also include ancillary events to be held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex (DWWS) near Orlando, Fla., while a site for the game will be determined in the near future.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer personally spoke with Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson to gain assurances that the owner has every intention of keeping the football franchise in Buffalo for the long-term. Following a press conference in Toronto yesterday where the Bills announced they’ll be playing one regular season home game a year in the Canadian city, there were fears that it was the first step towards permanently moving the team there.    » read more »

February 4, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today issued the following statement congratulating the Giants on their Super Bowl victory:

“After a tremendous season, a remarkable run through the playoffs and an inspiring victory against the Patriots, the Giants are now Super Bowl champions.

From their home turf in East Rutherford, New Jersey to their Super Bowl win in Arizona, the Giants had an impressive season and are now the best team in the National Football League for the third time in history.    » read more »

04 February 2008 -- The New York Giants have pulled off one of the biggest upsets in National Football League history, defeating the heavily favored New England Patriots, 17-14, to win Super Bowl 42 and deny New England an undefeated season.

The Giants were the lowest seeded playoff team - fifth seed - to reach the championship game, and the first National Conference wild card team ever to win the title. Four American Conference teams have won titles as wild cards.    » read more »

Senator honors disabled player living in Reno

January 31, 2008 -- Washington, DC— Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor this morning about the need for the NFL to consider increasing benefits for former players that sustained life-altering injuries.

Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

This Sunday, families will gather in living rooms across our country to watch Super Bowl 42 in Glendale, Arizona.    » read more »

Mayor Bloomberg Also Encourages New Yorkers to "Paint the Town Blue" Thursday and Friday; Starting Thursday Night, Empire State Building Will Be Lit Blue

January 29, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino today placed a friendly wager on the outcome of Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The game will take place Sunday evening at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Mayor Bloomberg also named Thursday and Friday "Paint the Town Blue" days in New York City.    » read more »

January 24, 2008 -- COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command Joint Color Guard will represent the commands and the nation Feb. 3 by presenting the nation’s flag (ensign) during opening ceremonies prior to the start of Super Bowl XLII.

The Joint Color Guard team includes men and women from all branches of the U.S. military as well as representatives of Canadian Armed Forces.    » read more »

January 16, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Green Bay Mayor James J. Schmitt today placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the NFC Championship Game between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. The game will take place Sunday evening at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The winner advances to Super Bowl XLII.    » read more »

13 January 2008 -- In the U.S. National Football League playoffs, the New England Patriots are just two wins away from a perfect 19-0 season after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-20.

Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins have gone through a season without a loss , posting a 17-0 record when teams played two fewer games in the regular season.

The Patriots improved to 17-0 late Saturday while advancing to the National Conference championship game.    » read more »