Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Meets with NCAA's Alabama Crimson Tide - April 10, 2018 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:21 (21 sec)

Great job. Big guys back there, huh? Well, thank you very much. And it's my great honor to welcome the college football national champions to the White House, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Congratulations. Congratulations. [Applause]

Donald Trump

00:00:21 - 00:00:45 (25 sec)

To the University President Stuart Bell, Athletic Director Greg Byrne, Coach Nick Saban, and the extraordinary group of players -- and they are extraordinary and they're going to be very rich; they're going to be very -- [Laughter] -- gathered here, congratulations on your incredible victory. It was truly a win for the ages. I don't know if you know, but I was there. I was there. I got to see it.

Donald Trump

00:00:45 - 00:01:14 (29 sec)

Each of you here today is here because of your grit, your drive, your dedication, and your incredible teamwork. You all worked together, inspired each other, had each other's backs, and drove yourselves onward to one of the greatest victories ever. You carry on a storied tradition of Alabama football excellence. It really is excellence. Coach, you'll have to explain that. You could sell that secret, make a lot of money. You know that. [Laughter] You could only sell it.

Donald Trump

00:01:14 - 00:01:30 (16 sec)

Over the last several decades, America learned -- it's really -- in a very big way, learned that Alabama football knows how to win and how to keep winning. They just keep winning. And it also takes a great coach and a great athletic director and all of the other ingredients.

Donald Trump

00:01:30 - 00:02:04 (34 sec)

But you've now claimed 26 SEC Championships and 17 National Championships. Five of your national championships were won under Coach Saban. Was it five or six? Six? I thought it was six. It's going to be six. Right?

Nick Saban

00:02:04 - 00:02:07 (3 sec)

And one at LSU. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:02:07 - 00:02:44 (37 sec)

And one at LSU. That's right. [Laughter] So you have six altogether? Wow. [Laughter] They shouldn't have let you go, Coach. [Laughter] And they're thinking about that, too. Including this year's national championship, which will go down as one of the most exciting finishes in college football history -- of any sport.

Donald Trump

00:02:44 - 00:02:55 (12 sec)

Anyone who wants to know how Alabama does it should study Coach Saban's simple philosophy. It's called "The Process."" Coach tells his players

Donald Trump

00:02:55 - 00:03:04 (8 sec)

In the national championship game, you stuck to "The Process

Donald Trump

00:03:04 - 00:03:19 (16 sec)

Jalen Hurts displayed amazing poise and leadership. Where's Jalen? Jalen. [Applause] Great. Great job. That was poise.

Donald Trump

00:03:19 - 00:03:43 (24 sec)

Calvin Ridley torched defenses all year, becoming the only second receiver -- and you're the only one -- in Alabama history to compile over 200 receptions for a career. Two-hundred. Where's Calvin? Hey, Calvin. [Applause, Laughter] Two-hundred receptions. That's not bad.

Donald Trump

00:03:43 - 00:03:58 (15 sec)

Damien Harris took his rightful place alongside the famed Alabama ball carriers of past years. Damien. Damien. Hey, Damien. [Applause]

Donald Trump

00:03:58 - 00:04:26 (28 sec)

Rashaan Evans and Da'Ron Payne and the rest of the defense beat opposing offenses into submission. I've watched a lot of those games and sometimes, as Coach Saban likes to say, you flat-out made them quit. They quit. We're doing that to a lot of people, too. [Laughter] I learn.

Donald Trump

00:04:26 - 00:04:44 (18 sec)

Where's Bradley B. and Rashaan and Da'Ron? Where are you guys? Come here. [Applause] That money is going to be pouring in. Look at the size of these guys.

Donald Trump

00:04:44 - 00:04:55 (11 sec)

So, Bradley, great job. Offensive line kept the Tide rolling downhill. And Bradley got the win of his lifetime after the big game, when his girlfriend agreed to say, "Yes

Bradley Bozeman

00:04:55 - 00:05:00 (5 sec)

She is. [Laughter] Luckily.

Donald Trump

00:05:00 - 00:05:06 (5 sec)

She's still there. That's good. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:05:06 - 00:05:32 (26 sec)

There was one moment when it looked grim for Alabama in the title game. On the first play of overtime, Georgia sacked Tua for a big loss. Where's Tua? Where's Tua? [Applause] Tua, what are you doing up there? What's he doing up there? [Laughter] But that was the only loss they got you for.

Donald Trump

00:05:32 - 00:06:09 (38 sec)

But the Crimson Tide never gave in -- never even a little bit -- and it just worked out. On the very next play, Tua dropped back to pass, launched the ball from near midfield -- I was watching -- and the entire country watched as arms lifted up, and DeVonta Smith caught that ball for the win. DeVonta. [Applause] And that was amazing win. DeVonta? Where's DeVonta? What's going on over there? [Applause] Unbelievable throw and a catch.

Donald Trump

00:06:09 - 00:06:23 (13 sec)

Every moment of hard work and preparation for Alabama paid off. We're proud of you. We're proud of your teammates. Each member of this incredible football program, you can all be proud of yourselves.

Donald Trump

00:06:23 - 00:06:44 (22 sec)

We're proud of the way you play. We're proud of the way you represent yourselves, your university, and your state. And that is a great, great state. I know because I won it by 32 points. [Applause, Laughter] I actually think more than that, but anyway. You know, with the press, you like to keep it low because they'll always correct you. [Laughter]

Donald Trump

00:06:44 - 00:06:57 (13 sec)

And we're proud to once again call the University of Alabama our national champions. Thank you, and Roll Tide. [Applause]

Donald Trump

00:06:57 - 00:07:14 (17 sec)

It's a great honor of mine to introduce a man I have a lot of respect for. Don't know him; got to know him today in the Oval Office. And you've been here six times, but it's your first time in the Oval Office. They didn't invite you, the other -- they don't invite you? See? [Laughter] Trump invites you.

Donald Trump

00:07:14 - 00:07:28 (15 sec)

But he is a great coach. And you know, he's a great winner. I think, more than anything else, he's a great winner. Coach Nick Saban. Thank you. Thank you, Coach. [Applause]

Nick Saban

00:07:28 - 00:07:50 (21 sec)

You know, not many people get invited to the White House, so not many people get invited to see the President and meet the President. So this is a special day for our team. A team that is being honored here because of their achievements in terms of winning the college football national championship, which makes me very proud.

Nick Saban

00:07:50 - 00:08:11 (22 sec)

This season was a little bit of a metaphor of life in terms of the togetherness, the hard work, the perseverance that these young men sort of put together to overcome a lot of adversity, to create a legacy for a lifetime and a memory for a lifetime for them because of what they were able to accomplish together as a team.

Nick Saban

00:08:11 - 00:08:23 (11 sec)

This group of young men will also learn a lot of lessons, I think, that will help them be more successful in life because of the experiences they had together this year as a team.

Nick Saban

00:08:23 - 00:08:44 (22 sec)

A special thanks to our administration, Dr. Bell, our Athletic Director Greg Byrne, and all of the supporters of Alabama football who make our team special. And a special thanks to President -- our President to invite us here and make this a special day for us. President Trump, thank you so much.

Donald Trump

00:08:44 - 00:08:56 (12 sec)

Thank you. Thank you.

Nick Saban

00:08:56 - 00:10:11 (74 sec)

And because of our gratitude, our captains would like to make a presentation to our President. Captains. [Team jersey is presented.]

Donald Trump

00:10:11 - 00:10:25 (14 sec)

Oh, I like that. [Laughter]

Nick Saban

00:10:25 - 00:10:27 (2 sec)

Looks good. [Applause]

Donald Trump

00:10:27 - 00:10:45 (17 sec)

I'll put it on.