University of Minnesota Athletics
Another Golden Gopher First
3/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
But the firsts don't end there. The 2001-02 season has already brought a new first for the Golden Gophers.
It began with a relatively unremarkable trip to the state of Virginia to wrestle Virginia Tech and James Madison (for the first meetings between the schools, appropriately enough). Minnesota made quick work of both of the overmatched teams, downing the Hokies 42-9 in Blacksburg before defeating the Dukes 41-6 in Harrisonburg. The results were expected and the Golden Gophers turned their attention to the next issue at hand- a visit to Washington, D.C.
The wrestlers, coaches and staff spent the majority of Sunday, Dec. 9, as tourists, visiting the numerous monuments, memorials and landmarks in and around the nation's capital. Ford's Theatre, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Building, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and much more. It was all a good time, but, for most, if not all in the party, thoughts were on the following day's agenda.
Perhaps not surprisingly, several wrestlers came unprepared, fashion-wise, for the next day's events. So, those wrestlers spent the evening buying dress shirts, pants, ties and shoes in an attempt to look respectable for the coming day. Some succeeded - redshirt freshman Nate Baker's new ensemble from head to toe and junior John Hardy's fresh haircut, for example. Some did not - senior Leroy Vega's white shirt with a stain on the back and sophomore Trent Hatlevig's tie with the four-inch-wide knot come to mind.
On Monday, the most significant first came for the Golden Gophers (and it has nothing to do with the fact that it was the first time some of the wrestlers had ever worn a tie). It was time for the 2001 NCAA Champions to visit the White House. Some were nervous, but all were excited. The team knew they were going to get into the residence of the President (which was otherwise closed to the public), but did not know if they were going to meet President George W. Bush.
The Golden Gophers loaded into the vans for the short trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The bomb-sniffing dogs did their job, the gates were opened, and the IDs were checked. The Secret Service agents were everywhere, checking cameras and cell phones, talking into their sleeves, and keeping a close eye on the ragtag group of wrestlers from the Midwest.
One of the agents proceeded to give the team a short tour of the main floor of the White House, decorated stunningly for Christmas. They saw the Red Room, the Green Room, the Blue Room, the State Dining Room, the White House Christmas Tree, the 300-pound gingerbread house and all the other common sights inside the White House. The Golden Gophers took it all in, taking countless pictures along the way. The tour alone was worth the trip. The opportunity to receive a tour of the White House somehow justified the long travel hours. But it was soon to get much better for the cauliflower-eared tourists from Gold Country.
After completing the general tour of the main floor, the Secret Service agent stopped, turned to the group and said, rather matter-of-factly, "Ok, now let's get downstairs. It's time for you guys to meet the President."
Jaws dropped. Eyes widened. Assistant Coach Joe Russell broke into a full sweat.
The team was led downstairs to the Diplomatic Reception Room, the beautifully-painted room where ambassadors arrive to present their credentials to the President and where President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once held his "Fireside Chats."
There, the team was assembled by the official White House photographer for a group picture with the leader of the free world. There, the team waited, pulses racing. No one really knew what to expect. Would it be a quick photo opportunity and a handshake? Would he stay and chat about wrestling? Would the President challenge Head Assistant Coach Marty Morgan to an arm wrestling match? The questions floated through the minds of the Minnesota grapplers.
Then, in a flash of Secret Service activity, the President arrived. The press corps photographers clicked incessantly at their cameras.
Jaws dropped even farther. Eyes opened even wider. Russell asked for a glass of water. In that moment, the 2001 national champions became the first collegiate wrestling team to visit the White House and meet the President.
President Bush made his way through the group, shaking hands with the flabbergasted wrestlers. Some managed to speak. "P-p-p-pleasure to meet you, sir," was the most common expression. Most in the group failed to mutter a word and settled on just staring wide-eyed at the President while attempting to maintain a professional appearance and a firm handshake.
The group picture taken, the President said a few words about the challenges facing the nation before turning to Minnesota Head Coach J Robinson and saying, "Hey, we've got a little time. Let's go up to the Oval Office."
Jaws dislocated. Eyes popped out of heads. Smiles reached from ear-to-ear.
President Bush led the Golden Gophers outside to the South Grounds, the area facing the Washington Monument that has hosted numerous historical events and receptions. It all happened so suddenly. And, to look at the President, it seemed so routine. But it was anything but routine for the Golden Gophers as President Bush answered questions and joked on the short walk over to the Oval Office. It was a surreal experience to say the least.
One smart aleck in the Minnesota staff thought it'd be funny to ask the world's most powerful man if he was going to read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to the team (President Bush was seen on CNBC earlier that morning reading the classic Christmas poem to a group of first graders in the White House). The President replied, "No, I already read it today.. Oh, you mean read it to you guys? No, but you know what? I skipped a page this morning."
Someone responded, "You skipped a page?!?"
"Yep," the President answered. "I don't think anyone noticed, but I sure did miss a page."
President Bush and the Golden Gophers laughed, breaking the nervous tension that most, if not all, in the Minnesota party felt. The exchange suddenly made the President all the more human; he transformed (if only briefly) from the Commander in Chief into Dubya - a funny, down-to-earth, regular guy who just happens to be the President of the United States.
The Golden Gophers, managing to stay surprisingly well behaved during the entire event, quietly filed into the Oval Office. Once all were inside, the President talked with the team some more, commenting on the history of the office and pointing out his personal touches on the room. He spoke for a moment about his deep admiration for Abraham Lincoln.
"He has a picture of Lincoln in there because it's his job to keep the nation together," Robinson said. "He made it real personal."
Next, the President talked about his desk, known as the Resolute desk, first used by Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880 and every president since, except Johnson, Nixon and Ford. President Bush spoke about the Presidential coat-of-arms that FDR installed on the desk, saying, "FDR modified the desk, fitting the kneehole with the presidential seal to hide the fact that he was in a wheelchair. The seal shows the eagle looking towards the arrows in its talons, representing America's readiness for war. On the ceiling, there is another seal. In 1945, Truman ordered that seal redesigned so that the eagle looked toward the olive branches. He believed that the president should look towards peace."
Then, President Bush stopped and said, obviously referring to America's war against terrorism, "But you know, sometimes the arrows are good, too."
With that comment, Dubya suddenly turned back into the Commander in Chief. The Golden Gophers were reminded again just how important a person they were meeting. They were reminded how big an honor was bestowed upon them.
With the allotted meeting time winding down, the President congratulated the Maroon and Gold contingent on its accomplishments and mentioned the importance of keeping up the good work to be seen as positive role models for Minnesota and the nation. In all, President Bush spent about 15 minutes alone with the Golden Gophers before getting back to work.
The Golden Gophers lined up for a chance to again shake the President's hand and get a personal picture with the tenant of the White House. The excitement and nervousness was clearly seen on nearly everyone's faces. This was an experience none would soon forget.
Outside the White House fences, the Minnesota grapplers took time to reflect on what had just happened. The Golden Gophers, a team of firsts, had just notched another first in their history. And, in this uncertain and troubling time in the United States, the team truly realized what a significant honor it was to gain access to the White House and the President.
They had a hard time putting words to their feelings, but the common reaction was "that was so coooooool."
"It was really cool," senior Chad Erikson said. "This will be something I can remember for the rest of my life."
"With all the stuff that he has to worry about, just knowing he recognizes that we're good at what we do, it's a great honor," senior Owen Elzen commented.
They used adjectives like "unbelievable, unforgettable and amazing," but it may have been senior Leroy Vega who summed it up best. "It was an unbelievable experience. It's such a great honor to be allowed to tour the White House and meet the President. I was blown away. It's great for college wrestling and for our program to have had that opportunity."
The "Team of Firsts" piled back into the vans for the police-escorted trip to the airport. The Golden Gophers left the nation's capital as a fortunate bunch - a team that had the unparalleled opportunity to meet the President of the United States. They left with a feeling of pride they may not have experienced since registering all those firsts en route to the 2001 NCAA Championship.
It begs the question, what first will the University of Minnesota wrestling team next accomplish in its quest to establish itself as a college wrestling dynasty?
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Wrestling Contact Kevin Kurtt The University of Minnesota wrestling team keeps piling on the 'firsts.' In 2001, the Golden Gophers became the first team in the 71-year history of the NCAA Championships to earn 10 All-America honors in one national tournament. Minnesota also became the first squad to capture the team title without having a single finalist. With the team championship, the 2001 edition of Maroon and Gold grappling became the first team in school history to win a national wrestling team title.
But the firsts don't end there. The 2001-02 season has already brought a new first for the Golden Gophers.
It began with a relatively unremarkable trip to the state of Virginia to wrestle Virginia Tech and James Madison (for the first meetings between the schools, appropriately enough). Minnesota made quick work of both of the overmatched teams, downing the Hokies 42-9 in Blacksburg before defeating the Dukes 41-6 in Harrisonburg. The results were expected and the Golden Gophers turned their attention to the next issue at hand- a visit to Washington, D.C.
The wrestlers, coaches and staff spent the majority of Sunday, Dec. 9, as tourists, visiting the numerous monuments, memorials and landmarks in and around the nation's capital. Ford's Theatre, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Building, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and much more. It was all a good time, but, for most, if not all in the party, thoughts were on the following day's agenda.
Perhaps not surprisingly, several wrestlers came unprepared, fashion-wise, for the next day's events. So, those wrestlers spent the evening buying dress shirts, pants, ties and shoes in an attempt to look respectable for the coming day. Some succeeded - redshirt freshman Nate Baker's new ensemble from head to toe and junior John Hardy's fresh haircut, for example. Some did not - senior Leroy Vega's white shirt with a stain on the back and sophomore Trent Hatlevig's tie with the four-inch-wide knot come to mind.
On Monday, the most significant first came for the Golden Gophers (and it has nothing to do with the fact that it was the first time some of the wrestlers had ever worn a tie). It was time for the 2001 NCAA Champions to visit the White House. Some were nervous, but all were excited. The team knew they were going to get into the residence of the President (which was otherwise closed to the public), but did not know if they were going to meet President George W. Bush.
The Golden Gophers loaded into the vans for the short trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The bomb-sniffing dogs did their job, the gates were opened, and the IDs were checked. The Secret Service agents were everywhere, checking cameras and cell phones, talking into their sleeves, and keeping a close eye on the ragtag group of wrestlers from the Midwest.
One of the agents proceeded to give the team a short tour of the main floor of the White House, decorated stunningly for Christmas. They saw the Red Room, the Green Room, the Blue Room, the State Dining Room, the White House Christmas Tree, the 300-pound gingerbread house and all the other common sights inside the White House. The Golden Gophers took it all in, taking countless pictures along the way. The tour alone was worth the trip. The opportunity to receive a tour of the White House somehow justified the long travel hours. But it was soon to get much better for the cauliflower-eared tourists from Gold Country.
After completing the general tour of the main floor, the Secret Service agent stopped, turned to the group and said, rather matter-of-factly, "Ok, now let's get downstairs. It's time for you guys to meet the President."
Jaws dropped. Eyes widened. Assistant Coach Joe Russell broke into a full sweat.
The team was led downstairs to the Diplomatic Reception Room, the beautifully-painted room where ambassadors arrive to present their credentials to the President and where President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once held his "Fireside Chats."
There, the team was assembled by the official White House photographer for a group picture with the leader of the free world. There, the team waited, pulses racing. No one really knew what to expect. Would it be a quick photo opportunity and a handshake? Would he stay and chat about wrestling? Would the President challenge Head Assistant Coach Marty Morgan to an arm wrestling match? The questions floated through the minds of the Minnesota grapplers.
Then, in a flash of Secret Service activity, the President arrived. The press corps photographers clicked incessantly at their cameras.
Jaws dropped even farther. Eyes opened even wider. Russell asked for a glass of water. In that moment, the 2001 national champions became the first collegiate wrestling team to visit the White House and meet the President.
President Bush made his way through the group, shaking hands with the flabbergasted wrestlers. Some managed to speak. "P-p-p-pleasure to meet you, sir," was the most common expression. Most in the group failed to mutter a word and settled on just staring wide-eyed at the President while attempting to maintain a professional appearance and a firm handshake.
The group picture taken, the President said a few words about the challenges facing the nation before turning to Minnesota Head Coach J Robinson and saying, "Hey, we've got a little time. Let's go up to the Oval Office."
Jaws dislocated. Eyes popped out of heads. Smiles reached from ear-to-ear.
President Bush led the Golden Gophers outside to the South Grounds, the area facing the Washington Monument that has hosted numerous historical events and receptions. It all happened so suddenly. And, to look at the President, it seemed so routine. But it was anything but routine for the Golden Gophers as President Bush answered questions and joked on the short walk over to the Oval Office. It was a surreal experience to say the least.
One smart aleck in the Minnesota staff thought it'd be funny to ask the world's most powerful man if he was going to read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to the team (President Bush was seen on CNBC earlier that morning reading the classic Christmas poem to a group of first graders in the White House). The President replied, "No, I already read it today.. Oh, you mean read it to you guys? No, but you know what? I skipped a page this morning."
Someone responded, "You skipped a page?!?"
"Yep," the President answered. "I don't think anyone noticed, but I sure did miss a page."
President Bush and the Golden Gophers laughed, breaking the nervous tension that most, if not all, in the Minnesota party felt. The exchange suddenly made the President all the more human; he transformed (if only briefly) from the Commander in Chief into Dubya - a funny, down-to-earth, regular guy who just happens to be the President of the United States.
The Golden Gophers, managing to stay surprisingly well behaved during the entire event, quietly filed into the Oval Office. Once all were inside, the President talked with the team some more, commenting on the history of the office and pointing out his personal touches on the room. He spoke for a moment about his deep admiration for Abraham Lincoln.
"He has a picture of Lincoln in there because it's his job to keep the nation together," Robinson said. "He made it real personal."
Next, the President talked about his desk, known as the Resolute desk, first used by Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880 and every president since, except Johnson, Nixon and Ford. President Bush spoke about the Presidential coat-of-arms that FDR installed on the desk, saying, "FDR modified the desk, fitting the kneehole with the presidential seal to hide the fact that he was in a wheelchair. The seal shows the eagle looking towards the arrows in its talons, representing America's readiness for war. On the ceiling, there is another seal. In 1945, Truman ordered that seal redesigned so that the eagle looked toward the olive branches. He believed that the president should look towards peace."
Then, President Bush stopped and said, obviously referring to America's war against terrorism, "But you know, sometimes the arrows are good, too."
With that comment, Dubya suddenly turned back into the Commander in Chief. The Golden Gophers were reminded again just how important a person they were meeting. They were reminded how big an honor was bestowed upon them.
With the allotted meeting time winding down, the President congratulated the Maroon and Gold contingent on its accomplishments and mentioned the importance of keeping up the good work to be seen as positive role models for Minnesota and the nation. In all, President Bush spent about 15 minutes alone with the Golden Gophers before getting back to work.
The Golden Gophers lined up for a chance to again shake the President's hand and get a personal picture with the tenant of the White House. The excitement and nervousness was clearly seen on nearly everyone's faces. This was an experience none would soon forget.
Outside the White House fences, the Minnesota grapplers took time to reflect on what had just happened. The Golden Gophers, a team of firsts, had just notched another first in their history. And, in this uncertain and troubling time in the United States, the team truly realized what a significant honor it was to gain access to the White House and the President.
They had a hard time putting words to their feelings, but the common reaction was "that was so coooooool."
"It was really cool," senior Chad Erikson said. "This will be something I can remember for the rest of my life."
"With all the stuff that he has to worry about, just knowing he recognizes that we're good at what we do, it's a great honor," senior Owen Elzen commented.
They used adjectives like "unbelievable, unforgettable and amazing," but it may have been senior Leroy Vega who summed it up best. "It was an unbelievable experience. It's such a great honor to be allowed to tour the White House and meet the President. I was blown away. It's great for college wrestling and for our program to have had that opportunity."
The "Team of Firsts" piled back into the vans for the police-escorted trip to the airport. The Golden Gophers left the nation's capital as a fortunate bunch - a team that had the unparalleled opportunity to meet the President of the United States. They left with a feeling of pride they may not have experienced since registering all those firsts en route to the 2001 NCAA Championship.
It begs the question, what first will the University of Minnesota wrestling team next accomplish in its quest to establish itself as a college wrestling dynasty?
Written by Men's Athletics Media Relations Wrestling Contact Kevin Kurtt
