Barack Obama honors Ohio State at White House
The 2015 College Football National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes were honored at the White House by President Barack Obama on Monday.
The President was lighthearted as he directed attention to head coach Urban Meyer and the success he's garnered over the course of his illustrious career.
He was also quick to point out that he pushed for a structured playoff system back when he was elected to office in 2008, joking that he threw his weight around to get the ball rolling.
"You're welcome, America," Obama said. "It was a great playoffs."
He also took the opportunity to highlight the improbable season the Buckeyes put together from start to finish.
"At one point last year the Buckeyes were ranked as low as 23rd in the nation, but they kept on battling back with the help of not one, not two but three quarterbacks," he said.
Obama made sure to showcase the support quarterbacks Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones showed for one another after two of them went down with season-ending injuries.
He then went on to pinpoint running back Ezekiel Elliott as a catalyst throughout the course of the season, but in particular, his showing in the championship game win over Oregon.
"In addition to rushing for over 1,800 yards behind an extraordinary offensive line, as good as we've seen in very a long time, and earning the championship game MVP, Ezekiel Elliott made the NCAA fashion police take a close look at their midriff policies," Obama said.
The President turned around to find the running back laughing, before pointing out that Elliot stuck to his end of the bargain, for the White House visit, at least.
"Thanks for tucking in your shirt today," Obama said. "We appreciate that."
Meyer took the podium to thank the President, the Buckeyes faithful and his team for making the year a memorable one for him.
"Ohio State entered the playoff as the fourth and final seed and there were some who questioned whether this team really belonged," Meyer said.
"As you know we traveled a long and winding road of adversity and overcame numerous challenges as a team to be here today," he added. "These young men and coaching staff worked hard to complete the chase and achieve their final goal of becoming undisputed champions."
At the conclusion of the press conference, team captains Doran Grant and Curtis Grant honored the President by handing him the game ball from the title game win over the Ducks as well as a No. 44 Ohio State scarlet jersey.