President Bush presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy in an April 14 White House ceremony, in recognition of their gridiron victories over their Interservice rivals at the Air Force Academy and U.S. Military Academy last fall. Navy beat the Falcons 31-20, and the Black Knights 38-3. Bush noted several milestones the Navy team accomplished on and off the field in his remarks, including having both the highest rushing and graduation rates in the nation. He also noted that the Midshipmen beat Notre Dame for the first time since 1963, when Roger Staubach was quarterback. He also praised their commitment to their country.
"You signed up after 9/11," Bush said. "You knew the stakes involved in the war against extremists and radicals. You knew that your country depended on you. And you didn’t hesitate to wear the uniform."
