One of the biggest thrills for national champions is visiting the White House.
That's where the national-title victory lap took the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday afternoon, with President Obama honoring the first-ever winners of the College Football Playoff.
It was that postseason model which took the bulk of the light-hearted attention Monday, as President Obama reminded the Buckeyes and the assembled fans that he was one of the many pushing for a playoff. His position obviously made him one of the most notable advocates for ditching the BCS in favor of the CFP.
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"I can say, it was about time. I cannot claim full credit. I will point out that I pushed for a playoff system in 2008," Obama joked. "I'd say I threw my weight around. Politifact, which keeps track of whether politicians keep their promises, this is a promise kept by me. So you're welcome, America. It was a great playoff."
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That line drew laughs, though Urban Meyer taking to the mic to thank Obama for his playoff push earned bigger ones when the president reacted.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for being a strong supporter of sports and collegiate athletics, wanting to recognize that you were an early supporter of the creation of the College Football Playoff," Meyer said.
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Obama followed that by tossing his gifted game ball in the air, catching it and saying, "Just sayin'."
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The president had plenty of good lines while honoring the team's star players, for example thanking crop-top-wearing running back Ezekiel Elliott for tucking his shirt in.
But his calling out of defensive end and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Joey Bosa played the best on social media. Obama referenced Bosa's shrug celebration after sacks and even imitated it.
[SHOP BUCKEYES: Get your Ohio State national championship gear right here]
Doran Grant and Curtis Grant presented the president with a game ball from the national championship game and a No. 44 jersey. And the president had some serious remarks to congratulate the national champs.
"In all seriousness, this was a team of true character, of true resilience," Obama said. "As I said to them when I got the chance to shake the hands of all the players, everybody's going to go through ups and downs in life, and how folks handle it, how the quarterbacks on this team supported each other, that's what every organization wants to see is people stepping up for each other."