President lauds champion Colts' perseverance

April 24, 2007

Bill Theobald

Gannett News Service

WASHINGTON -- President Bush honored the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts on Monday for having the tenacity to finally win a championship.

Hats off to the President: President George W. Bush shows off a wooden cowboy hat emblazoned with the Colts logo, which was presented to him by team owner Jim Irsay (left) during the Colts' visit Monday to the White House. At right is Colts president Bill Polian. - HEATHER WINES / Gannett News Service

During a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Bush recounted how doubts began to resurface about the Colts and star quarterback Peyton Manning's ability to win the big game when the Colts struggled after a 9-0 start.

But the Colts kept fighting and Bush said, "That heart will take you a long way. And so this is a victory for good hearts -- good hearts off the field and good hearts on the field."

A crowd of several hundred staffers, congressmen and guests stood and applauded as about 40 team members and coaches strolled down the steps to the lawn as a four-piece Marine Corps jazz band played "Back Home in Indiana."

Nearly the entire Indiana congressional delegation was joined by other prominent Hoosiers, including former Eli Lilly and Co. chairman Randall Tobias, now administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and economic adviser to the president Al Hubbard.

After the players had streamed in, Colts owner Jim Irsay, president Bill Polian, coach Tony Dungy and Manning joined the group, followed by Bush, who lauded the Colts and got in a few jokes as well.

"A lot of people here in the White House compound have been really looking forward to seeing Peyton Manning," Bush said. "They wanted to see a guy who gets more air time than I do."

Bush complimented the Colts for what they do in the community and how they carry themselves off the field.

"I appreciate the example you set," he said. "I appreciate the fact that you understand that off the field, a lot of people are looking at you to determine whether or not they want to be like you."

Irsay presented the president with a wooden cowboy hat emblazoned on the front with the Colts' horseshoe logo. Dungy gave Bush a blue No. 43 Colts jersey, in recognition of Bush's status as the 43rd president.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined the ceremony, and after it concluded, many of the players crowded around to get pictures taken with her.

Earlier in the day, the Colts visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

"It was very emotional," Manning said at a short news conference after the ceremony. "It kind of made you proud to be an American."

He said the president's crack about his notoriety would simply give his offensive linemen more ammunition with which to needle him.

Manning, Polian, Dungy, center Jeff Saturday, defensive end Dwight Freeney, place-kicker Adam Vinatieri and linebacker Gary Brackett spoke to reporters after spending 20 minutes in the Oval Office with Bush.

Dungy and Manning both recoiled with a laugh when asked whether they have political aspirations. Dungy said his short time in the Oval Office made him appreciate the responsibility of the job -- and that he wanted no part of politics.

"It's easy to throw stones. It's easy to point fingers," said Dungy, who along with Manning experienced that sort of scrutiny -- until the Colts won Super Bowl XLI.