Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Headed to White House
11/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 7, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - For some perennial championship teams, going to the White House to meet the President might seem old hat.
But for the Fresno State baseball team, winners of the 2008 NCAA championship and College World Series, next week's trip to Washington D.C. will be the most exciting thing to happen to the team since it return from Omaha.
 | "We are proud to go and represent a great university and a great community," Mike Batesole, Two-time National Coach of the Year |
The Bulldogs have been invited by President George W. Bush to visit the White House on Wednesday, Nov. 12. While there, the team will have a private audience with the President and a formal function will be held on the South Lawn to honor the Bulldogs.
Since winning the national championship, the Dogs have been honored in a variety of ways. The team was invited to the State Capitol and honored by the Cities of Fresno and Clovis. Head coach Mike Batesole and some members of the team were invited to attend the ESPY Awards in July.
According to Justin Wilson, the winning pitcher of the national championship game over Georgia, this trip is extremely special.
"I'm looking forward to experiencing a once in a lifetime opportunity," he said. "We are really excited about this trip. For a lot of the guys, it will be the first time they've been to Washington D.C. That by itself will be a thrill, but to go to visit the White House and meet the President is just amazing. It's beyond words."
The team departs Tuesday, Nov. 11, and will be traveling most of the day arriving in Washington D.C. at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Wednesday's schedule will include a morning tour provided by a National Park Ranger to some of the area's most historic sites.
Among the sites the team will view are:
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Lincoln Memorial
- Vietnam Vets Memorial
- Washington Memorial
The team arrives at the White House at 11:30 a.m. EST. Upon arrival, the team will take a tour of the White House and then meet President Bush at 1:05 p.m. EST.
Following a photo session with the President, the team will move to the South Lawn where President Bush will deliver remarks to the media and others in attendance.
As a usual custom when teams meet a President, they present gifts. The Bulldog team will deliver a baseball signed by the 2008 National Champion team, an official Bulldog baseball cap and an authentic jersey with the No. 1 and President Bush's name on the back.
Bush is a baseball fan and once owned the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team.
"This will be a surreal experience," said head coach Mike Batesole, a two-time winner of national coach of the year honors. "You see teams meeting the President after winning something big but never imagine it will be you. It's what dreams are made of. We are proud to go and represent a great university and a great community."
According to University officials a special invitation to the White House is rare for Fresno State personnel. The Bulldogs are the first athletics team ever invited.
Following the ceremony, the Bulldogs will participate in a Fresno State Alumni function at the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington Courthouse hotel at 6:30 p.m. EST.
The team will return to Fresno on Thursday, Nov. 12, arriving at 1:30 p.m. PST.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - Secure your seat now for exciting Bulldog Basketball as season tickets, mini-plans and single game tickets are on sale for the 2008-09 season. To order your tickets visit the Bulldog Ticket Office, call 278-DOGS or visit gobulldogs.com. The `Dogs host Cal State Stanislaus in the final exhibition tune-up on Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 pm in the Save Mart Center. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
