Ask the Scholar

Document scope · 1 page
doc
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory. For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
323154702
label
Miami Hurricanes 3/9/90 [OA 4425]
core
doc
dtoType
document
pageCount
1
Source metadata
Source extras
naId
323154702
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
ad685d60f960a153
ocrText
Originally Processed With FOIA(s): FOIA Number: S FOIA MARKER This is not a textual record. This is used as an administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential Library Staff. Record Group/Collection: George H.W. Bush Presidential Records Collection/Office of Origin: Speechwriting, White House Office of Series: Grant, Mary Kate, Files Subseries: Subject File, 1988-1991 OA/ID Number: 13882 Folder ID Number: 13882-004 Folder Title: Miami Hurricanes, 3/9/90 Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: G 19 2 7 7 THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 9, 1990 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT DURING CEREMONY HONORING THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI FOOTBALL TEAM, THE HURRICANES The Rose Garden 11:40 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: What a day in the Rose Garden. And welcome, all of you especially, and all of you to the White House. It's great to see Senator Gramm and Senator Mack. And distinguised members of the United States Congress here, Dante Fascell and Congressman Bennett. Sam Jankovich, the Director of Athletics at Miami. And, of course, Dennis Erickson and his staff. And then, the number one football team in America, the Miami Hurricanes. (Applause.) For all of us name-droppers, it's been two great weeks. Last week, the San Francisco '49ers -- (laughter) -- were in here, and the NFL's team of the '80s. And now, we've got the college football team of the decade. The 'Canes have lost five football games in the last five years; that's all. A fifty-five-and-five record. And your Sugar Bowl win this year marked the University of Miami's seventh straight trip -- seventh -- to a New Year's Day bowl game. And when sports fans think of a college bowl over the last ten years, they think of two of the biggest games in college football history. January 1, 1984, your team started making college football history when you went 10 and one, and then upset Nebraska 31-30 in the Orange Bowl -- one of the greatest wins ever. And then one that some of you young guys remember, November 25th, 1989. Your titanic struggle with the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame this year resulted in a 27 to 10 win over the then top-ranked defending national champion in what many consider the game of the year. But with Miami, there's also great memories of great championships. Back in 1984, the Nebraska game at the Orange Bowl brought you your first national championship -- national title. And then you beat O.U. in the Orange Bowl to win the 1987 national title. And just when the opposition thought the storm had passed, you beat the Crimson Tide soundly in this year's Sugar Bowl. Three national titles, three great championship games. And not only have you played great games, but you've produced some of football's greatest players. Take a look at the Miami dynasty of quarterbacks. What is it about the water in Miami? Jim Kelly of Buffalo, Bernie Kosar of the Browns, Vinnie Testaverde, Tampa Bay and Steve Walsh of the Cowboys. No wonder they call it Quarterback U. Well, the team of the '80s heads for the '90s with Craig Erickson as quarterback, and your passing game is taking full flight. In fact, some say that when Craig throws the ball, anything that flies that far should be showing an in-flight movie and serving a meal. (Laughter.) But behind this Erickson Express, if you will, this MORE - 2 - offense is the number-one ranked defense in the country, led by All-American defensive linemen Greg Mark and Cortez Kennedy. And I hear it's easier to get a tax cut through Congress than a ball carrier through that defense. The man behind it is all right here, Coach Erickson. It was your rookie year as Miami's coach, and yet you made them national champs. And coaching is never easy, but that first year is always the toughest, and you did a great job. And congratulations to all of you. In the best American tradition, the Hurricanes have shown that they won't settle for second-best. Thank you and God bless you all. Welcome to the White House. (Applause.) COACH ERICKSON: President Bush, first of all, we'd like to thank you for the Miami weather that you brought with us today. It's very nice. And secondly, we've had a lot of honors and a lot of accolades since winning the national championship, but for us to have the honor to come to the White House and visit with you is truly the greatest honor that any football team could ever have. And we've got a lot of great young guys here that worked very hard to win the national championship. Five of them were here in 1987 with President Reagan. We've got a lot of other young ones here that hopefully will be here in 1990, 1991, 1992. (Laughter.) But on behalf of the University of Miami, the administration, my coaching staff and the football team, we would like to present you with this jersey which signifies that we were Number One in the country. THE PRESIDENT: Well, congratulations again, and thank you all. (Applause.) That's terrific. END 11:44 A.M. EST THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 6, 1990 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN ADDRESS TO THE SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES The Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. 2:12 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Neil, thank you, sir. Thank you all. Thank you, Neil Milner, Chairman, for that warm welcome and challenge. And Bill, the president, the other president here today -- thank you, sir. (Laughter.) Let me just say I really am pleased and privileged to be with this group of people that do so much. You know, I really feel comfortable talking to this group because most people think I've been free associating for years. (Laughter.) I heard that last year I accidentally caused panic among your executive directors. They thought I pledged, no new faxes. (Laughter.) Believe it or not, there are still some Americans who don't know what the "Association for Associations" is. That's why next week they're doing a bit on you for T.V.'s "Unsolved Mysteries." (Laughter.) Because really only your organization is big enough and broad enough to include the Leafy Greens Council and the Association of Tongue Depressors. (Laughter.) That happens to be a fact. But I guess it's only natural for the heads of organizations like yours to get together themselves. Some people think of our great country as a nation of "rugged individualists" alone against the odds. And that is part of the American tradition, but only a part. There's another tradition -- a tradition as old as America itself, as old as Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact, as old as the pioneers who settled the West. It's the tradition that Tocqueville described more than 150 years ago, when he came to America, observed the scenes and wrote that, "Americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions constantly form associations." That shouldn't surprise us, because the act of association is nothing less than democracy in action: individuals translating common interests into a common cause. And you know, today we see the power of democracy -- and isn't it an exciting time to be alive -- seeing this change in Eastern Europe and in Managua, Nicaragua? (Applause.) We see that power of democracy and we see fresh evidence every day that the democratic ideal we cherish -- the idea we call America -- is alive everywhere -- in the Revolution of 1989, that brought down the Berlin Wall and brought freedom to Eastern Europe. Here in our own hemisphere, in the great victories for democracy in Panama and then again in Nicaragua. And millions of people, now enjoying the freedoms that America has known for two centuries. Here at home, we've got to see what these transforming changes in the world mean for us. And those changes carry a challenge, a challenge to us to find in our freedoms new ways to solve the problems that threaten our society and our continued leadership in the whole world community. MORE - 2 - Look around at the problems we face: drug abuse, hunger, homelessness, illiteracy, despair in our inner cities, the breakdown of the family. There's a role, a critical role for government in finding solutions, but we know government doesn't always have the answers. If we could eliminate these problems, solve them once and for all with more programs, more bureaucracy, these problems would have disappeared a long time ago. The fact is, government isn't the only organized entity out there with the powers to change things, the power to make a difference. Everyone in this room is well aware of the advantages of association. But I don't know whether you are really aware of the full extent of your own power. of the resources, the expertise, the potential energy your organizations can bring to bear on these problems. Your ability to help solve community problems. I know most associations are already active in community service, and I've heard about some of the wonderful work being done. The Medical Association of Atlanta, working after hours to provide free medical care to the homeless. By the Oregon Remodelers Association out there in Portland, Oregon, in Project Pride, a program to do home reapirs for the low-income elderly. By the Hotel Association of New York, with its ongoing commitment to donate surplus food to feed the hungry. These are just three, just three, of countless community service projects that your associations are engaged in. A commitment of time and talent, mirrored in similar community efforts by millions of Americans across the country. In fact, one study in 1988 found that Americans who volunteered in formal organizations gave almost 15 billion hours valued at an estimated $150 billion. Now, that's tremendous, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. Just a fraction of all the good works we are capable of. Because the fact is, coping with the problems we face is within our power. There is no problem in America that is not being solved somewhere. Think about it. The programs I've just mentioned: New York, Atlanta, Portland, thousands more. Think about ways that your organization, every one of your members can make this mission of serving others your very own. The story I want to tell you today a story that Martin Luther King Jr. told in his speech he made the night before that terrible day in Memphis, 22 years ago. It's a story about serving others and the courage that takes. It's a familar story about the Good Samaritan and the stranger he helped. But there's another part of the story we don't always remember. Before the Good Samaritan stopped that day, two other men saw the injured stranger and passed him by. And Dr. King thought long and hard about it, and he used to ask himself: Why didn't the others stop to help? And Dr. King came up with some good reasons: They didn't stop because they were too busy, had more important work waiting in Jerusalem of far more consequence than helping one unfortunate man; and so on they went. And then one day, Martin Luther King put himself in their shoes. At the age of 30, on his very first trip to the Holy Land, he and his wife, Coretta, travelled that road from Jerusalem to Jericho. And Dr. King saw the story of the Good Samaritan in a new light. That road starts off more than 1000 feet above the sea level and ends in Jericho 2000 feet below sea level. A twisting road, full of blind curves. He imagined the road 2000 years ago, each curve a perfect ambush for robbers. And at the moment, Dr. King realized why the two men didn't stop. It had nothing to do with the reasons he had imagined. They didn't stop because they were afraid. The way Dr. King imagined it, one asked himself: if I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" And he went on about his way. But then the Good Samaritan came along and he asked himself a different question: If I don't stop to help this man, what will happen MORE - 3 - to him? And he asked himself that question and he found the courage to stop; the courage to help; the courage to serve. So which question, then, do we ask ourselves? About going down to the soup kitchen in that dangerous neighborhood. About stopping on a dark street to help a homeless man. About reaching out to those desperate kids out there -- kids who have no home life, who are hooked on drugs, who live a nightmare we can't begin to imagine. Doing any of these things isn't easy. Every one takes an act of courage. But unlike the Good Samaritan, we don't have to act alone. Each one of you understands the power of collective action -- how much we can get done when we work together, pool our resources, combine our talents. And don't think it won't take courage. It's going to take courage to go back to your member organizations, back to their CEOs and Boards of Directors and suggest that they place community service at the center of their agenda. It's going to take courage to insist that community service has a place at the very heart of every organization. It will take courage to make each one believe that from now on in America, any definition of a successful life must include serving others. But that's just exactly what I'm asking you to do. Today, I want to lay down some challenges -- challenges to associations all over America to take up community service. First, build on a firm foundation. Find out what's working in your industry, in your profession, in your community. Let your members know which community service programs are most effective and, then, challenge them to make those programs the blueprint for their own efforts. Find new ways to use existing assets. I understand that one of the ASAE's great strengths is its Allied Societies structure -- 69 state and local organizations, thousands more association executives. And I'm asking each of these allied societies to take the lead in their community for solving social problems -- become what we call "Points of Light action groups." And second, set a target of 100 percent participation in community service. Challenge your constituents to call on every employee and member at every level of every organization -- from the CEO on down to the newest hire to make community service their personal mission. And finally, a third challenge. Recognize those members who are what I like to call Points of Light. I've belonged, as many of you have, to many associations in my life and I know one of the things you do best is to recognize outstanding performance. And so I ask you to turn the spotlight on community service -- in your newsletters, your magazines, at your annual meetings -- on individuals who give 110 percent helping people in need, and on those organizations who demonstrate 100 percent participation in community service. I'm counting on you -- each one of you to take these challenges to heart. People in this room represent thousands of associations, organizations of all sorts and sizes. A combined membership of 100 million Americans. And so today, I'm asking you: Challenge that energy into community service. Tap that power and transform a nation. Once again, my thanks for all you are doing and all that you're going to do. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you all very, very much. (Applause.) END 2:27 P.M. EST Services of Mead Data Central PAGE 2 1ST STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format. Copyright (c) 1990 Time Inc. All Rights Reserved; Sports Illustrated January 15, 1990 SECTION: SCORECARD; Pg. 11 LENGTH: 245 words HEADLINE: YOU'RE BEING WATCHED BYLINE: EDITED BY HANK HERSCH BODY: Even before being crowned national champs on Jan. 2, the Miami Hurricanes had gained a significant victory. College football's team of the 1980s was an academic washout for the first half of the decade: Only four of the 17 players who entered in '80 had graduated by '85. Last month Miami announced that 16 of the 22 players who entered school on scholarship in '85 would be getting their degrees by May. Some of that improvement may be attributable to the surreptitious Hurricane Watcher Program, in which students spend 15 to 20 hours a week shadowing academically unmotivated athletes and filing reports on their class attendance. With the threat of punishment ranging from sprints to suspension, more and more football players have been finding their way to class. Even though the watchers never identify themselves to the athletes they watch, the athletic department insists that the two-year-old operation isn't spying because the goal is to help the athletes, not to catch and punish them. "I don't know who the Hurricane Watchers are," says safety Charles Pharms, "but even if I did, I wouldn't threaten them." The federal Department of Education pays the bulk of the watchers' salaries through its work-study funds, so Miami doesn't incur much cost for a program that helps to keep its players eligible. Says Doug Johnson, Miami's associate athletic director for internal operations and compliance, "Sometimes you need to train an athlete to be mature." GRAPHIC: Picture, NO CAPTION descColor illustration., PATRICK MCDONNELL LEXIS® NEXIS® LEXIS® ® NEXIS® THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 9, 1990 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT DURING CEREMONY HONORING THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI FOOTBALL TEAM, THE HURRICANES The Rose Garden 11:40 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: What a day in the Rose Garden. And welcome, all of you especially, and all of you to the White House. members of the United States Congress here, Dante Fascell and It's great to see Senator Gramm and Senator Mack. And distinguised Congressman Bennett. Sam Jankovich, the Director of Athletics at Miami. And, of course, Dennis Erickson and his staff. And then, the number (Applause.) one football team in America, the Miami Hurricanes. For all of us name-droppers, it's been two great weeks. and the NFL's team of the '80s. And now, we've got the college Last week, the San Francisco '49ers -- (laughter) -- were in here, football team of the decade. The 'Canes have lost five football games in the last five years; that's all. A fifty-five-and-five record. And your Sugar Bowl win this year marked the University of Miami's game. seventh straight trip -- seventh -- to a New Year's Day bowl And when sports fans think of a college bowl over the last ten years, they think of two of the biggest games in college football history when you went 10 and one, and then upset Nebraska football history. January 1, 1984, your team started making college 31-30 in the Orange Bowl -- one of the greatest wins ever. And then one that some of you young guys remember, November 25th, 1989. Your titanic struggle with the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame this year national champion in what many consider the game of the year. resulted in a 27 to 10 win over the then top-ranked defending But with Miami, there's also great memories of great championships. Back in 1984, the Nebraska game at the Orange Bowl brought you your first national championship -- national title. And then you beat O.U. in the Orange Bowl to win the 1987 national title. And just when the opposition thought the storm had passed, you beat the Crimson Tide soundly in this year's Sugar Bowl. Three national titles, three great championship games. And not only have you played great games, but you've produced some of football's greatest players. Take a look at the Miami dynasty of quarterbacks. What is it about the water in Miami? Jim Kelly of Buffalo, Bernie Kosar of the Browns, Vinnie Testaverde, Quarterback U. Tampa Bay and Steve Walsh of the Cowboys. No wonder they call it Erickson as quarterback, and your passing game is taking full flight. Well, the team of the '80s heads for the '90s with Craig In fact, some say that when Craig throws the ball, anything that meal. (Laughter.) flies that far should be showing an in-flight movie and serving a But behind this Erickson Express, if you will, this MORE All-American defensive linemen Greg Mark and Cortez Kennedy. And I offense is the number-one ranked defense in the country, led by hear it's easier to get a tax cut through Congress than a ball carrier through that defense. The man behind it is all right here, Coach Erickson. It was your rookie year as Miami's coach, and yet you made them national champs. And coaching is never easy, but that first year is always the toughest, and you did a great job. And congratulations to all of you. In the best American tradition, the Hurricanes have shown that they won't settle for second-best. Thank you and God bless you all. Welcome to the White House. (Applause.) COACH ERICKSON: President Bush, first of all, we'd like to thank you for the Miami weather that you brought with us today. It's very nice. And secondly, we've had a lot of honors and a lot of accolades since winning the national championship, but for us to have the honor to come to the White House and visit with you is truly the a lot of great young guys here that worked very hard to win the greatest honor that any football team could ever have. And we've got national championship. Five of them were here in 1987 with President Reagan. We've got a lot of other young ones here that hopefully will be here in 1990, 1991, 1992. (Laughter.) But on behalf of the University of Miami, the administration, my coaching staff and the football team, we would like to present you with this jersey which signifies that we were Number One in the country. THE PRESIDENT: Well, congratulations again, and thank you all. (Applause.) That's terrific. END 11:44 A.M. EST