President Bush honors Air Force football team

WASHINGTON - Rose garden ceremonies are becoming old hat for Air Force football coach Fisher DeBerry and his fighting Falcons who Friday accepted the Commander-in Chief trophy from the Commander-in- Chief - President George W. Bush.

"It seems like coach DeBerry is the charter member of the White House frequent visitor club," Bush said, flanked by three dozen soon- to-be Air Force second lieutenants.

This is the fifth year in a row that the Falcons have won the trophy. To earn it, they had to beat rivals Army and Navy, which they did handily.

Quarterback Keith Boyea had been waiting for such a moment for four years.

Only the senior members of the team make the trip and Boyea remembered listening to stories about the trip from the upperclassmen each year.

"It's awesome for the president to take time out of his busy day to talk to us," said Boyea, who is from George West, Texas.

Bush alluded to his comments at last year's ceremony when he said DeBerry wasn't just recruiting young men to win football games but to win a war, should the United States be involved in one.

Now, Bush said, "we're in the midst of a war," and he thanked the young officers for being willing to serve their country.

After his remarks, Bush was presented with a blue and white football jersey and cap.

"I know you have a lot of these," said defensive captain Zach Johnson to the cheers of his fellow players and the Air Force officers in the audience, adding he hoped the president would get many more in the years to come.

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