North Carolina State University Athletics
Coach Beitia: Meeting The President
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Editor’s note Prior to joining the Wolfpack softball coaching staff as an assistant coach this past Sept., Jim Beitia spent the previous three seasons as the director of softball at Arizona State. Yesterday, Wednesday, Nov. 12, Beitia met up with his former ASU colleagues to visit the White House and meet President Bush. In this blog Beitia recounts his adventure.
A level of excitement, very similar to that during our games at the Women’s College World Series, was in the air as we got closer to the entrance to the White House. When we arrived at the guard booth we were met by a very heavily armed police officer who immediately told us that his daughter plays softball and had watched us on ESPN. As we waited for the okay to pass through the security checkpoint we saw a handful of other national championship teams from various sports that would be recognized alongside us.
After passing through security we were given a tour of the White House. First was the Ladies Garden, then the East Room which is the largest room in White House. Next was the Green Room where Thomas Jefferson introduced french fries, ice cream and waffles to America, then the Blue Room where the Christmas tree is placed every year. It was in the Red Room that Franklin Pierce started the tradition of placing fresh cut flowers daily in the White House, and finally into the State Dining Room which was to be the room in which our team was assigned to meet the President. Following the tour a White House staff member assigned to us went over the protocol for our meet and greet with President Bush. It’s pretty simple ... you do exactly as you are told. We then got organized and quickly took a team photo.
They gave us the two-minute warning as the photographer was taking a few practice shots. We would be the first team that President Bush would meet. "He's on the way" was our cue to get ready. The elevator doors opened, we could see the Secret Service agents, and then President Bush. As he entered the room he paused, then gave us his fast pitch softball pitching windup. Pretty good technique to be honest with you! Our whole group clapped as he approached us.
He was just a few feet away from our group, facing us, as he let us know that he had watched the championship game on ESPN. He told us that even though we had beaten his dad's school, Texas A&M, that we were to be congratulated on a great season. During the Beijing Olympics he spent some time with Team USA, and he told us that he would do whatever he could to get softball back into the Olympics. If you are a fan of the sport of softball, regardless of your political views, you have to respect him for being an advocate of fast pitch softball. Our team captains presented him with an ASU jersey with "Bush" on the back. We took another picture, this time with the "Sparky's pitchfork" hand sign. He told us that he was used to people showing him a "hand sign", but it usually only involved one finger.
After that the President left to meet with the next team. We were escorted to a different room, and were told to line up and to walk down the stairs onto the South Lawn when we heard the ASU fight song. I know that I will never forget the feeling inside me as this was happening. After all of the teams were introduced, the captains were led to the stage. The band played "Hail To The Chief" as the President walked to the podium. He talked about each team's accomplishments on their way to their national championship. He wasn't sure how to take the fact that the University of Alaska rifle team had defeated Army to win the title. President Bush said he might have to make a call to West Point and tell them to practice a little harder. He then reminded each team about being role models and to always carry themselves as national champions.
"Stars and Stripes Forever" played as he left the grounds. All of the teams then mingled on the South Lawn, had some snacks and shot some pictures until we were told it was time to leave. Once outside the grounds, the players changed out of their heels and into their ugs for the walk back to the hotel.
A few hours later the team was on the bus getting ready to head to an ASU alumni function, so I said my goodbyes and took the shuttle to the airport. Ever since then I have been thinking about what is next ... helping NC State softball win a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP and make our own trip to the White House!
A level of excitement, very similar to that during our games at the Women’s College World Series, was in the air as we got closer to the entrance to the White House. When we arrived at the guard booth we were met by a very heavily armed police officer who immediately told us that his daughter plays softball and had watched us on ESPN. As we waited for the okay to pass through the security checkpoint we saw a handful of other national championship teams from various sports that would be recognized alongside us.
After passing through security we were given a tour of the White House. First was the Ladies Garden, then the East Room which is the largest room in White House. Next was the Green Room where Thomas Jefferson introduced french fries, ice cream and waffles to America, then the Blue Room where the Christmas tree is placed every year. It was in the Red Room that Franklin Pierce started the tradition of placing fresh cut flowers daily in the White House, and finally into the State Dining Room which was to be the room in which our team was assigned to meet the President. Following the tour a White House staff member assigned to us went over the protocol for our meet and greet with President Bush. It’s pretty simple ... you do exactly as you are told. We then got organized and quickly took a team photo.
They gave us the two-minute warning as the photographer was taking a few practice shots. We would be the first team that President Bush would meet. "He's on the way" was our cue to get ready. The elevator doors opened, we could see the Secret Service agents, and then President Bush. As he entered the room he paused, then gave us his fast pitch softball pitching windup. Pretty good technique to be honest with you! Our whole group clapped as he approached us.
He was just a few feet away from our group, facing us, as he let us know that he had watched the championship game on ESPN. He told us that even though we had beaten his dad's school, Texas A&M, that we were to be congratulated on a great season. During the Beijing Olympics he spent some time with Team USA, and he told us that he would do whatever he could to get softball back into the Olympics. If you are a fan of the sport of softball, regardless of your political views, you have to respect him for being an advocate of fast pitch softball. Our team captains presented him with an ASU jersey with "Bush" on the back. We took another picture, this time with the "Sparky's pitchfork" hand sign. He told us that he was used to people showing him a "hand sign", but it usually only involved one finger.
After that the President left to meet with the next team. We were escorted to a different room, and were told to line up and to walk down the stairs onto the South Lawn when we heard the ASU fight song. I know that I will never forget the feeling inside me as this was happening. After all of the teams were introduced, the captains were led to the stage. The band played "Hail To The Chief" as the President walked to the podium. He talked about each team's accomplishments on their way to their national championship. He wasn't sure how to take the fact that the University of Alaska rifle team had defeated Army to win the title. President Bush said he might have to make a call to West Point and tell them to practice a little harder. He then reminded each team about being role models and to always carry themselves as national champions.
"Stars and Stripes Forever" played as he left the grounds. All of the teams then mingled on the South Lawn, had some snacks and shot some pictures until we were told it was time to leave. Once outside the grounds, the players changed out of their heels and into their ugs for the walk back to the hotel.
A few hours later the team was on the bus getting ready to head to an ASU alumni function, so I said my goodbyes and took the shuttle to the airport. Ever since then I have been thinking about what is next ... helping NC State softball win a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP and make our own trip to the White House!
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