Traditionally, when a sports team wins a championship, they receive an invitation to visit the White House to recognize their achievement. Such has been the case for sports teams across the United States since 1865.
Yet, while the Georgia Bulldogs football team had a historic season in 2022, winning back-to-back national championships under the leadership of head coach Kirby Smart, the team waited an invite for over a month and a half.
Georgia Bulldogs via University of Georgia YouTube
Finally, after social media backlash and a brewing news cycle President Joe Biden and the White House invited the champions to the White House.
WJCL reports they received a statement from the White House on Wednesday night, “The President looks forward to welcoming the Georgia Bulldogs to the White House.”
Joe Biden via The White House YouTube
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This invitation comes after Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Warren Brinson took to social media to express his frustration after the team was again left off the guest list for a White House visit. Brinson, a junior from Savannah, Georgia, tweeted, “No invite to the White House is crazy” in response to the news.
Warren Brinson’s (@Warrenbrinson17) Twitter
John Matrixx from the YouTube channel Black & White Sports also commented before the White House invitation was received, “The lack of invitation for the Bulldogs has been met with confusion and disappointment, particularly as the team’s 15-0 record and dominant season would seem to merit recognition from the highest office in the land.”
Matrixx argued, “Georgia had a dominating season, and they get stiffed by the White House. This doesn’t make any sense. What excuse are they going to use this season? They tried to use the virus last season, but the Rams are at the White House, the Warriors are at the White House, and the Braves are at the White House. What is the excuse this time? Why is Georgia not getting an invite?”
Given President Biden’s track record of verbal gaffes and controversial statements, Matrixx believes the team is better off without a visit to the White House. “Yeah, you guys aren’t missing out on anything by not getting invited to the White House. You guys should be thankful that you don’t have to listen to Joe Biden fumble and mess up his words. He’s half dead, guys.”
Stetson Bennett, 2022 National Champions via MitchellSmeak YouTube
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This discrepancy has led some to question whether there was a political motive behind the decision to exclude the Bulldogs.
OutKick.com founder Clay Travis said on Fox News, “As soon as we share this clip on social media, I bet someone at the White House will hear alarm bells. They’re going to go, ‘wait a minute, this is a state that Joe Biden won in 2020. This is a state that Joe Biden will think he needs to win again in 2024.’ The two most popular things in the state of Georgia, by far, are the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves. They have got to get the Georgia Bulldogs into the White House. This is crazy to me. I don’t know what the White House is thinking.”
This morning I ripped the Biden White House for not inviting Georgia’s football team for a title visit the past two years. This evening the Biden White House invited Georgia to visit. Looks like they watch Fox News too. https://t.co/flPcgOvCOT
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 23, 2023
Despite the overdue invitation from the White House, the Bulldogs can take pride in their back-to-back championships and dominant season in 2022. The team may have received late recognition from the White House, but it earned fans immediate respect and admiration nationwide.
Do you think the White House accidentally forgot to invite the Bulldogs?
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