President Obama, Nick Saban, Alabama coaches and players

‘Bama meets O-Bama

Brother, the leader in college football, meets the leader of the free world in the White House.

Nick Saban has come a LONG way from Helen’s Run and Monongah High School.

 The USA TODAY story on the White House gathering:

Justin Meyer, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Alabama has won four football national championships in seven years, which some might attribute to talent and coaching. According to President Barack Obama, though, there could be something else at work.

“This is the fourth time I have hosted Alabama here at the White House,” he said Wednesday. “So, clearly, I’ve brought you some good luck. Might as well call me ‘O-Bama.’ ”

Alabama has gone to the White House so often during Obama’s tenure, the president felt compelled to ask Nick Saban where he has been the last three years.

“My first question is: Coach, what took you so long?” he asked, able to elicit a rare smile from Saban. “It’s been three whole years since I last saw you.”

Obama explained this would unfortunately be the final time he could welcome the Crimson Tide to the White House.

“I’d like to say I’ll see you next year, but we’ve got this thing called term limits,” he said.

The president highlighted some of the community work the Alabama program has done, including building homes for victims of the 2011 tornado that ravaged Tuscaloosa, volunteering at local retirement homes, school and hospitals, its high graduation rates and more. He continued his praise, also recognizing Alabama for its accomplishments on the field.

“I just want to say, Coach, I couldn’t be prouder of you and the work that you’ve done,” he said. “I know that the people of Alabama are extraordinarily proud of this team. Maybe the Auburn fans don’t want to admit it, but everyone recognizes excellence when they see it, and nobody has had more sustained excellence as a football program at the collegiate level than the Alabama Crimson Tide.”

Outside the White House after the event, Saban commended Obama for how he has treated his team the several times they have come to the nation’s capital.

“We certainly appreciate President Obama for being so hospitable,” he said. “He shakes every player’s hand, everybody gets an opportunity to meet him.”

Saban said this past season’s team “won as one,” having to overcome an early loss to Ole Miss in order to make its way back into the national championship conversation.

“The adversity we had to overcome losing early, and having 12 straight elimination games to win a championship against a very good Clemson team, I think makes this team really unique from all the rest,” he explained.

“Most of the time when I say I really like our team, that means something, and I really like this team.”