Georgia’s football champs decline Biden’s White House invite.

Georgia Bulldogs Reject White House Invitation

The University of Georgia’s football team has declined an invitation from President Joe Biden to celebrate their national championship victory against Texas Christian University. The team was invited to visit with first lady Jill Biden on June 12 for “College Athlete Day,” but the team said in a statement that their calendar is already full.

Team’s Statement

“The University of Georgia first received on May 3 an invitation for the Bulldog football team to visit the White House on June 12,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, the date suggested is not feasible given the student-athlete calendar and time of year.”

The team’s decision not to go came after months of criticism of the White House from fans of the team and Republicans for failing to invite the team sooner. The entire Georgia congressional delegation sent a letter to the White House back in January urging White House officials to recognize the team at their “earliest convenience.”

Letter from Georgia Congressional Delegation

The letter from Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) was signed by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Reps. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Austin Scott (R-GA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rick Allen (R-GA), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), David Scott (D-GA), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Mike Collins (R-GA) and Rich McCormick, M.D. (R-GA).

“We write to request you host the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) College Football Playoff National Champions, the University of Georgia Bulldogs, for a White House ceremony at your earliest convenience,” the letter said. “The Georgia Bulldogs, led by head coach Kirby Smart, completed a historic season in which they accomplished a 15-0 record and won their second national championship in the same number of years.”

“For years, the college football national champion has had the high honor of being hosted, by the President, at the White House,” the letter later added. “Due to COVID-19 constraints, the 2021-22 University of Georgia national championship team was unable to come to D.C. It is our hope that this repeat championship team can join the many teams prior that have been honored by the President.”

• Georgia Bulldogs reject White House invitation
• Team’s calendar already full
• Congressional delegation sent letter in January urging White House officials to recognize the team
• Letter requests White House ceremony for 2023 NCAA College Football Playoff National Champions