COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s esteemed football team, led by Coach Ryan Day, has received a prestigious invitation to visit the White House on April 14. This exciting announcement was made on Monday. Two days prior, the team will have concluded their spring football practices.
Coach Day expressed his enthusiasm about the visit, underscoring his lifelong admiration for national championship teams making the symbolic trip to the White House. “It’s an honor to be invited,” Day shared. He reminisced about his youth, watching championship teams visit, thinking, “Man, what an honor that would be.” Day views the visit as a significant part of the team’s celebratory journey. “I’m looking forward to getting that all planned out,” he remarked.
The Buckeyes secured the national title by defeating Notre Dame with a score of 34-23 during the College Football Playoff championship game held in Atlanta. This victory marked their first national championship win since 2014. Their upcoming White House visit marks them as the second championship team invited to the White House since President Donald Trump’s return to office in January. The Florida Panthers, victors of the Stanley Cup, had already made their visit on February 3, before engaging the Washington Capitals in a match.
It’s noteworthy that Vice President JD Vance is an alumnus of Ohio State, linking the office back to the university. President Trump, known for his presence at sporting events, has been frequently seen at various competitions. Recently, he attended the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia, marking his second appearance there in three years. Furthermore, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in New Orleans and has been to the Daytona 500 twice since 2020. In related news, the Philadelphia Eagles, winners of the Super Bowl, are scheduled to meet with the President on April 28.
Originally, Coach Day had intended for April 12 to serve as a spring showcase rather than hosting a traditional spring game. However, on Monday, he shifted those plans when queried about the format for that practice. “I just think we need to save a little bit of wiggle room in case we take injuries,” Day explained. Emphasizing the need for a strong start to the season, he elaborated, “It’s important that we start the season fast. And I think that the first step is playing the spring game. If we’re down some linemen, we have to adjust and figure that out from there.”