With hardly a cloud in the sky and the temperature cool enough to stand in the sun for a little more than an hour in a suit, the entire Terps team joined the undefeated NCAA champion women’s team from Connecticut, as well as the NCAA champion men’s and women’s ice hockey teams from Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth, respectively, for a photo opportunity with President Bush.

During Bush's remarks, in which he congratulated Coach Gary Williams and university president C.D. Mote, Bush said the Terps victory in particular did a lot for the local mood.

“You guys need to know that there was a lot of guys there who were stepping a little lighter in my family as well as people who work in this compound when you won.”

Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter were among the eight athletes to flank the commander-in-chief at the podium and present him with No. 1 jerseys from their respective schools.

Of course, Maryland already had a No. 1 on its team, but graduating senior Byron Mouton said he didn’t lodge any objections to the proceedings.

“It’s got Bush on the back. It’s his number too,” Mouton told a throng of reporters after the ceremony. “It’s a great feeling to see the President get number one, and it’s an honor for me.”

This was the first visit to the White House for most of the Maryland contingent, but not for Debbie Yow, who had previously accompanied the women’s lacrosse team here during the Clinton administration.

“I knew you were supposed to introduce yourself and I didn’t, because I was a little overwhelmed, and you forget,” Yow said.

Yow wasn’t the only one to make a faux pas, however, as Bush had his difficulty pronouncing UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s name, but played it off as best he could.

“I never did too good in English,” said Bush to the nervous laughter of the crowd. “He’s a heck of a coach no matter how you say his name.”

Said Williams after the ceremony: “I figured he’d be O.K. with mine.”

The Terps White House tour was given by a member of the Secret Service who was also a Maryland graduate, Williams said.

“The best part of tour was just seeing the different rooms. I’d never been up here before. We didn’t get to the Oval Office; I think that was busy.”

While not on the level of fighting a war against terrorism, recruiting commitments have kept Williams busy too. He said he won’t have a chance to take in the team’s accomplishments until next week.

“I’m looking forward to that,” Williams said, who added the president said he was cheering for the Terps to win the title.

“It was great for our team to be here today. It was an experience we will always remember. I think our players really enjoyed the day.”

Remarks from President Bush:

And then much to the delight of thousands of people around here, many who work upstairs at the White House, the mighty Terps of the University of Maryland.

I want to congratulate Dan Mote and coach Gary Williams, you guys need to know that there was a lot of guys there who were stepping a little lighter in my family as well as people who work in this compound when you won.

It was a great feat and an unbelievably tough field. You have shown some things that are important for this country. When you serve something greater than yourself, called a team you can do great things. To recognize life is more than just an individual record. You recognize that something is more important than just individual accomplishment, you can win. You can win in a broader sense.

To me that's what these championships mean. It's kind of what our country has got to do as well, to stir something greater than materialism, self-absorption.

We can do some great things as a country. Starting with loving our neighbor as we'd like to be loved ourselves. Making sure the country is as hopeful and promising as we can possibly be. As a result of being champs, I mean big-time champs, you've now got a lot of people looking at you, a lot of kids, wondering 'How does a champ behave?

What does a champ do when they win the crown?' It's a great opportunity to set an example for other people, to help people understand that they are responsible for the decisions people make in life. You have that chance right now, on the courts and on the rinks. Now you can be champs off. You can do your country a great service. It's an honor to welcome you all here. I love championship day at the White House. I love to be around success. I hope you cherish these memories in winning these great championships for a long time coming and use them as an opportunity to work to make your nation the best it can possibly be.