CNN
—
The Georgia Bulldogs football team declined an invitation to visit the White House next month to celebrate their second straight national championship, according to a statement from the University of Georgia Athletic Association.
“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 read. “Unfortunately, the proposed date is not possible due to the student-athlete calendar and time of year. However, we appreciate the invitation and look forward to other opportunities for Georgia teams moving forward.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.
The Bulldogs defeated the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs 65-7 in January to capture the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy and cap off a perfect 15-0 season.
The team did not visit the White House after last year’s championship, nor did the Alabama Crimson Tide last year, due to Covid-related reasons.
The Louisiana State University Tigers were the last championship football team to visit the White House in January 2020 – where former President Donald Trump joked about his first impeachment but did not serve the same viral buffet of fast food that awaited the 2018 champions, Clemson Tigers.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden announced Monday that the White House will host the LSU Tigers women’s basketball team and the University of Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball team on May 26 for two ceremonies celebrating the each team in the national championship title.
The LSU women’s basketball team’s invitation comes after high-profile criticism from team star Angel Reese after the first woman suggested that LSU and the second-place University of Iowa team should come to the celebration ceremony. The first lady’s office later walked back what she said.
