Men's Lacrosse to Visit the White House on Sept. 24
9/19/2002 3:25:40 PM | Men's Lacrosse
The 2002 National Champion Syracuse University men's lacrosse team has been invited to the White House by President George W. Bush on Tuesday, Sept. 24, as part of the President's 2002 NCAA Spring Sports Championship Day. Nine other NCAA Division I teams that won national titles in the spring of 2002 have also been invited.
The Orangemen will arrive at the East Room of the White House at 1:30 p.m. EST. They will present President Bush with a gift and have their photo taken with him. They will also take a guided tour of the White House. Afterwards, the team will attend a post-ceremony lunch at Morton's of Chicago in downtown Washington.
"Our team is very excited to visit the White House," said head coach John Desko. "It is a great honor that I'm sure our players will always remember. Special thanks must go to Congressman Walsh and his staff for initiating this type of recognition."
"I know that the entire Central New York community is proud to have the President acknowledge the accomplishments made and sustained by the SU lacrosse program staff and long-time supporters," said Rep. James T. Walsh (NY-25).
This will be the second White House visit for the Syracuse lacrosse team. The 1990 National Championship Orangemen made history as the first intercollegiate lacrosse program to be honored in the Rose Garden by a U.S. President. The President that honored SU for winning its fourth national title that year was George H.W. Bush, the 41st U.S. President.
Syracuse won its eighth NCAA men's lacrosse championship on Memorial Day, 2002, when it defeated Princeton, 13-12. The Orangemen have won two national titles in the past three years and have appeared in the NCAA finals in each of the past four seasons since Desko became head coach in 1999. Prior to that, SU won six championships (1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995) under legendary coach Roy Simmons Jr.
