Paint the White House Crimson: Obama honors Alabamas national title
2013-04-22
It was Alabamas third championship win during Obamas presidency. The Crimson Tide defeated Notre Dame 42-14 to win the championship in January.
The President had plenty to say about the Crimson Tide.
Back in January, with the whole country watching, this team lined up against the number-one ranked, undefeated Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, and dominated from the first possession. At halftime it was 28-0. Thats when I stopped watching, the President remarked. When the clock ran out it was 42 to 14. And they left no doubt who was the best team in the country. And after the game, the Notre Dame athletic director said, Theyre not just better than us. Theyre better than everyone.
He believes one of the big reasons Alabama is one of the to programs in the country is due to the leadership of head coach Nick Saban and quarterback A.J. McCarron.
A few days after winning the title last year, Coach Saban was already back to work. And even after losing some pretty big names in the draft last year, he and his terrific coaching team made sure that they did not lose a step, the President said. AJ McCarron showed the kind of poise that very few 22-year-olds possess passing for more than 2,900 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season. I hear hes coming back for one more year, because apparently the rest of the SEC defenses havent suffered enough. So hes going to subject them to a little more pain.
Saban gave Obama a team jersey Monday at the White House as players and coaches spread out across the mansions South Balcony. He joked that Obama now had now been presented with a full uniform.
Saban said: I will have a meeting later with you to decide how much playing time youre going to get.
Obama replied: I think you should keep me on the bench.
Obama ended the ceremony by saying he wouldnt be surprised if he sees the Crimson Tide a few more times during his presidency.
So obviously everybody here has a lot to be proud of. I want to congratulate Alabama one more time on a great season. I want to wish the players luck who will be taking part in the NFL draft next year. And since Ill be around for four more football seasons, I expect I just might see these guys again before I leave, he said in his closing remarks and then added Roll Tide.
New advertising agency shows its paces
UK football fans can expect an avalanche of new William Hill advertisements this weekend as the company launches its latest football campaign - the first created by its new agency The Bank.
The marketing publication Drum reports that the London-based ad agency was tasked at the beginning of March with reinforcing the brand’s association with football ahead of this year’s World Cup in South Africa, with the campaign target the positioning of William Hill as the ‘home of betting’.
The creative idea will run across all media activity at regional level, handled by both The Bank and the in-house marketing department.
The television element was produced by the agency’s in-house production department and directed by creative founder Ian Cassie.
Kristof Fahy, brand and marketing director at William Hill, told The Drum: “We are trusted – with over 75 years of experience and a huge presence both on the high street and online. Simply put we are the home of betting in the UK and as such, we have a unique place in the minds of the British public.
"This next period of activity will coincide with our continued drive to offer customers an unrivalled experience online, on the phone and on the high street. The Bank showed the kind of strategic insight and clarity of creative thinking we are looking for.”
Cassie added: ”Our task has been to take all the great things that the William Hill brand stands for and re-present it in a creative idea that is unique, flexible and persuasive which can work as effectively in a TV spot as on a betting slip.”