Obama singles out Villanova's Szczur in ceremony at White House

WASHINGTON - President Obama spoke for a little more than 5 minutes outside the White House late yesterday afternoon, addressing more than 650 student-athletes and nearly 150 coaches and staff representing 33 programs from "near and far" that won NCAA national championships in the 2009-10 athletic season.

"It's the most athletic talent we've ever had on the South Lawn," the nation's commander in chief observed.

He mentioned, among others, Texas Christian's rifle team ("I think they might be able to give the Secret Service a run for their money") and the Fairleigh Dickinson bowling team ("I need some tips, guys. Tell me how to get my score up").

"It makes me so proud to be standing here before you," Obama said. "You put in countless hours for the love of the game. You know what it takes to be the best . . . And you understand that the term student-athlete emphasizes student. You know how to give back."

Then, he mentioned Villanova football player Matt Szczur. Not by name, but by deed.

"There's one young man who even donated his bone marrow to a young girl he never met," the president said. "As he said, 'That's more important than a football game.' "

Those kind of things, he stressed, "will stay with you the rest of your lives."

So, how did Szczur - who went through the harvesting procedure in May for a 1 1/2-year-old leukemia patient - feel when he heard that?

"It was unbelievable," the Most Outstanding Player of last December's Football Championship Subdivision national-title game said, gushing. "Just crazy. So many people know about it. He quoted me, too. The most powerful man in the world . . . Anyone can win a national championship, or whatever. Saving a life is something different. That he didn't mention me by name doesn't matter. For him to do that . . .

"It doesn't matter if anyone knows who I am or not. Inside, it was pretty cool."

So was being part of this. Individually, and collectively. And it was certainly different.

According to Villanova athletic director Vince Nicastro, this is thought to be the first time a group of Wildcats has been honored so since Rollie Massimino's basketball team won the NCAA Tournament in 1985, which was likely the first time ever for any Main Line squad.

The university sent two busloads down I-95, filled with 70 members of the football family and 16 from the women's cross-country contingent that lifted the Division I trophy in November.

The president spent 25 minutes shaking hands before heading back to the Oval Office. Among those who can now check that off their to-do list are Szczur, teammate Chris Whitney and cross-country coach Gina Procaccio.

So of all the perks that have come with the accomplishment, where does this rate?

"This has to be No. 1," insisted Szczur, who couldn't stop smiling. "It's so surreal . . . to be where we are."

Added Whitney: "It's a great experience. Getting to shake [Obama's] hand made it a better experience. Not many people get to do this in a lifetime. We were in the front row."

Indeed they were. But even from the cheap seats, it was an indelible scene.

"I love it for my girls," said Procaccio, who couldn't stop admiring the photos she took with her digital camera. "I really do. They're the ones who did it, all the hard work they put in. I love that they got a chance to have this kind of experience. It was even great meeting the other teams. We had our picture taken with the Oklahoma State team that won the men's title. They really enjoyed that. Just to be here and see all of it . . .

"We knew they had done this in the past. So we kind of joked about it all year."

Who knew it would become reality?

"I can't wait to see [Obama]," said one of the Wildcats' runners, Sheila Reid.

Did she vote for Obama?

"I would have if I could have," she replied, smiling. Reid is Canadian. Fair enough.

Andy Talley has been Villanova's football coach since the sport was restored in 1985. He had met a president once before. Or at least a former one. He was Division I-AA Coach of the Year in 1997 and was introduced to George H.W. Bush at the national coaches convention.

"Not too bad for an old coach like me," Talley said. "Any time you get a chance to touch royalty, it's pretty awesome. You get here and all of a sudden you realize, 'Wow.' There's 33 national champions here. It's the best of the best, across the board. And you're one of them. It just doesn't get much better."

And what went through his mind when one of his own got singled out?

"To me, that speaks to what our program is all about," Talley said. "We were acknowledged by the president of the United States. Your players, your team, your drive. It's about saving lives, working hard at whatever you're trying to do. It really is a microcosm of the country we live in."

So what were the odds that a group of young men he brought together ever would have taken him to this moment?

"Are you kidding me?" Talley said, laughing. "No shot. No way. I was about 1-in-100,000 to ever be the coach at Villanova.

"I hit the lottery."

On this day, he was hardly alone. It was quite a collection. And quite a tribute. *