President Obama Congratulates Nick Saban After Alabama’s Latest National Title

Nick Saban should be used to it by now.

Two days after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship, President Barack Obama called Saban’s office at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility on Wednesday to congratulate him and the Alabama football team on their victory over Clemson.

For Saban, it’s the fourth such time he has received a congratulatory call from Obama. Following its 45-40 win over Clemson on Monday night in Arizona, the Crimson Tide has now won four national titles in seven seasons – all of them coming during the Obama Administration.

The phone call came the morning after Obama held his final State of the Union address Tuesday evening.

George W. Bush was president when Saban won his national title with LSU in 2003.

In addition to the phone call, Alabama’s victory over Clemson also means the entire Crimson Tide team will likely visit Obama at the White House, barring any unforeseen scheduling conflicts. The team’s last two celebratory trips to the White House came in April. Its first of the four, the 2009 title, took place in March.

Its most recent White House visit, in spring 2013, was originally scheduled for early March but was postponed due to a snow storm in the Washington, D.C. area. The team instead went in April after it was rescheduled.

Details about the expected upcoming White House visit have not yet been announced.

The White House Office of the Press Secretary released a statement on Wednesday about Obama’s phone call with Saban:

“Today, President Obama called Alabama Football Head Coach Nick Saban to congratulate him and the Crimson Tide on their victory in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The President recognized the team’s talented players, including Heisman winner Derrick Henry, and noted that this win was the culmination of an impressive season. The President said he looks forward to the team’s visit to the White House to congratulate the players in person.”