President Joe Biden congratulates Michigan on their National Championship title after Wolverines beat Washington in Houston: ‘You’ve made every American who dons the Maize and Blue proud’
President Joe Biden extended his congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines for securing the CFP National Championship title in Houston on Monday night. The Wolverines, led by Coach Jim Harbaugh, achieved a three-year journey to the national championship by defeating the Washington Huskies 34-13.
In a stellar performance, Blake Corum stood out with 134 rushing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, propelling the team to victory despite facing challenges such as suspensions and a sign-stealing controversy. As tradition dictates, the Wolverines will be invited to the White House to celebrate their triumph with the President.
Congratulations to the University of Michigan Wolverines on becoming 2024 College Football Champions!
Today, you are true victors – bringing your team's first championship win since 1997 home to Ann Arbor.
You've made every American who dons the Maize and Blue proud.
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 9, 2024
President Biden took to social media early on Tuesday to express his congratulations, stating, “Congratulations to the University of Michigan Wolverines on becoming the 2024 College Football Champions! Today, you are true victors, bringing your team’s first championship win since 1997 home to Ann Arbor. You’ve made every American who dons the Maize and Blue proud.”
The Wolverines, with a flawless 15-0 record, secured their first national title since 1997. Corum, who scored the decisive touchdown in the Rose Bowl against Alabama, clinched the championship with a 1-yard run, solidifying Michigan’s victory.
Despite facing off-field issues, including suspensions and a sign-stealing case, Coach Harbaugh guided the Wolverines to triumph. The team showcased a strong running game, amassing 303 yards against Washington, while their robust defense limited the Huskies’ prolific passing game to just one touchdown, intercepting the Heisman Trophy runner-up twice.
Harbaugh addressed the off-field challenges, emphasizing the team’s innocence and resilience, stating, “We’re innocent, and we stood strong and tall because we knew we were innocent. And I’d like to point that out. And these guys are innocent. And to overcome that? It wasn’t that hard because we knew we were innocent. (The season) went exactly how we wanted it to go. It went exactly how we wanted it to go.”
Michigan’s season faced a potential setback when an NCAA investigation revealed rule violations related to scouting opponents and decoding play signals using video equipment. Despite the uncertainty of potential penalties, the Big Ten swiftly suspended Harbaugh for the final three regular-season games. With offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore stepping in, Michigan overcame the challenges, culminating in a triumphant postseason celebration with Coach Harbaugh and his father, Jack, a former college football coach.