The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy sits at the White House before being presented to the U.S. Air Force Academy football team by President Barack Obama on May 7, 2015. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy sits at the White House before being presented to the U.S. Air Force Academy football team by President Barack Obama on May 7, 2015. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
President Barack Obama presents the Commander-in-Chief's TrophyCommander-in-Chief Trophy to the U.S. Air Force Academy football team at the White House on May 7, 2015. At left is Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, the superintendent of the academy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
The Air Force Academy football team coach Troy Calhoun smiles during a White House ceremony in which President Barack Obama presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the team on May 7, 2015. The Air Force Falcons defeated the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
President Barack Obama presents the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the U.S. Air Force Academy football team at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Air Force Falcons defeated the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the Air Force Academy Falcons football team smile as President Barack Obama presents the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Falcons defeated the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the Air Force Academy Falcons football team smile as President Barack Obama presents the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Falcons defeated the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
President Barack Obama applauds the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons football team while presenting them the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Falcons beat the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
President Barack Obama shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons coach Troy Calhoun while presenting the team the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Falcons beat the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
President Barack Obama gets a jersey and football from the United States Air Force Academy football team after presenting them with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Air Force Falcons beat the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. Falcons quarterback Kale Pearson (right), presented Obama with a No. 19 jersey, and defensive back Christian Spears (left) gave the president a game ball. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
The Air Force Academy football team poses with President Barack Obama and the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Air Force Falcons beat the Army team 23-6 in November to win the trophy. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
The Air Force Academy football team poses with President Barack Obama at the White House on May 7, 2015. The Air Force Falcons beat the Army team 23-6 in November to win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, which Obama presented during the ceremony. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
Air Force Academy defensive back Christian Spears holds a game ball for President Barack Obama during a White House ceremony on May 7, 2015. Obama presented the football team with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy after the Falcons beat Army 23-6 to claim the title. (C.J. Lin/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Six months after beating the Army, the Air Force Academy got their shiny, huge trophy from none other than the president of the United States at the White House on Thursday.
Calling the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy an "unreasonably large trophy," President Barack Obama presented the silver and black prize to the Air Force Falcons, who have now defeated the Navy and Army teams a record 19 times.
"If anybody can figure out how to get this thing to where it needs to go, it is the Air Force," Obama said.
The Falcons beat Army 23-6 in November to claim the title, its third in the last five years.
"Now, last year at this time, most folks did not think that Coach Calhoun and the Falcons would be here today. They’d just come off a less-than-ideal season," Obama said. "But this year, they came back determined to set a new tone."
In turn, Falcons quarterback Kale Pearson, who was MVP, presented Obama with a No. 19 jersey, and defensive back Christian Spears gave the president a game ball.
lin.cj@stripes.com Twitter: @cjlinSS
