President Bush shakes hands with Jason Mathews (Tennessee Titans) 
President Bush, center, receives a Tennessee Titans jersey from Titans player Jason Mathews, left, as he arrives in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 27, 2004. (AP Photo)
Titans player meets President Bush in Nashville
By Kyle Payne
Titans Online
NASHVILLE, TN, May 27, 2004 -- Titans offensive tackle Jason Mathews received the chance of a lifetime on Thursday.
President George W. Bush was in town for a visit and a discussion about his innovative ideas for health care. It marked the ninth time that Bush has visited Tennessee during his presidency, and as it is each time he visits, the talk around town was of his appearance.
For those who are lucky enough to see the President of the United States in person, and for the even more privileged who are able to meet him, it serves as a lifelong memory.
Mathews was able to secure one of those rare moments during Bush’s visit on Thursday.
Mathews was one of the lucky, and very few, who greeted the president when he stepped off of Air Force One today in Nashville. Mathews presented Bush with a personalized Titans jersey with his name stitched across the back, and was able to have a brief exchange with the president.
“You’re the Texas boy,” Bush asked Mathews.
“Yes sir,” Mathews said. “I went to Texas A&M.”
“You know my dad’s library is down there,” the president responded.
“Yes sir, I have been through it many times,” Mathews said.
“I told him the Titans were supporters and I gave him the jersey,” Mathews said after meeting Bush. “I told him that I appreciate your leadership and your faith, and I told him thank you for making our country safer.”
Mathews knows that his time with the president will be something he remembers for the rest of his life.
“It is the highest individual honor that I have received,” Mathews said. “No matter what happens, my kids and their kids will have a picture of their grandfather with the President of the United States. It was an adrenaline rush just to get to meet him.”
Mathews is a large supporter of the United States military. He helped organize a trip for himself and his Titans offensive line teammates to visit soldiers in Fort Campbell in April.
When he found out the president would be in town he told Titans Director of Media Relations Robbie Bohren that he would love to get the chance to be a part of the president’s Nashville visit in some way. In just 24 hours, thanks to a network of contacts, Mathews got more than he could have ever imagined.
Bohren told Titans VP of Community Relations Bob Hyde of Mathews’ wish, and Hyde contacted Sen. Bill Frist’s staff about the possibility of Mathews attending a function or possibly even meeting Bush.
“They called into the White House,” Hyde said. “Fifteen minutes later they called back and needed Jason’s name and his social security number.”
The necessary information was collected and turned in. Then came news that Mathews would be receiving a call from the White House concerning his duties.
“They told us that Jason would get the call,” Hyde said. “I knew then that I better call him because I didn’t want him to think it was a joke.”
It was a good thing that Mathews was told in advance he would be getting a call from Washington.
“I would have thought Steve Watterson (Titans Strength and Conditioning Coach) or somebody was playing a joke one me,” Mathews said laughing. “If Bob wouldn’t have given me that heads up I probably would have laughed at somebody.”
Mathews was informed that he would be able to meet the president and be one of the select few to greet him on the tarmac. But upon his arrival just before noon on Thursday, Mathews found himself in the middle of many others.
“It’s strange enough to meet the president,” Mathews said. “But all of a sudden the governor walks in and Sen. Frist walks in, so it was like a kid in a candy store for me. I met them and talked with them for about 15 or 20 minutes.”
Mathews noted that seeing the way Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, a democrat, reacted to Bush’s visit should make people realize how much respect a president demands.
“Seeing Gov. Bredesen there today and knowing that he is a democrat, he was very respectful,” Mathews said. “It is important that we hold the Commander-in-Chief at a higher level and no matter which party he is, he is the commander of our country and we should be proud of him and respect him.”