[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 270 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 270

Congratulating John Gagliardi, football coach of St. John's University, 
   on the occasion of his becoming the all-time winningest coach in 
                      collegiate football history.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2003

   Mr. Coleman (for himself and Mr. Dayton) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating John Gagliardi, football coach of St. John's University, 
   on the occasion of his becoming the all-time winningest coach in 
                      collegiate football history.

Whereas John Gagliardi began his coaching career in 1943 at the age of 16 when 
        his high school football coach was drafted and John Gagliardi was asked 
        to take over the position;
Whereas John Gagliardi won 4 conference titles during the 6 years he coached 
        high school football;
Whereas John Gagliardi graduated from Colorado College in 1949 and began 
        coaching football, basketball, and baseball at Carroll College in 
        Helena, Montana, winning titles in all 3 sports;
Whereas John Gagliardi took over the football program at St. John's University 
        in Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1953 and the football team won the 
        Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in his first year as 
        coach;
Whereas by the end of the 2002 season, John Gagliardi had won 3 national 
        championships, coached 22 conference title teams, appeared in 45 post-
        season games and compiled a 376-108-10 record during his 50 years at St. 
        John's University;
Whereas under the leadership of John Gagliardi, St. John's University has been 
        nationally ranked 37 times in the past 39 years, and the university set 
        a record with a 61.5 points per game average in 1993;
Whereas over 150 students participate in the St. John's University football 
        program each year and every player dresses for home games;
Whereas John Gagliardi's coaching methods follow the ``Winning with No's'' 
        theory: no blocking sleds or dummies, no whistles, no tackling in 
        practices, no athletic scholarships, and no long practices;
Whereas John Gagliardi has coached over 5,000 players during his 50 years at St. 
        John's University, and no player has failed to graduate and most have 
        graduated in 4 years;
Whereas, in 1993, the John Gagliardi trophy was unveiled, and it is given each 
        year to the most outstanding Division III football player;
Whereas on November 1, 2003, John Gagliardi tied Grambling University coach 
        Eddie Robinson's record of 408 wins with a 15 to 12 victory over the 
        University of St. Thomas;
Whereas on November 8, 2003, John Gagliardi broke Eddie Robinson's record with a 
        29 to 26 victory over Bethel College;
Whereas John Gagliardi is admired by his players, as well as by the students, 
        faculty, and fans of St. John's University for his ability to motivate 
        and inspire;
Whereas students who take his course, Theory of Football, credit John Gagliardi 
        for teaching them more about life than about football;
Whereas those closest to John Gagliardi will tell you that football is only part 
        of his life--he values the time he spends with Peg, his wife of 47 
        years, and their 4 children; and
Whereas the on- and off-the-field accomplishments of John Gagliardi have placed 
        him in an elite club that includes the best coaches in history: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates John Gagliardi, football coach of St. 
        John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, on becoming the 
        all-time winningest coach in collegiate football history; and
            (2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
        enrolled copy of this resolution to John Gagliardi and St. 
        John's University.
                                 <all>