III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 45 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 8, 2005 Mr. Allen (for himself, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Schumer) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commending the James Madison University Dukes football team for winning the 2004 NCAA Division I–AA National Football Championship.
Whereas the students, alumni, faculty, and supporters of James Madison University are to be congratulated for their commitment and pride in the James Madison University Dukes national champion football team; Whereas in the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship game against the Montana Grizzlies, the Dukes drove to a 10–to–7 lead at the half on the strength of the 1-yard touchdown by seemingly indefatigable tailback Maurice Fenner and the 28-yard field goal by kicker David Rabil; Whereas the Dukes won the 2004 NCAA Division I–AA National Football Championship with an outstanding second half performance, rushing for 257 yards and outscoring the Montana Grizzlies 21 to 14, to win the Championship by a score of 31 to 21; Whereas the Dukes added the NCAA Division I–AA title to their share in the Atlantic Ten Conference title to claim their second championship in 2004; Whereas every player on the Dukes football team (Nick Adams, Ryan Bache, L.C. Baker, Alvin Banks, Brandon Beach, Antoinne Bolton, D.D. Boxley, Rondell Bradley, Isai Bradshaw, Ardon Bransford, Anderson Braswell, Marvin Brown, Michael Brown, Ryan Brown, Shawn Bryant, George Burns, Robbie Catterton, Frank Cobbs, Sean Connaghan, Jamaal Crowder, Ben Crumlin, Corey Davis, John Michael Deeds, Isaiah Dottin-Carter, Harry Dunn, Sudan Ellington, Nick Englehart, Sid Evans, Maurice Fenner, Adam Ford, Casime Harris, Josh Haymore, Marcus Haywood, Tahir Hinds, Raymond Hines, Ryan Holston, Ryan Horn, David Ingraldi, Chris Iorio, Mike Jenkins, Bruce Johnson, Shelton Johnson, Akeem Jordan, Jacob Kahle, Clint Kent, Andrew Kern, Tim Kibler, Joe Kluesner, Rodney Landers, Scott Lemn, Matt LeZotte, Matt Magerko, Dexter Manley, Franklin Martin, Justin Mathias, Frank McArdle, Rodney McCarter, Craig McSherry, Andrew Michael, Bryce Miller, Leon Mizelle, Mike Mozby, William Nowell, Tom O’Connor, Will Patrick, David Rabil, Justin Rascati, Tom Ridley, Demetrius Shambley, Khary Sharpe, Andre Shuler, Bryan Smith, Leon Steinfeld, Chuck Suppon, Cortez Thompson, Nic Tolley, Trey Townsend, Brian Vaccarino, Kwynn Walton, Paul Wantuck, Mike Wilkerson, Kevin Winston, Stephen Wyatt, Kyle Zehr, and Jake Zielinski) contributed to the success of the team in this impressive championship season; Whereas the Dukes became the first team in Division I–AA history to win the national title without playing a single playoff game at home, battling for 3 consecutive playoff road victories; Whereas the Dukes football team Head Coach Mickey Matthews has won 40 games in his 6 years at James Madison University and has taken the Dukes to the playoffs twice in his tenure; Whereas Coach Matthews has been named the 2004 Division I–AA National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association, for his performance in the Dukes championship season; and Whereas Assistant Coaches Curt Newsome, Jeff Durden, George Barlow, Kyle Gillenwater, Phil Ratliff, Chip West, Ulrick Edmonds, J.C. Price, Tony Tallent, and Jim Durning deserve high recommendation for their strong leadership of, and superb coaching support to, the James Madison University Dukes football team: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates James Madison University Dukes football team for winning the 2004 NCAA Division I–AA National Championship; and (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, coaches, and support staff of the team.