[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 13 (Thursday, February 10, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   TRIBUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA: 1993 NCAA DIVISION II 
                      NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, it was a glorious December day in Alabama, 
where enthusiasm crackled in the air and you could almost hear the 
sound of college football records being broken. I'm talking about the 
1993 NCAA Division II National Football Championship game, played at 
Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence before a national television 
audience and a vocal home-team crowd of almost 16,000 fans.
  This year I had the distinct pleasure of attending this match-up 
between the University of North Alabama Lions and the Indiana 
University of Pennsylvania Indians. It was indeed a title bout, 
described by the media as a heavyweight match, with a heart-stopping 
fourth quarter victory that will be the talk of NCAA Division II 
football for years to come.
  The UNA Lions took a 14-3 lead early on, but from there on the game 
was a tooth-and-nail battle. With 45 seconds remaining, the score was 
tied at 34. In a phenomenal 69-yard, six play drive, sophomore 
quarterback Cody Gross took in the winning touchdown, giving UNA the 
victory at 41-34.
  This, Mr. President, was a classic example of what a championship 
game should be. The UNA Lions showed America the incredible quality and 
competitiveness of Division II football. This is the first national 
football championship in the 45-year history of the Lion program, with 
the team smashing more than 70 school and conference records in the 
process.
  In this incredible 1993 season, UNA Coach Bobby Wallace has led his 
team to the following honors and awards: NCAA Division II National 
Champions; Gulf South Conference Champions; the Asa Bushnell Bowl from 
the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc.; The 
Sears National Championship Trophy from the American Football Coaches 
Association; NCAA Division II Statistical Champion in Rushing Offense; 
and the NCAA Division II Statistical Champion in Net Punting.
  UNA's Lions also have the Nation's longest current winning streaks. 
This, Mr. President, bears repeating. UNA's 14-0 season is the longest 
current winning streak in NCAA football on all levels. This is a longer 
winning streak than our State's undefeated Division I team, Auburn, who 
finished their season at 11-0. UNA is the first school in the Gulf 
South Conference's 22-year history to post a perfect record.
  This is a tremendous credit to Coach Bobby Wallace, who joined the 
Lions in 1987. His stellar career has included coaching positions at 
Auburn University, Mississippi State University and the University of 
Illinois. Coach Wallace is building a tradition of excellence. While at 
UNA, he has produced nine All-Americans, 25 first-team All-Gulf South 
Conference selections and more than a dozen Academic All-Gulf South 
Conference picks. Following the victory over Indiana University of 
Pennsylvania, Coach Wallace told reporters that the whole season had 
been like a dream come true. But no dream translates into reality 
without tremendous effort, hard work and vision. And for this Coach 
Wallace and his determined players deserve tremendous credit.
  And what of those determined players? These dedicated young men are 
living up to the regal purple and gold school colors, matching the 
kingly qualities of their lion mascot and building a royal football 
dynasty. Quarterback Cody Gross is only a sophomore. So is Isreal 
Raybon, the defensive end who's breathtaking blocked punt in the fourth 
quarter turned the game around. Also part of the sophomore line-up are 
Demetrea Shelton, the split end who contributed 2 touchdowns, All-
American linebacker Ronald McKinnon and All-Gulf South Conference 
linebacker Keith Humphrey, among others. Five out of the six offensive 
linemen are underclassmen. All-Conference place kicker Jamie Stoddard 
is a freshman. With this incredible talent returning to play next 
season, I hope to cheer them on to a second national championship next 
December.
  Over the years, my beloved State of Alabama has given rise to many 
athletic champions. In fact, this is not the first time UNA has grabbed 
the national spotlight. In addition to this season's football 
championship, UNA has two previous national titles in basketball. Such 
excellence is fostered in part through community involvement and 
interest in our young people. Communities throughout Alabama gather 
every fall Friday night to cheer the local high school team. These same 
fans follow players as they graduate from high school and continue to 
play in college. The sense of community pride grows to State pride when 
one team distinguishes itself as the best in the Nation. And it is 
indeed with this great pride that I rise to congratulate the University 
of North Alabama and join in the resounding cheer, ``Go Lions.''

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