[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 115 (Monday, July 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1443-E1444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  CONGRATULATING THE BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______


                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 17, 1995
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Birmingham 
Southern College and it's men's basketball team for winning the NAIA 
championship in Tulsa, OK.
  Birmingham-Southern College is ranked ``among the best and most 
noteworthy in North America'' by ``The Insiders Guide to the Colleges 
1994'' edition, compiled and edited by the staff of the Yale Daily 
News. Birmingham-Southern College has again been ranked as one of the 
top ``National Liberal Arts Colleges'' by U.S. News and World Report in 
the magazine's recent ``Best Colleges'' issue. Southern is recognized 
in the magazine's October 1994, issue as one of the best values in 
higher education. Birmingham-Southern is ranked No. 8 among the 160 
National Liberal Arts Colleges in the category of Most Efficient 
Schools.
  Enrollment has reached a high in recent years. From an enrollment of 
only 727 in 1976, Birmingham-Southern enrolled some 1,800 students this 
Fall.
  The recognition and enrollment are the result of the college's 
outstanding academic reputation and the leadership its president, Dr. 
Neal R. Berte, who is an acknowledged national leader in higher 
education across the country, and the leadership and hard work of the 
trustees and the faculty.
  Four prestigious guides, ``The National Review College Guide,'' ``The 
Fiske Guide to Colleges 1994,'' the ``Princeton Review 1994 edition of 
The Student Access Guide to The Best 286 Colleges,'' and U.S. News & 
World Report magazine have ranked Birmingham-Southern College as among 
58 of ``America's Top Liberal Arts Schools,'' according to National 
Review; as among ``315 of the best and most interesting colleges in 
America,'' according to Fiske; among the highest ranked in academics, 
quality of life and financial aid, according to the Princeton Review, 
and among the 140 top national liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. 
News in its October 4, 1993 issue.
  Birmingham-Southern graduates' records indicate the quality of the 
educational experience at Birmingham-Southern. They are admitted to 
graduate schools, law schools, and medical schools at rates two to 
three times higher than most colleges across America.
  These recognitions and impressive enrollment standards at Birmingham-
Southern are the result of the outstanding academic reputation and hard 
work of the trustees and faculty along with the superior leadership of 
BSC's president, Dr. Neal R. Berte. Accomplishments such as the ones 
mentioned above would make any school proud, but Birmingham-Southern 
College's successes go far beyond the classroom.
  The Birmingham-Southern College Men's basketball team was unranked in 
the preseason poll and selected to finish fourth in the Southern States 
Conference. Despite these predictions, the Panthers were the first team 
to go 14-0 in Southern States competition and made their fourth trip to 
the tournament in only 6 years, and their second championship in that 
time. They completed the season with an incredible 32-consecutive-game 
winning streak, the longest in college basketball. Their record for the 
year was 35 wins, with only 2 losses, setting a record for the most 
wins in school history.
  The record setting performance of the Birmingham-Southern College 
men's basketball team can be attributed to the relationships that are 
developed between coach and player. The Panthers winning attitude and 
success is a direct correlation with the accomplishments of Head Coach 
Duane Reboul and his assistant coaches Dwight Evans and Paul Arthur. 
Winning 83 percent of his games, coach Reboul 

[[Page E 1444]]
has the best winning percentage in the NAIA. As one of Birmingham-
Southern College's most successful basketball coaches, the biggest 
achievement for Reboul is not the records he attains, but the respect 
he receives from former players. Each year, the goals remain the same--
winning a championship and striving to make each player the best 
possible person he can be. Consequently, the student-athletes take 
these ideals and this winning attitude into the classroom and win them 
for the rest of their lives.
  Finally, the winning attitude that has been instilled in the minds of 
the players should not go unnoticed. At this time, I would like to 
congratulate the student athletes who have worked so hard, and 
dedicated their time and efforts to achieving these accomplishments. 
Chris Armstrong, Obra Carter, James Cason, Nigel Coates, Bo Coln, Tommy 
Dalley, Dwayne Elliot, Paul Fleming, Todd Largen, Jay Mitchell, Mike 
Schwallie, Eddie Walter, Damon Wilcox, and Will Worrell are each to be 
applauded for their accomplishments both on and off of the court. I 
wish them all success in their academic as well as athletic pursuits.
  Congratulations to Coach Reboul and his team for an outstanding year. 
We look forward to your continued success and achievement of 
excellence.


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