[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 199 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                GO GRIZ

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a critically 
important resolution. It will restore the honor of our country, and my 
State of Montana in particular, in the face of an impudent affront 
leveled against us by the Governor of West Virginia.
  Let me begin with a question. What would possess as many as 5,000 
Montanans to leave our beautiful State and travel to a small town in 
West Virginia--of all places--for the weekend?
  There is only one answer--and that is Grizzly fever.
  As I have proudly told many of my colleagues, the University of 
Montana Grizzlies are traveling to Huntington, WV, to take on the 
Thundering Herd of Marshall University in the NCAA, Division I-AA 
National Championship. And on Saturday night, they will come home to 
Missoula as the national champions.
  It takes a good football team to get that far. But the Grizzlies are 
not just a good football team--they are a great football team.
  How great are the Grizzlies, some may ask?
  Great enough to have trounced their playoff opponents. During the 
three playoff games, the Grizzlies scored a total of 156 points. Their 
three opponents managed to score a paltry 14 points; and two out of the 
three playoff games were Grizzly shutouts.
  And the Grizzlies are great enough to have what I believe is the 
finest quarterback in college football today. Dave Dickenson, from 
Great Falls, is a three-time first team academic all-American, a first 
team all-American quarterback, and Dave will probably receive the 
Walter Payton Award next week as the best Division I-AA player in 
America.
  Many West Virginians--including my friends Senator Byrd and 
Rockefeller--may take pride in Marshall's winning record up to this 
point. That is fine. I see nothing wrong with acknowledging the 
accomplishment of the second-best team. But Governor Caperton crossed 
the line when he signed a proclamation naming December 16--the day of 
the game--Marshall University Day.
  Now, normally, I am a strong supporter of States rights. But Governor 
Caperton has gone too far. His proclamation is a slap in the face to me 
and every other self-respecting Montanan. And it is an insult to the 
good sense of every American who follows college football.
  Mr. President, sometimes State governments make mistakes. And on 
occasions like this one, they are whoppers. The time has come for 
Congress to step in and set things right.
  That is why I am introducing my resolution today. It would recognize 
the Montana Grizzlies as the new national champions by proclaiming all 
of next week Montana Grizzlies Appreciation Week. It would also declare 
the unfortunate, unjust, and illegitimate proclamation by the Governor 
of West Virginia null and void.
  If you still doubt the need for this resolution, tune in on Saturday. 
The game starts at 10 Montana time--that's noon in Washington on ESPN. 
It will be a great game.
  Mr. HELMS. I can see why the Senator was eager to make a speech and 
make a reference to Montana. I congratulate him.

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