[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CORNHUSKERS WIN ANOTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: A CREDIT TO TEAMWORK AND 
                           DEDICATED COACHING

                                 ______


                           HON. BILL BARRETT

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 3, 1996

  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, last night the 1995 college 
football season climaxed with an awesome display of athletic ability, 
teamwork, determination, and brilliant coaching. I refer, of course, to 
the Fiesta Bowl, in Tempe, AZ, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers' impressive 
and decisive victory over the Florida Gators.
  The No. 1 Huskers rolled over the No. 2 Gators 62 to 24 to win their 
second consecutive NCAA football championship. The Fiesta Bowl win 
capped off a second straight undefeated season, and put the Big Red in 
the record books as the first team in 40 years to win back-to-back, 
undefeated, undisputed national championships.
  While some of the Cornhusker players are receiving the laurels of 
victory because of their outstanding individual performances in last 
night's game, the real credit rests with the hard work, dedication, and 
discipline of the entire Cornhusker squad. The old adage that there is 
no ``I'' in ``TEAM'' was never more apparent.
  Those who watched the game last night saw a team that loves to play 
the game and plays it better than any other team in the country. The 
team was both the Husker offense and defense, and the team ran over, 
around, and through the vaunted Florida Gators.
  Cornhusker Coach Dr. Tom Osborne heads a football program in which we 
in Nebraska take great pride. It is renowned for its success on the 
field, but also for its program of weight training and physical 
conditioning. Dr. Tom is a true sportsman and insists his players be 
the same. He is also an educator, and it shows in his program--Nebraska 
has had more academic all-Americans than any other program and 
graduates more than 85 percent of its players.
  It takes not only exceptional talent, but also patience, a thick 
skin, great courage, and character to coach a team of Nebraska's 
caliber and national exposure. I applaud Coach Osborne's victory in the 
Fiesta Bowl last night, and I applaud his unswerving determination to 
support his players and do what he believes best to turn out young men 
who understand the responsibility of being not only champions on the 
football field, but also good citizens. It is not always easy; it is 
not always without its setbacks, but the success and quality of the 
players he sends into the world each year speaks volumes about the 
coaching of Dr. Tom and his staff.
  I'm confident that in the annals of college football, the University 
of Nebraska Cornhusker teams of 1994 and 1995 will be heralded as among 
the best ever to step onto the college gridiron. I'm even more 
confident that the discipline and hard work needed to achieve that 
victory will inspire thousands of Nebraskans and Americans in years to 
come to achieve the best in their families, communities, businesses, 
and government.
  Congratulations, Huskers.

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