[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H680-H681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SALUTE TO THE BIG 10 CHAMPION MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota Mr. Ramstad] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, it has been a long, hard winter in 
Minnesota, with record cold temperatures and snowdrifts so high they 
obscured barns and houses. But last night, the University of Minnesota 
men's basketball team warmed the heart of every Minnesotan as the 
Golden Gophers won their first Big 10 Conference Championship since 
1982.
  Minnesota, hats off to thee.
  Today, we salute Coach Clem Haskins and his 1997 championship team as 
well as the assistant coaches, managers, training trainers, and the 
best fans anywhere in the Nation. We are Big 10 Champions and proud of 
it.
  Mr. Speaker, last fall none of the experts picked our Golden Gophers 
to win the title, but they persevered. They won the close games. They 
personified teamwork. They fought back. They stuck to the game plan. 
They listened to their coach, Clem Haskins.
  One night this week, Coach Haskins told the story on the local 
television news of running into a woman in his neighborhood grocery 
store. This woman was accompanied by her young son in a wheelchair. 
Clem could hardly speak as he recounted that woman's words to him in 
that grocery store: ``Your basketball team has totally captured my 
son's attention,'' she said. ``The Gophers have inspired my son to walk 
one day.''
  Fighting back tears, Coach Haskins told the reporter: ``That's really 
what the world is all about, if you can give people some hope.''
  Coach Haskins, you and your team have given us hope, and a whole lot 
more.
  Under Clem Haskins' guiding hand, this marvelous mix of young men has 
rewritten University of Minnesota basketball history:
  The first Big 10 title in 15 years, only the third conference 
championship in the past 60 years;.

[[Page H681]]

  A school record for the number of victories in a single season, 25 
wins, with three regular season games and the NCAA tournament 
remaining.
  The school's highest national ranking ever, No. 2 in both major 
polls.
  The best road record in memory.
  Undefeated at home, in the ``Barn'', our beloved Williams Arena.
  And, if justice prevails, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
  Coach Haskins, now in his 11th season at Minnesota, has mentored 
hundreds of true champions. Not all of them have won Big 10 titles, to 
be sure, but they have been winners in the classroom and they have been 
winners in our community.
  Coach Haskins, who served as assistant coach of the 1996 men's 
Olympic basketball team, has assembled a very special group of young 
men in this championship season. They all deserve a tribute for the way 
they came together to surprise the experts and win the Big 10 title.
  All Big 10 guard Bobby Jackson, who ranks among the big 10 leaders in 
steals, assists, scoring, free-throw percentage, field-goal percentage 
and rebounding.
  Minnesota's other guard, Eric Harris, the defensive specialist and 
most improved player on offense, to be sure; Eric provided the steady 
leadership only a 3-year starter can.
  Minnesota's own Sam Jacobson, a constituent of mine, one of the great 
natural talents, with the long, arching outside shots which broke open 
so many close games. And John Thomas, another native Minnesotan, of the 
inside force, whose key rebounds and clutch free-throws also won so 
many nail-biters this season.
  The other big man in the middle, Courtney James, a major factor in 
this glorious title run, with his strong rebounding and scoring in the 
paint when we needed it the most.
  But perhaps the team's greatest asset, Mr. Speaker, is its bench, the 
players who accept their backup roles and come through in the clutch: 
Quincy Lewis, with his amazing shooting touch; Trevor Winter of 
Slayton, MN, with his rebound and baseline jumper; sophomore Charles 
Thomas, a southpaw whose specialty is the 3-point bomb, and who always 
comes through when we need it the most; Miles Tarver, another sophomore 
whose leaping ability ruled the boards when the other players' legs had 
tired; freshman guard Russ Archambault, who provided fans with many 
thrills with his speed, ball handling, and his slashing style on the 
court; also Jason and Jermaine Stanford and Aaron Stauber, who work so 
hard every day.
  Yes, Coach Haskins, you and your team have put Golden Gopher 
basketball back on the map. Congratulations, Minnesota, on winning the 
Big 10 Championship, and best of everything the rest of the way. Go, 
Gophers.

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