[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE LATE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC 
                         DIRECTOR, BOB DEVANEY

  (Mr. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, last Friday, Nebraska lost one of its 
finest. Former University of Nebraska football coach and athletic 
director Bob Devaney passed away, but not before leaving a legacy that 
will never be forgotten in the Cornhusker State and in the rank and 
file of college football.
  Anyone familiar with college football knows the outstanding 
accomplishments that Coach Devaney achieved. He took an average college 
football program and led the Cornhuskers to back-to-back national 
titles in 1970 and 1971.
  Bob Devaney not only ushered in a new era of college football, he 
brought Nebraskans together and gave our great State a team and an 
institution to be proud of.
  Most of all, Coach Devaney put life in perspective.
  In 1965, Devaney told fans before a game that there are 800 million 
people in China who could care less if Nebraska won or lost because 
there are bigger things in life than whether your team wins or loses.
  Coach Devaney taught sportsmanship and unity, lessons from which we 
all can learn.
  So, Mr. Speaker, as Coach Bob Devaney is laid to rest this afternoon, 
I think that I can speak for all Nebraskans and all college football 
fans across this country alike when I say, ``Coach, thanks for the 
memories.''

                          ____________________