[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATIONS TO VALPA- RAISO UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Northwest 
Indiana that I represent and as an Indiana University and Notre Dame 
University graduate, I want to congratulate Valparaiso University, 
which is in the First Congressional District of Indiana. I want to 
congratulate the Valparaiso men's basketball team on their impressive 
wins in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. It is a 
remarkable achievement for Valparaiso University and a great source of 
pride for me and the citizens I represent.
  Valparaiso is the smallest school represented in the tournament, with 
a total of 2,700 undergraduate students. Nonetheless, Valparaiso has 
seen a level of success few teams have experienced. They have won both 
the regular season conference title and the Mid-Continent Conference 
tournament title for the last 4 years, a feat accomplished by only 
three other teams in NCAA history.
  Valparaiso has been to the NCAA tournament twice before this year. It 
was unable to advance beyond the first round. This year it is 
different. Valparaiso has now become only the second 13-seed in history 
to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Their opening round win over the 
University of Mississippi last Friday was nothing short of inspiring.
  For the six senior players who have fought hard to bring success to 
this team and this school, it was an amazing culmination of 
determination and perseverance that led to their victory. Bryce Drew's 
3-point shot to win the game was reminiscent of the final scene in the 
movie ``Hoosiers,'' in which a tiny high school team came together in 
the waning seconds to win the championship game against a much larger 
and more powerful foe.
  After Valparaiso's second-round overtime win over Florida State on 
Sunday, coach Homer Drew said, ``Only in America and only in the NCAA 
Tournament can you have the opportunity to go against the best athletes 
and the best programs in America. We beat two schools from the best 
conferences in America.''
  Coach Drew and his team have proven that hard work and persistence 
eventually lead to success. The coach has spent the last 10 seasons 
building the basketball program that exists today. His dedication to 
the success of the program and the success of his players merits 
recognition. In the last 6 years, he has seen 80 percent of his players 
graduate, a higher rate than the school has as a whole. Further, all 
six players on this year's team who are seniors are set to graduate. He 
has been a positive influence on his students, a model of sportsmanship 
on the sidelines, an example of the type of hard work that makes the 
people of Northwest Indiana great.
  Not only has Valparaiso University continued to shine on the 
basketball court, but the school itself has a stellar academic record. 
Valparaiso has consistently ranked in the top 15 of regional 
universities, as published by U.S. News and World Report. This year, of 
the over 500 colleges listed, Valparaiso is ranked number two of the 
best universities in the Midwest, and Valparaiso's overall graduation 
rate of 72 percent makes them one of the best schools around.
  I would like to wish Coach Drew and the Valparaiso Crusaders the best 
of luck for their game against the University of Rhode Island on 
Friday. This is an exciting time for the people I represent and for 
college basketball fans everywhere.

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