[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 76 (Friday, June 16, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S5307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO THE SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL TEAM

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
most successful college baseball regular season in history. This year, 
the Savannah State University, SSU, Tigers set a new National 
Collegiate Athletic Association record for the most consecutive wins--
an incredible 46. Led by their coach, Jamie Rigdon, a former Savannah 
State graduate, the Tigers played with all their heart despite the 
knowledge that they would not be able to participate in NCAA Regional 
Playoffs because they are in the process of moving from NCAA Division 
II to Division I.
  The historic season began with twelve straight victories over their 
fellow Division II rivals. In February, the Tigers defeated Florida A&M 
in what would become the first of many Division I opponents to meet 
their match in Savannah State. As the season wore on, the Tigers kept 
playing hard each and every day and, on March 19 they were rewarded for 
their efforts with an amazing 34th consecutive victory, thereby 
breaking the NCAA record. However, Savannah State's celebration was cut 
short when it learned that a Division III school in Ohio reported that 
it won 40 consecutive games the season before but had failed to notify 
the NCAA's official record keepers. While the media and officials 
debated which team held the record, the Tigers kept winning. In the 
end, the Savannah State University baseball team had won an astonishing 
46 consecutive game, shattering every record in the books and laying 
indisputable claim to the most successful regular season in college 
baseball history.
  In addition to their consecutive win streak, the Tigers compiled many 
impressive statistics this year. For example, each SSU starter batted 
over .330 for the season, the starters fielding average was .947, and 
the team's earned run average was an incredible 2.30 for the entire 
season.
  I recognize each Tiger player from the record setting team: Brett 
Higgins, captain; Torrie Pinkins; Derron Street; Jarvis Johnson; Robert 
Settle; Roderick Ricks; Marcus Griffin; Mike Eusebio; Lamar Leverett; 
Marcus Johnson; Richard Castillo; Guy Thigpen; Chris Cesario; Charles 
Brown; Isaiah Brown; James Runkle; Jeremy Batayias; J.J. Stevens; James 
Greig; and Shantwone Dent.
  Savannah State University President, Carlton E. Brown, spoke highly 
of the student athletes saying that, ``the members of the Savannah 
State University baseball team are not just extraordinary athletes, 
they are exceptional students and model citizens. Even without the 
prospect of post-season play, the team put its heart and soul into each 
game. The team exemplifies the Savannah State University motto, which 
is `You can get anywhere from here.' '' I agree with President Brown 
that these young men can get anywhere with their education from 
Savannah State just as they went from the baseball diamond and into the 
record books. While I do not doubt that the Tigers could have been very 
successful in the playoffs, I hope their tremendous season is simply 
one remarkable achievement in a life where they make history, on and 
off the field.

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