[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2418-S2420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND TERRAPINS

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate

[[Page S2419]]

proceed to S. Res. 233 submitted earlier today by Senators Sarbanes and 
Mikulski.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 233) congratulating the University of 
     Maryland Terrapins for winning the 2002 NCAA National 
     Basketball Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. SARBANES. Madam President, one of Aesops fables tells of the race 
between the tortoise and the hare. As the story goes, the hare took off 
at the start of the race at a very swift pace but soon tired, stopped 
and fell fast asleep. The tortoise, on the other hand, maintained a 
slow and steady pace and passed the sleeping hare en route to a 
victory. The moral of the story is ``slow but steady wins the race.''
  Such was the pace to the 2002 NCAA Basketball Championship for the 
University of Maryland Terrapins. Following a Final Four appearance in 
last year's NCAA Tournament, expectations were high for this year's 
team. From the first tip-off last October during Midnight Madness to 
the final buzzer of this year's championship game, the entire Terrapin 
team, led by head coach and University of Maryland alumnus Gary 
Williams, pursued a deliberate and determined course. Their journey 
culminated on the night of April 1, 2002, when the team won the NCAA 
Men's Division 1 Basketball Championship.
  It is with a deep sense of Maryland pride and pleasure that I rise as 
the chairman of the Maryland congressional delegation to submit a 
resolution congratulating the University of Maryland Terrapins for 
winning the 2002 NCAA National Basketball Championship. My Maryland 
colleague, Senator Barbara Mikulski, is joining me in this effort and 
the Maryland House delegation, led by University of Maryland alum, 
Steny Hoyer, is also submitting a similar resolution.
  As our resolution highlights, this has been a remarkable run for the 
men's basketball team. The team won a school record 32 games. They went 
undefeated at home, including their impressive win over Duke University 
by a score of 97-73. This year was the last year that the team will 
play in historic Cole Field House and the season was a fitting tribute 
to a building that has witnessed so many remarkable games over the 
years. This year's team continued its home court dominance over non-
conference opponents, extending its winning streak to 84 wins, the 
current longest winning streak in the Nation.
  Madam President, please join me in congratulating the Maryland 
Terrapin team members: senior guard Juan Dixon, the 2002 NCAA 
Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, the ACC Player of the Year, a 
First-Team All-American, and a member of the ACC All-Defensive Team; 
senior center Lonny Baxter, Most Valuable Player of the East Region, 
Second Team All-ACC, honorable mention All-American, and a member of 
the ACC All Defensive Team; senior forward Byron Mouton, Honorable 
Mention All-ACC; senior guard Earl Badu; junior guard Steve Blake, 
named to the Third Team All-ACC, and Honorable Mention All-American; 
junior forward Tahj Holden; junior guard Drew Nicholas; junior center 
Ryan Randle; junior guard Calvin McCall; sophomore forward Chris 
Wilcox, named to the Third Team All-ACC; freshman guard Andre Collins; 
and freshman forward Mike Grinnon.
  On behalf of the State of Maryland, the Maryland congressional 
delegation and the University of Maryland, I ask my colleagues to join 
me in acknowledging the outstanding efforts of this amazing group of 
basketball players, coaches and staff.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to the nation's 
premier men's college basketball team, the University of Maryland 
Terrapins. I am so proud that our Terps are our national champions. 
Their victory shows the hard work, perseverance and experience of an 
amazing team--and the support of an outstanding university. This 
resolution seeks to celebrate the Terps' victory.
  Our Terps have worked so hard to reach these heights, shaping college 
basketball history as they got here. They are led by a Terrapin who 
learned about much more than basketball as a student and graduate-
assistant in five years at College Park. Coach Gary Williams is that 
Terrapin--a true leader, a true teacher, and a true Marylander at 
heart. As ACC Coach of the Year, Coach Williams led the Terps to the 
regular season ACC title, and their first national championship. But 
even more important, he has continue to shape the lives of the young 
men he coaches.
  He cares about his players on and off the court. That meant 
encouraging them in their studies as well as in their sport. He helped 
them understand the importance of getting their degrees. His success is 
shown in the fact that four of his players are serious--more than any 
of their competitors.
  These men include this year's dynamic senior class of Earl Badu, 
Byron Mouton, Lonny Baxter, and Juan Dixon. I am so proud of them 
because they will all graduate this year, proving that Coach Williams' 
philosophy of hard work on and off the court works here in Maryland. 
Their experience was a key factor in their victory.
  When Coach Williams recruits and teaches players, he doesn't always 
look for the flashiest prospects. He works with men he can make into 
champions. Our Terrapins show that championship spirit on and off the 
court. And that is what a Maryland education is all about.
  The Terrapins' court successes have mirrored the University of 
Maryland's rise to the pinnacle of the academic world. Our university 
is a national leader in science, engineering and business.
  The Terps had a perfect season during their last year at Cole Field 
House. The University of Maryland and the entire State is grateful for 
everything this basketball team has given us.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the University of 
Maryland's Terrapins for being such great winners--both on and off the 
court.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and that any statements related thereto be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 233) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 233

       Whereas the 2002 University of Maryland Terrapins men's 
     basketball team won 32 games, a school record for wins in a 
     season;
       Whereas the 2002 Maryland Terrapins were undefeated at home 
     in the last year of play at historic Cole Field House, 
     compiling a home record of 15-0;
       Whereas the 2002 Maryland Terrapins continued their 
     dominance over nonconference opponents at home, extending 
     their NCAA record nonconference home winning streak to 84 
     wins;
       Whereas the 2002 Maryland Terrapins won their first, 
     outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular season 
     championship in 22 years;
       Whereas the Maryland Terrapins qualified for a 9th 
     consecutive NCAA tournament under Coach Gary Williams, being 
     awarded a number 1 seed in the East Region;
       Whereas the Maryland Terrapins handily defeated the Siena 
     College Saints in the first round of the NCAA tournament by a 
     score of 85-70;
       Whereas in the second round, the Maryland Terrapins ousted 
     the Wisconsin Badgers by a score of 87-57;
       Whereas in the Sweet Sixteen, the Maryland Terrapins 
     overpowered the tough Kentucky Wildcats by a score of 78-68;
       Whereas in the final game of the East Regional, the 
     Maryland Terrapins earned a 2d straight bid to the Final Four 
     by defeating the Connecticut Huskies by a score of 90-82;
       Whereas in the Final Four, the Maryland Terrapins achieved 
     a 97-88 victory over the potent Kansas Jayhawks;
       Whereas in the NCAA championship game, the Maryland 
     Terrapins came away with a 64-52 victory over the storied 
     Indiana Hoosiers;
       Whereas on April 1, 2002 the University of Maryland won the 
     NCAA men's basketball championship, the first ever for the 
     University of Maryland;
       Whereas the 2002 Maryland Terrapins, by winning the 2002 
     NCAA men's basketball championship, became only the 5th NCAA 
     Division I athletic program to have won national 
     championships in both basketball and football;
       Whereas senior Juan Dixon was named the most outstanding 
     player of the 2002 NCAA tournament, first team all-American, 
     and Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year;
       Whereas senior Lonny Baxter was named the most valuable 
     player in regional play for the second year in a row; and

[[Page S2420]]

       Whereas in game number 2002 of the University of Maryland 
     men's basketball program, the Terrapins achieved the title of 
     2002 national champion: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the mighty University of Maryland 
     Terrapins for winning the 2002 NCAA national men's basketball 
     championship on April 1, 2002;
       (2) commends the Maryland Terrapins for their outstanding 
     performance in the 2002 NCAA national tournament, the 
     Atlantic Coast Conference, and the entire 2002 season;
       (3) applauds the Maryland Terrapins for their commitment to 
     high standards of character, perseverance, and teamwork;
       (4) congratulates the Maryland Terrapins on reaching their 
     goal of an NCAA championship, an achievement that no previous 
     Maryland men's basketball team had been able to accomplish;
       (5) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     and support staff who were instrumental in helping the 
     University of Maryland Terrapins win the 2002 NCAA 
     championship;
       (6) congratulates all of the 65 outstanding teams who 
     participated in the 2002 NCAA Tournament;
       (7) congratulates the National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association for its continuing excellence in providing a 
     supportive arena for college athletes to display their 
     talents and sportsmanship; and
       (8) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) Dr. C.D. ``Dan'' Mote, the President of the University 
     of Maryland;
       (B) Deborah Yow, the Athletic Director at the University of 
     Maryland; and
       (C) Gary Williams, the head coach of the University of 
     Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team.

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