[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 39 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1267-H1269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FOR WINNING 2002 NCAA MEN'S
BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Education and the Workforce be discharged from further consideration
of the resolution (H. Res. 383) congratulating the University of
Maryland for winning the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association
men's basketball championship, and ask for its immediate consideration
in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, of course I
not only will not object, but will enthusiastically support this
resolution.
But I rise, as everyone I am sure in the Chamber can understand, with
great pride in 12 young men and Coach Gary Williams, who had an
extraordinary season; who won the national championship for the first
time in the school's history; who won the Atlantic Coast Conference
championship for the first time in 22 years; who beat teams who had won
15 national championships in Kentucky, in Indiana and in Kansas; who
overcame personal adversity as well as they played throughout the
season; who went 15 and 0 at home, one of the first times that any team
has done that in Maryland's history, and in doing so, crowned an
extraordinary history for Cole Field House, which is now going to be
closed, at least for the basketball team, who will play in a new arena
next year.
All in all, it was an extraordinary season for extraordinary young
men and for an extraordinary coach. Gary Williams has coached for 30
years now,
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24 years as a head coach. He has a winning record of great proportions
and is clearly recognized as one of the great coaches of basketball in
America.
{time} 1630
At this time, if I might, Mr. Speaker, under my reservation, I yield
to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn). I might say
that the gentleman and I have the privilege of representing Prince
George's County in which the University of Maryland at College Park is
located.
Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr.
Hoyer), the distinguished leader of our delegation, for yielding me
this time; and I thank the University of Maryland. I would say that I
certainly want to join with him in this resolution commending the
University of Maryland Terrapins basketball team. There is a new motto
in our State. It says, the University of Maryland: whether they played
football in January and basketball in April. We have indeed had a very
fine year, both in football and now in basketball, and we are certainly
proud to honor our outstanding Terrapins basketball team and their
outstanding coach, Gary Williams.
I would just like to offer a word of congratulations to the also very
fine University of Indiana team that put up a good fight in the
championship game; but as they say, the Terrapins prevailed. Many fans
say, fear the Terrapin. I would say, love the Terrapin. We have had a
great season with the great support from our fans, the entire
university and the entire State promoting the Terrapins, and it has
been a truly wonderful and outstanding experience.
I would also note the outstanding story of our star player, Juan
Dixon, who represents an outstanding example of triumph over adversity.
He has emerged as not only an outstanding basketball player, but also
an outstanding individual and role model for an individual who started
off in less than ideal circumstances and, through force of will,
perseverance and commitment rose to heights of accomplishments. I again
hail the University of Maryland Terrapins.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.
Continuing under my reservation, I yield to the distinguished
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), and thank him for providing for
such a rapid consideration of this resolution.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. From the
other side of the country I also, Mr. Speaker, would like to rise in
support of House Resolution 383. This resolution congratulates the
University of Maryland Terrapins for winning the 2002 NCAA Basketball
Championship.
As my colleagues know, the Terrapins finished the 2002 season with 32
wins. This is quite an accomplishment and one that we should recognize.
I would also like to congratulate Coach Gary Williams, who led the team
during this victorious season. Many good things have been said about
him, and I would like to recognize and associate myself with those
words.
I would also like to thank our colleague, the gentleman from Maryland
(Mr. Hoyer), for introducing this resolution, and our colleague, the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), for bringing this resolution
to my attention. I would ask all of my colleagues for their support.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for
his comments and for his leadership in facilitating, as I said, this
resolution coming to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the very distinguished gentleman from
Baltimore City, Maryland (Mr. Cummings).
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I
also thank the gentleman for the resolution. It is certainly a pleasure
to congratulate the Maryland Terrapins on winning the NCAA tournament.
As a graduate of the University of Maryland, it makes me feel real
good.
I think the thing that impressed me so much about this team was not
just what they did on the court, but it was their demeanor off the
court. They were never bragging; they showed a lot of humility and a
determination that I have not seen from many teams. Just talking to the
people in my neighborhood, many of them are admirers of the team; but,
in particular, many of them knew Juan Dixon personally. I think it
inspired a lot of them to be the best that they can be, even under
adverse circumstances. So often when we look at a team, we look at the
win and loss column. But that is not all that goes into it.
Particularly with this University of Maryland team, with Juan, whose
both parents died as a result of AIDS and drug use, and to emerge to
where he has gotten to today says a whole lot, and has given a lot of
hope to a lot of people. So not only is it a great team on the court,
but a great team off the court too.
To Gary Williams, I worry about him quite a bit on the sidelines. I
will tell my colleagues, I worry whether he is going to have a heart
attack over there. But the fact is he puts his soul into this team, and
we are certainly very, very proud in the State of Maryland to have such
a great team; and may God bless all of them, and may God bless the
University of Maryland.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments and
for his telling of the story of Juan Dixon. Frankly, all of the young
men on that team have faced adversity at one time or another. All of us
have. As a matter of fact, Coach Williams' dad died shortly before the
final tournament, and they overcame that. They overcame it as a team,
they overcame it as individuals, because as the gentleman from Maryland
(Mr. Cummings) said, they had a great deal of courage and a great deal
of a sense of purpose, and what a joy it is.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, just briefly, my chief of staff, Kirk
Fordham, graduated from the University of Maryland; and I watched with
great excitement as his alma mater racked up those points and won kind
of a come-from-behind team, a Cinderella team, if you will.
Florida has been lucky enough to produce many champions: University
of Miami, Florida State and, of course, the University of Florida, and
to watch a team that displayed such class and such enthusiasm and, even
though all of the pundits pretty much ruled them out at the very
beginning, to watch them emerge each time after a game up the ladder to
the Final 4 and then, of course, to victory, I salute you.
I salute your team. I salute the parents, the coaches, all of those
in the athletic department that support us. Because it does take a
colossal effort to move the enthusiasm to the level where you reach a
national championship.
So I salute the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) on his phenomenal
team and his phenomenal State. My brother-in-law, in fact, was born in
Havre de Grace, so I take a little bit of pride to being at least a
distant relative of Maryland and share with my colleagues their great
victory.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I
would only add that when FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in
football we all took it roughly, because they are all so good; and as
the gentleman knows, Maryland had one of its best years in football
ever, finishing 10 and one in the regular season. And, of course,
because FSU lost to Tennessee, it came down to the Orange Bowl and
taught us how to play football, a very excellent team. Of course, we
returned the favor by taking Steve Spurrier up to Washington, as the
gentleman knows. But I thank the gentleman for his comments.
The resolution, in addition to congratulating the Terrapins,
congratulates all 65 teams, as my colleagues know, for their
participation. Because it is the quality of every program that really
makes March Madness such an extraordinary athletic event, exciting the
entire country and indeed, much of the world, that knows about
basketball, so that this resolution congratulates all who participated.
Along that line, I mentioned the fact of the three teams that were
extraordinarily able teams that we beat to get to the finals; but I did
not mention UCONN, the University of Connecticut under Coach Calhoun,
also an extraordinary team.
Mr. Speaker, frankly, if I took another half an hour or another hour,
I could not, by virtue of words, exceed what the Maryland Terrapins
have done by their actions; but there is somebody who would like to add
some words, I see.
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Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding we have more time on the clock,
so I yield to the distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs.
Morella), of Montgomery County, which has a major campus of the
University of Maryland in her district, and she is right beside the
University of Maryland at College Park.
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman bringing up
this resolution, which has a lot of symbolism attached to it.
First of all, or course, coming in at the last minute, one can never
tell with the University of Maryland. They are going to do it, whether
people expect they will or not. I am very proud of the University of
Maryland and what they have been doing in so many areas, and this is
one of those examples.
I rise to congratulate the University of Maryland Terrapins for
winning the 2002 NCAA men's basketball championship. As we all knew,
the key to the Terps' winning team was teamwork. The camaraderie among
the players, the leadership of its seniors, and the guidance of Coach
Gary Williams led to their success.
Incidentally, Gary Williams came from the American University to the
University of Maryland.
Knowing that 2001-2002 marked the last season in Cole Field House,
the Terps triumphed and won every game at home, beating all the ACC
teams that walked on their court. I am particularly proud of the
Montgomery County native, Lonnie Baxter, who hails from Silver Spring,
Maryland. Lonnie was named the Most Valuable Player in NCAA regional
play 2 years in a row, averaging almost 15 points and eight rebounds
each game. Congratulations to Lonnie, and we wish you the best of luck
as you pursue a career in the NBA.
Again, congratulations to the Terps and their victory. Everyone on
the team has made the State of Maryland proud. I thank my colleagues on
both sides of the aisle for allowing me to come in, to make this final
statement and tribute.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments. She
did mention something that really does bear focus, and that is the
extraordinary academic achievements of the University of Maryland. In
the final analysis, obviously, although the football team was
extraordinarily successful and the basketball team, and indeed, the
entire athletic program under our athletic director, Debbie Yow, one of
two women who leads an NCAA-1 team in the athletic department in that
division, has done an extraordinary job, but as well, Dan Mote, the
president of the University of Maryland and his predecessors as
president of the University of Maryland have brought it up academically
so that it is one of the finest academic institutions in the country as
well; and I think it reflects the balance between the mental and the
physical that the Greeks, of course, and the Olympics tried to reflect.
So I thank the gentlewoman for focusing on that point.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Dan Miller of Florida). Is there
objection to the request of the gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 383
Whereas on April 1, 2002, the University of Maryland
Terrapins won the National Collegiate Athletic Association
men's basketball championship;
Whereas the Maryland Terrapins compiled a school record for
wins during the 2002 season with 32, their 4th straight
season with 25 wins or more;
Whereas the Maryland Terrapins went undefeated at home in
the last year of play at historic Cole Field House by
achieving a record of 15-0;
Whereas the Maryland Terrapins won their 1st outright
Atlantic Coast Conference regular season championship in over
22 years;
Whereas Maryland Terrapins qualified for their 9th
consecutive NCAA tournament under Coach Gary Williams and
obtained a number 1 seed in the East Region this year, and
advanced to their 2nd consecutive Final Four;
Whereas in the NCAA championship game the Maryland
Terrapins faced the Indiana University Hoosiers and came away
victorious by a score of 64-52;
Whereas the Maryland Terrapins had to beat perennial
basketball powerhouses Kentucky, Connecticut, and Kansas
before earning the right to play in the championship game;
Whereas the NCAA men's basketball championship was the 1st
in Maryland's school history;
Whereas the Maryland Terrapins are 1 of only 5 teams in
history to have won national championships in both basketball
and football;
Whereas University of Maryland senior Juan Dixon was named
the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, First Team
All-American, and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the
Year;
Whereas University of Maryland senior Lonny Baxter was
named the Most Valuable Player in regional play for the 2nd
year in a row;
Whereas the entire Maryland Terrapin team, including Earl
Badu, Lonny Baxter, Steve Blake, Andre Collins, Juan Dixon,
Mike Grinnon, Tahj Holden, Calvin McCall, Byron Mouton, Drew
Nicholas, Ryan Randle, and Chris Wilcox, demonstrated the
highest level of teamwork, skill, tenacity, and sportsmanship
throughout the entire 2001-2002 season;
Whereas Coach Gary Williams and his coaching staff of Dave
Dickerson, Jimmy Pastos, Matt Kovarik, and Director of
Basketball Operations Troy Wainwright have built one of the
preeminent college basketball programs in the Nation, as
demonstrated by this championship win and more than a decade
of achievement;
Whereas Coach Gary Williams, a 1968 alumnus of the
University of Maryland, led his alma mater to the 2002
National Championship and has compiled a tremendous track
record of achievement and success in his more than 30 years
in coaching, including 24 years as a head coach; and
Whereas University of Maryland Athletic Director Deborah
Yow has played an instrumental role in elevating all of the
University's intercollegiate athletic programs, including,
the men's basketball team and the football team, which under
the direction of Head Coach Ralph Friedgen compiled a 10-1
regular season record and earned an invitation to the 2002
Orange Bowl: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates--
(A) the University of Maryland Terrapins for winning the
2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball
Championship on April 1, 2002;
(B) all of the 65 outstanding teams who participated in the
2002 tournament; and
(C) the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its
continuing excellence in providing a supportive arena for the
Nation's college athletes to display their talents and
sportsmanship;
(2) commends the Maryland Terrapins for their outstanding
performance during the entire 2002 season and for their
commitment to high standards of character, perseverance, and
teamwork;
(3) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches,
and support staff who were instrumental in helping the
Maryland Terrapins win the 2002 championship; and
(4) directs the the Clerk of the House of Representatives
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.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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