[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S87]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      COMMENDING THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES FOOTBALL TEAM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 14, introduced 
earlier today by Senator Voinovich.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the resolution by 
title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 14) commending the Ohio State 
     University Buckeyes football team for winning the 2002 NCAA 
     Division I-A collegiate national football championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, no Senator is in the Chamber from the State 
of Florida or the State of Ohio, but it does not matter who you favored 
in that game, I think it was one of the finest football games in the 
history of the world. So this resolution is something that is well done 
and necessary.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me just say, I had not planned to 
speak on this resolution, but I, too, watched that ball game. I think 
it was, as the distinguished assistant Democratic leader said, possibly 
one of the most exciting football games ever. So we all do commend the 
Ohio State Buckeyes for their great victory.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and its 
preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 14) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 14

       Whereas in 2002, the Ohio State University claimed its 
     fifth undisputed Division I-A collegiate national football 
     championship;
       Whereas Ohio State captured its 29th Big Ten Conference 
     championship;
       Whereas Ohio State finished the season with a perfect 14-0 
     record, its first unbeaten season since 1968;
       Whereas on the way to the national championship, Ohio State 
     defeated 5 ranked opponents, including a 14-9 triumph over 
     the University of Michigan;
       Whereas Ohio State is the first Big Ten team to qualify for 
     and win the Bowl Championship Series national championship 
     game;
       Whereas seniors strong safety Mike Doss, middle linebacker 
     Matt Wilhelm, and punter Andy Groom, along with sophomore 
     placekicker Mike Nugent, have been named first-team All-
     Americans;
       Whereas Jim Tressel has lead Ohio State to a national 
     championship in just his second year as head coach at Ohio 
     State and has been recognized for his accomplishments as a 
     finalist for the 2002 Football Writers' Association of 
     America (FWAA)/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award; and
       Whereas the Ohio State University community, including the 
     Ohio State University Athletic Department, the Ohio State 
     University Marching Band, and the Ohio State cheerleaders, as 
     well as the students, administration, board of trustees, 
     faculty, and alumni, the city of Columbus, and the entire 
     State of Ohio, are to be congratulated for their continuous 
     support of the Ohio State University football team: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Ohio State University Buckeyes football 
     team for winning the 2002 NCAA Division I-A collegiate 
     football national championship;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, 
     coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in helping 
     the Ohio State University win the 2002 NCAA Division I-A 
     collegiate football national championship and invites them to 
     the United States Capitol Building to be honored;
       (3) requests that the President recognize the 
     accomplishments and achievements of the 2002 Ohio State 
     University football team and invite them to Washington, D.C. 
     for a White House ceremony for national championship teams; 
     and
       (4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to make available 
     enrolled copies of this resolution to the Ohio State 
     University for appropriate display and to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of the resolution to each coach and member of 
     the 2002 NCAA Division I-A collegiate national championship 
     football team.