[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H104-H105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING THE GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY LAKERS FOR WINNING THE
2002 NCAA DIVISION II FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 13) congratulating the Grand Valley State
University Lakers for winning the 2002 NCAA Division II Football
National Championship.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 13
Whereas on December 14, 2002, the Grand Valley State
University Lakers won the 2002 NCAA Division II Football
National Championship by defeating Valdosta State University;
Whereas this national championship is the school's first in
a varsity sport;
Whereas the Lakers won the 2002 Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football Championship with a
perfect 9-0 record in league play;
Whereas the Lakers completed the 2002 season with a perfect
14-0 record, and won 33 of its last 34 games;
Whereas Head Coach Brian Kelly has been with the team since
1991, and has lead the team to a 104-34-2 overall record;
Whereas the Lakers returned 51 letter winners, including 16
starters from the 2001 team that fell only to North Dakota in
the NCAA Division II National Championship game;
Whereas the Lakers placed 18 players on the 2002 All-GLIAC
team;
Whereas quarterback Curt Anes was named the GLIAC Player of
the Year for the second straight year and earned the 2002
Harlon Hill Trophy as NCAA Division II's most outstanding
player;
Whereas the Lakers defense dominated opponents by ranking
34th in the Nation in rushing defense and recording 58
quarterback sacks;
Whereas the students, alumni, faculty, and fans of Grand
Valley State University showed their support for by helping
the Lakers set a GLIAC record for regular-season attendance;
and
Whereas the Lakers have displayed great strength, ability,
and perseverance this season and have made the State of
Michigan proud: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the Grand Valley State University Lakers
for winning the 2002 NCAA Division II Football National
Championship and recognizes all the players, coaches, and
support staff who were instrumental in this achievement;
(2) requests that the President recognize the
accomplishments of the 2002 Grand Valley State University
football team and invite them to Washington, D.C., for a
White House ceremony for national championship teams; and
(3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Grand Valley
State University for appropriate display.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Woolsey) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra).
General Leave
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
on H. Res. 13.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Grand Valley State
University Lakers Football Team. On December 14, approximately 3 weeks
before the Ohio State Buckeyes became national champions, the Grand
Valley State University Lakers Football Team set the national standard
by winning the NCAA Division II Football National Championship by
defeating Valdosta State University.
In all seriousness, as a Wolverine from the great State of Michigan,
just north of the State of Ohio, congratulations to our colleagues of
the Big Ten, the Ohio State Buckeyes. It was a great year for the
Midwest. My sympathy to my colleagues in other parts of the country who
did not enjoy the same type of success the Midwest had this year during
the football season.
This game also was an exciting game that pitted the number one ranked
Grand Valley State Lakers against the number two ranked and perennial
football powerhouse Valdosta State University from the great State of
Georgia. Ultimately, the game was won by the Lakers when quarterback
Curt Anes threw a 10-yard scoring pass to wide receiver David Kircus
with 1:04 left in the game to lift the Lakers to a 31-24 victory.
In addition to the national championship victory and the second
consecutive trip to the national championship game, Grand Valley
captured its second consecutive Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference Football Championship with a perfect 9-0 record, and going
through the playoffs and concluding the season with a perfect record of
14-0.
Head Coach Brian Kelly, who has been with the team since 1991, has
led the team to a 104-34-2 overall record and has much to be proud of.
Coach Kelly assembled an extraordinary football program and a stellar
coaching staff.
Led by senior quarterback Curt Anes, who on the evening before the
championship game was awarded the 2002
[[Page H105]]
Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II Football's most outstanding player,
the Grand Valley State Football Team was an example of resiliency and
determination as they strived to meet their team goal of a national
championship. This triumph was truly a team effort.
Finally, I would like to also offer my thanks and congratulations to
the extended family of Grand Valley State University, the alumni, the
faculty, the fans, and of course the students who supported this team.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume,
and I rise in support of H. Res. 13, congratulating the Grand Valley
State University Lakers for winning the NCAA Division II National
Football Championship. This national championship is a special moment
for Grand Valley State's fans and its university community. It is the
school's first national championship in any varsity sport.
This is an outstanding achievement, especially when we consider that
Division II football athletes do not have the benefit and publicity
garnered by Division I schools. I know that as a fact because one of my
sons was an All American Tackle for a Division II school and it was
exciting, but they did not get any of the recognition that the Division
I schools garnered.
I want to extend my hearty congratulations to Head Coach Brian Kelly,
the Grand Valley State community, all of their fans, and most
importantly their student athletes. Grand Valley's athletes have
certainly performed admirably, and they deserve all the praise that we
can give them.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my
colleague from the State of Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), who also represents
a number of Grand Valley State campuses in his district.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this
time, and I can only echo the words of congratulation that he has
offered.
Just to give a little more information about Grand Valley State
University, it did not start until 1960, with 223 students. If they
fielded a football team that year, it would have consumed 10 percent of
the student body. And in 42 short years, they went from that to a
rather large University of 20,000 students, more than 48,000 alumni,
and winning the national championship in the NCAA. It is an astounding
record.
Also, I might mention that the main campus is in the west Michigan
area, represented by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra), from
whom we just heard; but the downtown campus is in my district. That
consists of many graduate studies programs, engineering, and post-
graduate course offerings.
It is a remarkable record of success. I have to pay tribute to the
former president, Arend (Don) Lubbers, who served from 1968 through
2001 and did an incredible job of taking a fledgling university and
building it into a full-grown university. In fact, the football stadium
at Grand Valley is named after him, and is called Lubbers Stadium. The
current president, Mark Murray, succeeded Lubbers in 2001. He has been
there a short time and has done a great job of continuing the work
there.
Football and sports are not the be-all and end-all of the university
experience, especially in Michigan, where we have a strong orientation
towards academic performance. But President Lubbers understood that
successful sports teams are a source of pride for the students, staff,
administration, and alumni of the schools they represent. In this
respect, Grand Valley State University Lakers have ably represented
their university and all of west Michigan in their march to the
national championship.
The opportunity of playing on national television in the Division II
championship game in each of the past two seasons has given Grand
Valley State University national exposure it never would have received
otherwise. I wish to congratulate the team for their tremendous
performance this year. They came within one game of winning the
national championship last year. They came back determined to win it
this year, and they did.
Congratulations are also due to Coach Brian Kelly, who was named last
night as the American Football Coaches Association's Division II
National Coach of the Year. He has done an outstanding job there. I
also want to congratulate senior quarterback Curt Anes, who received
the Harlan Hill Trophy, which is Division II's equivalent of the
Heisman Trophy. He is also a First-Team All American.
Senior wide receiver David Kircus, also a First-Team All American,
set numerous NCAA Division II and school records throughout his career.
In addition, congratulations are due to offensive lineman Dale
Westrick and defensive lineman Keyonta Marshall, both named First-Team
All Americans.
Also, I have to congratulate not only the school, not only the team,
the coach and the players, but also the supporters of the Grand Valley
State University Lakers, who set a conference attendance record. That
shows their loyalty and their support for the university and for their
sports teams.
So I am very pleased that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra)
has offered this resolution. I am very pleased to join him in
commending Grand Valley State University and their football team for
their very, very, very fine performance.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and
I would once again like to congratulate the Grand Valley State
University Lakers. They have had an awesome year. Today we recognize
them and congratulate them for that performance.
Mr. Speaker, as we pass this resolution, I would extend to the
President a request that he invite the Grand Valley State University
football team to Washington, D.C., to a White House ceremony that the
White House traditionally hosts for Division II national championships
of all sports; and we look forward to that happening.
{time} 1545
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the extended Grand Valley State
University family.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 13.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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