[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 3 (Thursday, January 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S98-S99]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO OHIO COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am very proud, as the 108th Congress 
gets underway today, to pay tribute to the awesome accomplishments of 
this season's Ohio State University football team--a team that, after 
what was certainly one of the greatest games in college football 
history, clinched the 2002 National Collegeiate Football Championship 
title. This recent distinction represents Ohio State's fifth outright 
national football title.
  It is a great privilege, also, to represent a State that is home to 
many outstanding schools and numerous past national champions of 
college football. In Alliance, OH, for example, we have the Mount Union 
College Purple Raiders. This exceptional football team ended the year 
with a 14 and 0 record, winning the division III national championship 
for the sixth time in 7 years.
  The team is 109 and 1 in the last 11 regular seasons. Since 1990, the 
Raiders have won an incredible 162 out of 170 games. So I congratulate 
these fine young athletes on yet another great championship season.
  I want to recognize the Raiders' coach, Larry Kehres, for his 
dedication and commitment to the school and to the team. He has just 
been named the AFCA Division III National Coach of the Year, making him 
the first coach to win 7 national coach of the year awards. Mr. 
President, this is an unprecedented accomplishment. I congratulate 
Coach Kehres and his entire coaching staff. I wish him and the Purple 
Raiders and their fans all the best for next season and for many years 
to come.
  Mr. President, I also congratulate Ohio State football coach Jim 
Tressel, who was named this season's Division 1-A National Coach of the 
Year. This is the third time Coach Tressel has been recognized as 
national coach of the year, and deservedly so. He is a man who already 
has a lifetime coaching record of 142 wins, 62 losses, and 2 ties. He 
has coached previous teams at Youngstown State University to 4 national 
championships and has qualified for the Division 1-AA playoffs a 
remarkable 10 times in the past. He is a native Ohioan who graduated 
cum laud in 1975 from another fine Ohio institution of higher learning, 
Baldwin Wallace College. Coach Jim Tressel stresses academics, 
athletics, and community responsibility. When Jim Tressel took over as 
head coach of Ohio State, he said this:

       The two greatest days in our student-athletes lives should 
     be the day they walk across the stage to receive their 
     diploma and the day they slip a championship ring on their 
     finger.

  Because of Coach Tressel's dedication to his athletes, many of the 
players on Ohio State's football team have and will accomplish both of 
these great honors.
  Mr. President, I am sure many of my colleagues watched last week's 
Ohio State-University of Miami game. What a great game it was. Both 
teams played very well, and both schools can be very proud. I know that 
Senator Reid and Senator McConnell certainly watched the game. They 
have both already come to the floor to talk about it. I thank them for 
their remarks on the floor earlier in the week.
  I was pleased to join my friend and colleague from Ohio, Senator 
George Voinovich, in sponsoring a resolution honoring the team's 
achievement. This resolution commends not only the entire Ohio State 
athletic department, but also recognizes the support and dedication of 
the Ohio State marching band, the cheerleaders, the students, the 
administration, the board of trustees, the faculty, the alumni, the 
City of Columbus, the entire State of Ohio, and all of the great fans. 
Indeed, this season and last week's championship game represent the 
culmination of a year of hard work and a true team effort.
  Mr. President, anyone who watched last week's game will tell you it 
was an

[[Page S99]]

unbelievably tense game. Ohio State entered the game at least an 11\1/
2\-point underdog. The team's defense was certainly key in putting Ohio 
State into a position where they could win the game. During the first 
overtime, the game was tied 17 to 17. Then facing what could have been 
the end of the game--fourth down and 14 yards to go--Ohio State 
completed a 17-yard pass to stay alive.

  I know Ohio State fans, whether they were in Tempee, AZ, or whether 
they were, as I was, watching TV in Cedarville, OH, just could not 
believe what happened. Ohio State's quarterback faded back and made 
that unbelievable pass on fourth down and 14. After a few more plays, 
the Buckeyes scored from the 1-yard line to go into that second 
overtime.
  Then in the second overtime, Ohio State scored on a rushing attempt, 
and this proved to be the last score of the game. Miami got the ball, 
of course, and then on the last play of the game, fourth and goal at 
the 1-yard line, the Buckeyes blitzed and forced Miami's quarterback to 
rush his pass in desperation, allowing the Buckeye defensive linebacker 
to bat it down to the ground. This moment secured Ohio State as the 
2002 national champions and gave the team a place in history. Without a 
doubt, both teams played well; both teams are great champions.
  Many sports writers already have made the case that Ohio State's 31-
to-24 double overtime victory in this year's Fiesta Bowl was the 
greatest championship game in the history of college football. This 
sort of fantastic finish was the same type of dramatic conclusion to 
many of the Buckeyes's wins this season.
  The truth is Ohio State was underestimated the entire season, but 
because the players worked together as a team to overcome huge 
obstacles, they were able to reach their ultimate goal. The unselfish 
attitude of the players and coaches resulted in win after win for their 
team.
  The Ohio State University football team defied history and odds to 
win 14 games in one season, overcoming all barriers along the way to 
persevere in the end.
  I wish to conclude with the words of former Ohio State national 
champion coach, Ohio legend, the late Woodrow Wayne Hayes--Woody Hayes. 
I quote Woody Hayes:

       Anytime you give a man something he doesn't earn, you 
     cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes 
     respect.

  It is with great respect today that I say congratulations and go 
Bucks.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the names of the Ohio 
State football team, coaching staff, and players be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                  2002 Ohio State Football Team Roster

       John Adams, Tucker Allen, Will Allen, Tim Anderson, David 
     Andrews, Kyle Andrews, Redgie Arden, Bryce Bishop, Mike 
     Bogart, Jason Bond, LeAndre Boone, Joe Bradley, Bobby 
     Britton, Jason Caldwell, Bobby Carpenter, Drew Carter, Angelo 
     Chattams, Bam Childress, Maurice Clarett, Adrien Clarke, R.J. 
     Coleman, John Conroy, Chris Conwell, Ryan Cook, Bryce Culver, 
     Mike D'Andrea, Doug Datish, Michael DeMaria, Mike Doss, Ivan 
     Douglas, T.J. Downing, Tyler Everett, Dustin Fox, Simon 
     Fraser, Chris Gamble, Steve Graef, Cie Grant;
       Marcus Green, Andy Groom, Maurice Hall, Roy Hall, Ryan 
     Hamby, Rob Harley, Ben Hartsock, A.J. Hawk, John Hollins, 
     Santonio Holmes, Andrew Hooks, Josh Huston, Harlen Jacobs, 
     Michael Jenkins, Branden Joe, Mike Kne, Craig Kolk, Craig 
     Krenzel, Mike Kudla, Scott Kuhnhein, Maurice Lee, Jamal 
     Luke, Nick Mangold, Thomas Matthews, John McLaughlin, 
     Scott McMullen, Richard McNutt, Jeremy Miller, Brandon 
     Mitchell, Steven Moore, Ben Nash, Donnie Nickey, Mike 
     Nugent, Adam Olds, Shane Olivea, Pat O'Neill, Jim Otis;
       Fred Pagac Jr., Roshawn Parker, Steve Pavelka, Joel Penton, 
     Kenny Peterson, Scott Petroff, Quinn Pitcock, Robert 
     Reynolds, Jay Richardson, JaJa Riley, Mike Roberts, Lydell 
     Ross, Matt Russell, Nate Salley, B.J. Sander, Tim Schafer, 
     Brandon Schnittker, Darrion Scott, Rob Sims, Antonio Smith, 
     Troy Smith, Will Smith, Michael Stafford, Alex Stepanovich, 
     David Thompson, Matt Trombitas, Jack Tucker, Kyle Turano, 
     Andree Tyree, Jeremy Uhlenhake, E.J. Underwood, Chris Vance, 
     Bryan Weaver, Stan White Jr., Kurt Wilhelm, Matt Wilhelm, Sam 
     Williams, Steve Winner, Mike Young, and Justin Zwick.

  Mr. DeWINE. I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Ensign). The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous that following the 
remarks of the distinguished Senator from Illinois I be recognized.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I say to my colleague from the State of 
Ohio, I tuned in to that game in the final minute of the regular game 
and was watching as one of the Miami running backs was injured. It 
appeared the game was going to end with Miami being the winner. I agree 
with the Senator from Ohio, it was one of the most exciting college 
football games I have ever seen. Of course, being from Illinois, since 
our signature university is one of the 11 members of the Big Ten, we 
are particularly proud that another team from the Big Ten is the 
national champion, and the Ohio State Buckeyes certainly did us proud 
that evening. I am sure Senator DeWine is very happy about that outcome 
and proud of what they did as well.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, if my colleague will yield, I appreciate 
my colleague's comment. I just knew my colleague from Illinois, another 
Big Ten school, would be rooting for the Buckeyes that day.
  Mr. DURBIN. I certainly was.
  Mr. DeWINE. I appreciate that.

                          ____________________