[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 18 (Friday, January 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FOR WINNING SUPER BOWL XXXVII

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                               speech of

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2003

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the efforts of 
a great team and a strong organization. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 
Super Bowl champions and I could not be more pleased for Buc fans 
across this nation. In an amazing game that pitted the NFL's number one 
offense versus the league's number one defense, the Buccaneers proved 
the age-old football mantra that ``offense wins games, but defense wins 
championships.'' New coach Jon Gruden fielded arguably one of the 
greatest defenses of all time. Led by captains Derrick Brooks and John 
Lynch, the Bucs defense stifled the Oakland Raiders and MVP quarterback 
Rich Gannon. In what has truly been a lesson in resiliency, Bucs fans 
have had to suffer through an 0-26 start and 14 consecutive losing 
seasons; but today they are world champions. Owner Malcolm Glazer and 
coach Jon Gruden have put together a world-class organization and I 
expect continued success from them in the future.

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