[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATING COACH JOHN GAGLIARDI

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 270, submitted by Senators 
Coleman and Dayton earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 270) congratulating John Gagliardi, 
     football coach of St. Johns University, on the occasion of 
     his becoming the all-time winningest coach in collegiate 
     football history.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of S. Res. 270, 
congratulating John Gagliardi on becoming the winningest college 
football coach in history. He is a truly remarkable coach and an even 
better man.
  While thousands of his players have known this for years, the rest of 
the country has come to learn over the last several weeks that it not 
just John's 410 wins which make him special. In an era when collegiate 
student athletes are pressured to avoid academics, John Gagliardi 
consistently coaches teams with graduation rates at or close to 100 
percent. He values sportsmanship, hard work and humility. And he treats 
his players and opponents with respect.
  I am proud that several South Dakotans have contributed to John's 
success over the years. This year's conference championship team 
includes three fine student athletes from South Dakota: Aaron Babb, of 
Sioux Falls; Jason Hardie, of Beresford; and Dana Kinsella, also of 
Sioux Falls.
  There have been other fine South Dakotans before them. While there 
are dozens, I will name just a couple. Sean Dailey, an all-conference 
defensive end, is now an accomplished chemist. And Jay Conzemius, an 
All-American running back was until recently the Chancellor of the 
Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls.
  It is right and fitting for the Senate to honor John Gagliardi for 
his historic accomplishments. It is unlikely that anyone will ever win 
as many games as he has, and maybe even more unlikely that any coach 
will so positively impact the lives of so many young men. I yield the 
floor.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 270) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 270

       Whereas John Gagliardi began his coaching career in 1943 at 
     the age of 16 when his high school football coach was drafted 
     and John Gagliardi was asked to take over the position;
       Whereas John Gagliardi won 4 conference titles during the 6 
     years he coached high school football;
       Whereas John Gagliardi graduated from Colorado College in 
     1949 and began coaching football, basketball, and baseball at 
     Carroll College in Helena, Montana, winning titles in all 3 
     sports;
       Whereas John Gagliardi took over the football program at 
     St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1953 and 
     the football team won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic 
     Conference title in his first year as coach;
       Whereas by the end of the 2002 season, John Gagliardi had 
     won 3 national championships, coached 22 conference title 
     teams, appeared in 45 post-season games and compiled a 376-
     108-10 record during his 50 years at St. John's University;
       Whereas under the leadership of John Gagliardi, St. John's 
     University has been nationally ranked 37 times in the past 39 
     years, and the university set a record with a 61.5 points per 
     game average in 1993;
       Whereas over 150 students participate in the St. John's 
     University football program each year and every player 
     dresses for home games;
       Whereas John Gagliardi's coaching methods follow the 
     ``Winning with No's'' theory: no blocking sleds or dummies, 
     no whistles, no tackling in practices, no athletic 
     scholarships, and no long practices;
       Whereas John Gagliardi has coached over 5,000 players 
     during his 50 years at St. John's University, and no player 
     has failed to graduate and most have graduated in 4 years;
       Whereas, in 1993, the John Gagliardi trophy was unveiled, 
     and it is given each year to the most outstanding Division 
     III football player;
       Whereas on November 1, 2003, John Gagliardi tied Grambling 
     University coach Eddie Robinson's record of 408 wins with a 
     15 to 12 victory over the University of St. Thomas;
       Whereas on November 8, 2003, John Gagliardi broke Eddie 
     Robinson's record with a 29 to 26 victory over Bethel 
     College;
       Whereas John Gagliardi is admired by his players, as well 
     as by the students, faculty, and fans of St. John's 
     University for his ability to motivate and inspire;
       Whereas students who take his course, Theory of Football, 
     credit John Gagliardi for teaching them more about life than 
     about football;
       Whereas those closest to John Gagliardi will tell you that 
     football is only part of his life--he values the time he 
     spends with Peg, his wife of 47 years, and their 4 children; 
     and
       Whereas the on- and off-the-field accomplishments of John 
     Gagliardi have placed him in an elite club that includes the 
     best coaches in history: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates John Gagliardi, football coach of St. 
     John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, on becoming the 
     all-time winningest coach in collegiate football history; and
       (2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to John Gagliardi and St. 
     John's University.

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