[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 12 (Wednesday, February 4, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H362-H363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY LAKERS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR 
   WINNING 2003 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION II 
                     FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of 
February 3, 2004, and as the designee of the majority leader, I call up 
the resolution (H. Res. 498) congratulating the Grand Valley State 
University Lakers football team for winning the 2003 National 
Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Football National 
Championship, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of House Resolution 498 is as follows:

                              H. Res. 498

       Whereas on December 13, 2003, the Grand Valley State 
     University Lakers football team won the 2003 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Football 
     National Championship by defeating the University of North 
     Dakota Fighting Sioux by a score of 10 to 3;
       Whereas the 2003 Championship was the Lakers' second 
     consecutive national title and third straight championship 
     game appearance;
       Whereas the Lakers are only the sixth team in NCAA Division 
     II football history to win consecutive national titles;
       Whereas the Lakers finished the season with a record of 14 
     wins and 1 loss;
       Whereas the Lakers have compiled a total of 41 wins and 2 
     losses over the last three years;
       Whereas 14 members of the Lakers football team earned All-
     Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors, 8 of 
     whom were selected to the first team;
       Whereas Lakers football team members Scott Mackey, Keyonta 
     Marshall, David Hendrix, Michael Tennessee, and Lucius 
     Hawkins were honored as All-Americans for the 2003 season by 
     the Internet website D2Football.com;
       Whereas the Lakers set a Great Lakes Intercollegiate 
     Athletic Conference single-season record for attendance, 
     drawing 52,225 total fans in the 2003 season;
       Whereas the Lakers won their 240th game in school history 
     with their victory in the 2003 championship game; and
       Whereas the Lakers' display of strength, ability, and 
     perseverance this season has made the State of Michigan 
     proud: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the Grand Valley State University Lakers 
     football team for winning the 2003 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Division II Football National 
     Championship;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     and staff of the Lakers football team and invites them to the 
     United States Capitol to be honored in an appropriate manner;
       (3) requests that the President recognize the 
     accomplishments of the Lakers football team and invite the 
     team to the White House for a ceremony in honor of their 
     National Championship; and
       (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to Grand Valley State 
     University for appropriate display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
Tuesday, February 3, 2004, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) 
is recognized for 1 hour.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Res. 498.
  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 who, on December 3, 2003, defended 
their NCAA Division II national football championship by defeating the 
University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux 10 to 3.
  The 2003 national champions fought through the playoffs with a tight 
defense that limited its final three playoff opponents to a field goal 
each. The title match-up was a close, dramatic contest that pitted the 
14 and 1 GVSU Lakers against the 12 and 2 Fighting Sioux. Ultimately, 
the Lakers emerged victorious after intercepting North Dakota in the 
shadow of their own end zone with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth 
quarter, spoiling a last-minute, come-from-behind attempt.
  Grand Valley State picked up its 240th win in school history with a 
victory over the Fighting Sioux. Before a national audience, Grand 
Valley State University avenged its heartbreaking 17-14 loss to the 
same Fighting Sioux in the 2001 title match-up.
  Finally, I would like to congratulate the students, alumni, faculty, 
and nearly 5,000 fans of Grand Valley State who trekked to Braly 
Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, to cheer on their Lakers during 
a cold and rain-soaked afternoon.
  Mr. Speaker, I will include for the Record the full roster of this 
national championship team and their coaching staff.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 498, to honor the 
players, coaches, and staff of the Grand Valley State University 
football team, which won its second consecutive NCAA Division II 
national championship on December 13, 2003.
  Rising to the top of one's field of endeavor, whatever that endeavor 
is, is an accomplishment worthy of praise in and of itself. However, 
repeating that accomplishment is an even more difficult achievement. 
When you attempt to maintain that top spot, everyone else has you in 
their sights. You are the focus of their efforts to wrest the trophy 
from your grasp. That is what makes the achievements of the 2003 Lakers 
football squad all the more impressive.
  Coach Brian Kelly and his staff led their squad of young men through 
a difficult nonconference and conference schedule, then marched through 
the playoffs to face the University of North Dakota in the NCAA 
Division II championship game, a game they lost to the University of 
North Dakota just 2 years previously.
  This time, the Lakers, led by All-American selections Scott Mackey, 
Keyonta Marshall, David Hendrix, Michael Tennessee and Lucius Hawkins,

[[Page H363]]

defeated the Fighting Sioux 10 to 3, to complete what arguably could be 
called the most successful 3-year run for a college football team in 
the State of Michigan. GVSU has rolled up a 41-2 record in three 
seasons, reaching the national championship game each year and winning 
the championship twice.
  Congratulations to the players, the coaches and staff, the students 
and the faculty of Grand Valley State University. This jewel of a 
school, with campuses in Allendale in the district of the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra), and Grand Rapids in my district, is a 
wonderful institution, not only for its athletic achievements, but also 
for its academic pursuits. Its contributions to the West Michigan 
community are too many and too far-reaching to enumerate here today, 
but we commend University President Mark Murray and the Grand Valley 
State University Board of Trustees for providing stellar leadership for 
this wonderful public institution.
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, February 3, 2004, the 
resolution is considered read for amendment and the previous question 
is ordered.
  The question is on the resolution.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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