[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMMENDING THE HUSKIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 333, submitted 
earlier today by Senators Dodd and Lieberman.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 333) commending the Huskies of the 
     University of Connecticut for winning the 2004 Division I 
     Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Championships.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to proceeding to the 
resolution?
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, you would 
think----
  Mr. FRIST. I appreciate the reservation being made over there because 
it was going to come quickly over here.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the situation we have here is just like Las 
Vegas. This resolution is 333, just by chance. This is the third year 
in a row the women have won the national championship. Those two teams 
have been so lucky, maybe they should spend a little time in Las Vegas.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, my smile is because it was just yesterday 
about this time that the distinguished Presiding Officer and myself--
actually, it was a little earlier than this--were in the Chamber hoping 
this resolution would not ever make it to the floor, given the fact 
that our Lady Vols were about to play. This was about 24 hours ago.
  As the distinguished Senator from Connecticut said earlier today, it 
was a fantastic game, and to be able to watch last night two 
outstanding women's basketball teams compete in the very best spirit--
which is what sports is all about, which is what competition is all 
about, which is what hard work is all about--was a great thrill to us 
all.
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to, en bloc; that the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table; that any statements relating to the resolution be 
printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coleman). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 333) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 333

       Whereas the University of Connecticut has become the first 
     school in the history of NCAA Division I basketball to win 
     both the men's and women's national titles in the same year;
       Whereas the University of Connecticut men's basketball team 
     capped a remarkable season by defeating an outstanding 
     Georgia Tech team 82 to 73, to win its second national 
     championship in 6 seasons;
       Whereas the Husky men finished with a record of 33 wins and 
     only 6 losses and is the first team since 1996 to be ranked 
     first in the preseason and to win the national title in the 
     same season;
       Whereas the Husky men established themselves as the 
     dominant team in the Big East Conference by winning the Big 
     East Tournament championship;
       Whereas UConn's Emeka Okafor distinguished himself in the 
     championship game and throughout the season as 1 of the 
     premier players in all of college basketball, winning awards 
     as the Big East scholar-athlete of the year, defensive player 
     of the year, and player of the year, and closing out a 
     spectacular performance in the NCAA tournament by being named 
     the most outstanding player of the Final Four;
       Whereas the national title was made possible by the 
     contribution of the entire team including: Rashad Anderson, 
     Hilton Armstrong, Jason Baisch, Josh Boone, Denham Brown, 
     Taliek Brown, Justin Evanovich, Ben Gordon, Ed Nelson, Emeka 
     Okafor, Ryan Swaller, Ryan Thompson, Shamon Tooles, Charlie 
     Villaneueva, Marcus White, and Marcus Williams;
       Whereas UConn men's coach Jim Calhoun instilled in his 
     players an unceasing ethic of dedication and teamwork in the 
     pursuit of excellence and is now 1 of only 3 active Division 
     I men's basketball coaches with multiple NCAA titles, with 
     the help of his assistant coaches Tom Moore, George Blaney, 
     and Clyde Vaughan;
       Whereas the University of Connecticut women's basketball 
     team won its fifth overall and third straight national 
     championship by defeating a superb team from the University 
     of Tennessee, by the score of 70 to 61;
       Whereas the Lady Huskies became only the second women's 
     basketball team ever to win 3 consecutive national women's 
     basketball titles;
       Whereas Diana Taurasi distinguished herself as the number 1 
     player in women's college basketball, being chosen as the 
     national women's player of the year, becoming only the fifth 
     player to win 2 such awards, scoring the second most points 
     of any player in women's NCAA Tournament history, scoring 17 
     points in the final game to lead UConn to victory, and being 
     named outstanding player of the Final Four for the second 
     year in a row;
       Whereas the national championship was made possible by the 
     contribution of the entire team including: Ashley Valley, 
     Diana Taurasi, Kiana Robinson, Maria Conlon, Stacey Marron, 
     Morgan Valley, Nicole Wolff, Ashley Battle, Wilnett Crockett, 
     Jessica Moore, Barbara Turner, Liz Sherwood, and Ann 
     Strother;
       Whereas Lady Huskies Coach Geno Auriemma is in his 18th 
     season coaching the Huskies and has led them to 18 winning 
     seasons and 5 national titles with the help of his assistant 
     coaches Chris Dailey, Tonya Cardoza, and Jamelle Elliott; and
       Whereas the University of Connecticut's unparalleled 
     success continues to bring enormous pride to the people of 
     Connecticut and sports fans across the country: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate commends the University of 
     Connecticut for--
       (1) winning the 2004 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball 
     Championship;
       (2) winning the 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball 
     Championship; and
       (3) becoming the first school in the history of NCAA 
     Division I basketball to win both the men's and women's 
     national titles in the same year.

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