[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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