[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING MISSISSIPPI STATE'S BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2004

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, it has been four decades since 
Mississippi State University stood atop the Southeastern Conference as 
the undisputed solitary men's basketball champion. The Bulldogs, under 
the leadership of Coach Rick Stansbury--the Associated Press SEC Coach 
of the Year--did so this year with a 25-2 regular season record and a 
14-2 record in the SEC that propelled them into the top five ranking in 
the national AP poll.
  It was the 1962-1963 season when MSU won a previous solitary SEC 
championship. Six head coaches and 41 years later, the Bulldogs did it 
again in a nail-biting come-from-behind victory over the Alabama 
Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs were down in the second half by 18 points 
against the University of Alabama, one of two teams to defeat MSU 
during the regular season. During the last second, under intense 
defensive pressure, senior All-SEC guard Timmy Bowers made a 14-foot 
jump shot to tie the game, sending it into overtime. Then again, in the 
final second of overtime, Bowers made another jumper to earn a Bulldog 
victory of 82-81.
  MSU has had champion basketball teams in the past, some shared, all 
notable.
     Season, Record, SEC, Notable:
       1958-59, 24-1, 13-1, opened SEC play with only loss to 
     Auburn.
       1960-61, 19-8, 11-3, lost three games only by a combined 12 
     points.
       1961-62, 24-1, 13-1, shared title with Kentucky, only loss 
     to Vanderbilt.
       1962-63, 22-5, 12-2, lost to Loyola (Chicago) in NCAA 
     Mideast regional.
       1990-91, 20-9, 13-5, shared title with LSU; lost to Eastern 
     Michigan in NCAA East regional.
       2003-04, 25-2, 14-2, became fourth SEC team to win all 
     eight road league games; lost to Xavier in NCAA second round.

  The future looks bold for the Maroon and White. Seniors Timmy Bowers 
and versatile Branden Vincent will be missed, and though the NBA is 
courting junior center Lawrence Roberts (the reigning SEC Player of the 
Year), MSU will field a solid team in 2005. Juniors Shane Power and 
Winsome Frazier, senior Marcus Campbell, and sophomore Gary Ervin all 
look to be explosive scorers next year on the court and across the 
conference. Added to these quality players are sophomore center Wesley 
Morgan and freshman guard Dietric Slater plus Ontario Harper, a medical 
red shirt, as well as three top signees: Charles Rhodes from Lanier 
High School in Jackson, Mississippi; Jerrell Houston from Memphis, 
Tennessee; and Jamall Edmondson from Meridian Community College.
  This year, Mississippi State earned the second seed position in the 
NCAA Basketball Tournament Atlanta Regional. While they were eliminated 
by Xavier during the second round of play, the Bulldogs have played a 
terrific season. An SEC title, a final record of 26-4 and 14-2 in the 
SEC, undefeated during regular season on the road; these have stirred a 
fire among MSU fans that will continue to burn into next year.
  The pride of the Bulldogs extends not just from Starkville, home of 
Mississippi State University, but across the state. I hope Congress 
will join me in congratulating this team and Coach Stansbury--wishing 
them all the best fortune in the future both personally, and as 
representatives of MSU.

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