[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 39 (Thursday, April 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E567-E568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN CELEBRATION OF NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT C. SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2005

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, along with my colleague, 
Representative Eric Cantor, I rise with great pride to call attention 
to a group of young students who have distinguished themselves, their 
school, their community, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  The Virginia Union University Panthers men's basketball team had a 
remarkable season and we believe the Panthers deserve formal 
recognition for their accomplishments. On March 26, 2005, the Virginia 
Union University Panthers won the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball 
National Championship. The Panthers completed their 2005 season with an 
impressive 30-4 record.
  To quote from Virginia Union's hometown newspaper, the Richmond 
Times-Dispatch, ``Those [Virginia Union's] starters, none over

[[Page E568]]

6-6 or heavier than 223 pounds, carried the Panthers all year past 
bigger, stronger opponents. . . . It is perhaps the most belabored 
sports cliche, but when the Panthers looked at each other, they saw a 
whole greater than the sum of its parts.''
  En route to their championship victory in Grand Forks, North Dakota, 
the Panthers won their second straight CIAA Championship on Saturday, 
March 5, 2005. Their remarkable season carries on the tradition of 
championship basketball at Virginia Union, which now has 15 CIAA 
Championships and three National Championships.
  Founded in 1865, Virginia Union University is an Historically Black 
University dedicated to providing educational equity to African-
Americans. Virginia Union welcomes diversity among its faculty and 
staff as well as its student body. In its founding days, Virginia 
Union's academic missions and social visions were ahead of their time. 
Now, more than a century later, Virginia Union University is still an 
innovating and inspiring place for college students and scholar 
athletes.
  My colleague Eric Cantor and I would like to extend our enthusiastic 
congratulations to the Virginia Union University players and their 
families, Coach Robbins and the rest of his coaching staff, Virginia 
Union alumni, and the entire Virginia Union community for their 
remarkable accomplishment.

                          ____________________