[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 67 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1009-E1010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SALUTING ANTHONY DEION BRANCH

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2005

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, Mississippi's community and junior 
college system produces some of the top football players in the Nation. 
They are always targets of recruitment from universities around the 
country seeking to bolster their football programs. From time to time, 
we produce a truly great player who can compete at the highest level 
with the leadership and poise necessary to be the top player in the top 
game. Anthony Deion Branch from Jones County Junior College--in my home 
county--was named Super Bowl XXXIX Most Valuable Player. Today I'd like 
to salute that achievement and speak a little about his road to that 
success.
  Deion's career began in Albany, Georgia where he excelled in track, 
football and enjoyed soccer in high school. After graduating he made 
the long drive to Ellisville, Mississippi where he competed and earned 
a spot on the Jones County Junior College football team. There he 
grabbed 37 passes for 639 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman on 
the Bobcat squad. The following year he took 69 receptions for 1,012 
yards and nine touchdowns, earning second-team AII-American honors and 
leading JCJC to a 12-0 mark and a victory at the Golden Isles Bowl to 
bring home the junior college national championship.
  The University of Louisville recruited Deion who hauled in 143 passes 
for 2,204 yards and 18 touchdowns in his two years there. He became 
only the second player in school history to record multiple 1,000 yard 
seasons and is listed fourth and sixth respectively in the school 
records for career touchdown catches and receptions with the 
Cardinals--and that in just two years.
  The New England Patriots used their Number 65 pick in the 2002 Draft 
to bring in Deion to what many are now describing as a dynasty--three 
Super Bowl Victories in four years, two with Deion on the team.
  Deion's first Super Bowl ring came without the MVP award; his 
colleague and football legend Tom Brady won it that year. But while 
many of us fans thought he should be considered, we didn't have to wait 
long to be satisfied. The following year, despite an injury in his 
second game which kept him on the sidelines for the next seven matches, 
Deion finished the season with 35 receptions for 454 yards and four 
touchdowns.

[[Page E1010]]

  Deion had trained and focused and coming into the end of the season 
from an injury, he was still ready for the premier football event in 
the world. Finishing the night with an NFL record-tying 11 receptions 
for 133 yards in the Super Bowl, he became just the fourth receiver in 
NFL history to receive the MVP award and is already being listed with 
greats like Jerry Rice and Dan Ross.
  Mr. Speaker, Deion's team-first attitude and strong work ethic has 
paid off and we in Mississippi are proud of him and salute his 
continuing achievements. I know we will continue to see him excel in 
the future and all of us from Jones County, Mississippi will remember 
him for his years with us and salute his determination, skill and 
triumphs.

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