[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 1 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S31]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING 2007 BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY BRONCOS

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, if a football victory on New Year's 
Day is a harbinger of things to come, 2007 looks to be a thrilling year 
marked by success and celebration. Most of my colleagues here know that 
Boise State University won the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day. 
This bowl victory completes an undefeated football season, 13 to 0, 
thanks to the hard work, dedication, and love of the game by the Boise 
State football players, fans, coach Chris Petersen, his staff, the 
athletic department, and the university administration. They all worked 
very hard to reach this remarkable achievement, and they have not only 
my congratulations, but the congratulations, of Idahoans and Americans 
everywhere.
  Idaho is home to just over a million people and has some surprising 
secrets, not the least of which has been the five-time defending 
Western Athletic Conference Champion Boise State Broncos football team. 
It is a source of tremendous pride to see the team make national 
headlines, once again, for Idaho in this incredibly positive manner. 
The victory that barely eluded them in last year's MPC Computers Bowl 
came riding home and riding home hard. The Fiesta Bowl game against 
traditional football powerhouse the University of Oklahoma was college 
football at its best, and the BSU players and coaches came through with 
some stunning plays. While Boise dominated the first three-quarters of 
the game, the Sooners came roaring back. The last 2 minutes of the game 
were as good as college football gets. When the game went into 
overtime, the Sooners didn't waste a play they immediately scored a 
touchdown to temporarily take the lead. With the game on the line, the 
Boise State players came through and scored a touchdown along with a 
thrilling two-point conversion to bring the final score to 43 to 42, 
Boise State. Earlier in 2006, Boise was named the eighth most inventive 
city in the Nation. That creativity and innovation was certainly the 
Spirit of Idaho at its best on the field of play at crunch time and 
made this dreamed Bronco victory a reality.
  The BSU Broncos are committed to excellence both on and off the 
field. The players take the energy they generate on the field and 
spread it throughout the community and State. The extraordinary 
progress and development of the BSU football program and the entire 
university stand as a testament to what can be accomplished with 
leadership, commitment, determination, and, most importantly, teamwork.

  As the Nation marvels at the ``hook and lateral'' and ``Statue of 
Liberty'' plays that sealed the victory, I congratulate Coach Petersen, 
President Bob Kustra, Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier, the entire 
team, loyal students, alumni, and fans on their collective victory 
which all Idahoans enthusiastically share. I offer a friendly 
condolence to my colleagues from Oklahoma, and I am confident that 
their fine program will continue its tradition of excellence. And I 
offer this statement as a friendly notice to my colleagues from States 
that are home to traditional college football powerhouses: that thunder 
you hear is from our charging Broncos. I look forward to another great 
season this fall when the Broncos will run again.

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