[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H538-H540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING THE FLORIDA GATORS FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 39) commending the University of Florida Gators
for their victory in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and for
winning the national college football championship, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 39
Whereas, on January 8, 2007, the University of Florida
Gators won the 2006 Bowl Championship Series national title
with a stunning 41-14 defeat over the Ohio State University
Buckeyes;
Whereas the University of Florida is one of the premier
academic institutions in the State of Florida;
Whereas the University of Florida football program
celebrated its 100th Anniversary this season;
Whereas the University of Florida Gators captured the South
Eastern Conference (SEC) Championship title on December 2,
2006;
Whereas the University of Florida won the NCAA Championship
title in basketball in April 2006;
Whereas the University of Florida is the first Division I
school to hold the national championship title in both
football and men's basketball concurrently;
Whereas Florida football Head Coach Urban Meyer is only the
7th coach to win a national championship in his first two
seasons as a Division I college football coach;
Whereas senior quarterback Chris Leak was the Most Valuable
Player of the BCS national championship game;
Whereas the Florida defense held Ohio State to only 82
yards of offense, the lowest ever for a BCS game;
Whereas the University of Florida student athletes are
among the most talented in the Nation;
Whereas University of Florida fans worldwide supported and
encouraged the Gators throughout the football season;
[[Page H539]]
Whereas J. Bernard Machen, President of the University of
Florida, and Athletic Director Jeremy N. Foley have shown
great leadership in bringing success and glory to the
University of Florida; and
Whereas the University of Florida students, faculty,
alumni, and all Gator fans are deeply committed to bringing
pride to the University of Florida and the entire State of
Florida: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the Florida Gators for their victory in the
2006 Bowl Championship Series and for winning the national
college football championship;
(2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches,
students, and staff whose hard work and dedication helped the
University of Florida Gators win the championship; and
(3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
transmit a copy of this resolution to University of Florida
President J. Bernard Machen, football Head Coach Urban Meyer,
and Athletic Director Jeremy N. Foley for appropriate
display.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Let me begin by thanking my colleague, Congresswoman Wasserman
Schultz, for introducing this resolution, and also to congratulate her
and her fellow alumni for the Gators' win last week in the 2006 Bowl
Championship Series.
A week ago Monday marked the University of Florida's second national
football championship when they defeated Ohio State University
Buckeyes. College football fans, student athletes and the general
public were treated to an exciting national championship game, an end
to the college football season.
I want to extend my congratulations to head coach Urban Meyer,
athletic director Jeremy N. Foley, University of Florida president J.
Bernard Machen, and Florida's student athletes for attaining the
unprecedented achievement of holding concurrent Division I national
championships in football and men's basketball.
I also want to extend my congratulations to the Ohio State University
Buckeyes and their student athletes for a great season. Ohio State won
all of their games during the regular season and produced the 2006
Heisman trophy winner, Troy Smith. Winning concurrent championships has
brought national acclaim to the University of Florida, and I know the
fans of the university will remember this very special moment for many
years to come.
It takes a great deal to assemble a world-class football team. It
takes dedication of the young men who are playing on the team. It takes
support from the alumni. It takes patient and accomplished coaching. It
takes support from the community. A winning football team can bring an
entire community together. It brings pride to the individuals on the
team, but it brings joint pride to the community in general.
And so although many people say why is so much emphasis put on
sports, I think that it is one of the tools that brings us together
that has the esprit de corps that makes America great. As a former,
simply, high school coach, I know the hard work and the time and effort
and the sacrifice, really, that it takes for the players, that it takes
for the coaches being away from their families, their children, away on
weekends. It is a real sacrifice. And so I once again commend the
university and once again say, to have the number one football and
number one basketball team in the country in the same year is a great
achievement.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as
I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 39,
recognizing the achievements of the University of Florida Gators. Last
week, the University of Florida won the Division I-A college football
national championship with a decisive 41-14 victory over the Ohio State
Buckeyes.
As a Floridian, I am very honored to be recognizing the Gators'
accomplishments, and I would be remiss if I did not offer my
condolences to our distinguished minority leader, Mr. Boehner, and to
my former colleague on the Education Committee, the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Tiberi).
The University of Florida's victory in the BCS championship game
capped a remarkable 13-1 season and win of the Southeastern Conference
Championship. This national championship is the Gators' second, with
their first occurring a decade ago in 1996. The University of Florida
also won the 2006 NCAA Division I men's college basketball national
championship. Florida is the first university to hold both of these
titles at the same time.
I hold up the cover of Sports Illustrated this week showing our MVP,
Chris Leak, quarterback of the Florida Gators with the title ``Gator
Raid.'' It points out that there was history in Gainesville with the
first simultaneously men's basketball and football titles in 1 year.
There is a lot of pride all of us have from the State of Florida,
understandably.
In addition to these athletic achievements, the University of Florida
is consistently recognized as one of the country's best public
universities. I would like to extend recognition to Dr. Bernard Machen,
president of the University of Florida; Mr. Jeremy Foley, the athletic
director; head football coach Urban Meyer; and the many other members
of the university community that contribute to the institution's
academic and athletic excellence.
I also extend my congratulations to the University of Florida, in
particular its football team, for this latest national championship,
and also to the University of Florida fans worldwide who have supported
the Gators, the good times and bad.
I thank my colleague from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for
bringing this resolution forward. I also want to thank the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Stearns), who represents the University of Florida.
I urge all of my colleagues to join us in recognizing this
achievement and supporting House Resolution 39.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. I appreciate the gentleman's support for this resolution.
Madam Speaker, as we indicated, the unique victory in that very
important game tied in with the fact that their men's basketball team
exceeded themselves in the Final Four and won the championship game of
the NCAA college men's basketball, combined with this outstanding
effort for the football team shows that the University of Florida, in
addition to having great academic programs, preparing young Americans
for the future, dealing with the current challenges to keep America
strong, to keep America on the cutting edge, to keep America ahead for
technology and for other technological advances, we really are very
pleased that this university stands head and shoulders.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1545
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns), who represents the
University of Florida.
(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. STEARNS. I thank my distinguished colleague from Florida. My
colleagues, I also rise to praise the University of Florida, the
Gators, for not only winning their second football national title but
on their many off-the-field accomplishments as well.
With their 41-14 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, as mentioned
earlier, the Gators became the first Division I school to hold a
national championship in men's basketball and football at the same
time.
Coming into this game, many of the experts did not give the Gators
any chance of defeating the previously undefeated Buckeyes. However,
once they took the field, the Gators were not intimidated. In fact, the
Gators held their own and held Ohio State to only 82 yards of total
offense, the fewest number of yards in BCS history.
Notwithstanding this event, as my colleague on the other side
mentioned, Ohio State had a very great season; and I congratulate and
commend this wonderful football team and its coach
[[Page H540]]
and all its players for a very successful season.
My colleagues, the Florida Gators are excellent representatives of
both the university and I believe the great State of Florida in their
tenacity, spirit, and their willingness to try to succeed. I take great
pride in representing the University of Florida and congratulate Coach
Urban Meyer and the entire university on this great accomplishment.
The university's accomplishments extend beyond the field or on the
courts in the sports arena. UF boasts a 91 percent graduation rate
among its athletes, including all of its sports, making it only one of
four programs in the National All-Sports Top 10 to achieve a graduation
success rates that is above 90 percent. Furthermore, in 2002-2003, UF
placed a record 193 student athletes on the SEC academic honor roll,
marking six consecutive years UF placed 100 or more UF student athletes
on the SEC Honor Roll.
The University of Florida's accomplishments go well beyond athletics.
It is ranked fifth among Kiplinger's Top 10 Public Colleges. UF's
faculty are among the best and most decorated in the world, winning
awards such as the Fields Medal, two Pulitzer Prizes, NASA's top award
for research, and the Smithsonian Institution's conservation award.
University of Florida is also the first university in the world to be
designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for its
agriculture faculty's commitment to environmental and wildlife
management.
Enrolling almost 50,000 students annually, UF is home to 16 colleges
and more than 150 research centers and institutes. During the 2005-2006
school year, UF was awarded $519 million in sponsored research. This
research includes diverse areas such as health care and citrus
production, including the world's largest citrus research center.
My colleagues, one example of this innovative research is
veterinarian Julie Levy, who is one of the worldwide leaders of
research into a revolutionary, humane drug option for spraying and
neutering cats and dogs. As it is now, the only way to permanently
sterilized these animals is surgically. What if this process were as
simple as a vaccine? Dr. Levy, at the University of Florida, is working
on this research project today.
On both the field and in the classroom, the students, faculty, and
administration of the University of Florida are champions. I am honored
that this world-class university is in my congressional district and I
look forward to many great things in the future.
As they say at the university, Go Gators!
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House
Resolution 39, to congratulate the University of Florida football team
on winning the 2006 national championship.
As a University of Florida graduate born in Gator country, that is
Gainesville, Florida, I could not be happier with the outcome of the
championship game.
Very few people believed the Gators deserved to beat Ohio State or to
get in the championship game, let alone beating Ohio State, a great
team. But the SEC did beat the Big 10. They certainly proved the
critics wrong.
I also would like to congratulate the University of Florida for
becoming the first institution in Division I history to hold both the
NCAA men's basketball championship and the football championship
simultaneously. And, who knows, there may be another basketball
championship in the waning. Right now we are number one.
This achievement, of course, is very historic. Madam Speaker, I hope
my colleagues will join me in congratulating a great coach, Urban
Meyer, and the fine young men from the University of Florida. And
congratulations to Gators everywhere. It is great to be a Florida
Gator. Go Gators!
Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume, and I will close by saying that after the winning the
national championship in football and basketball, the baseball team has
to be feeling some pressure right now down in Gainesville.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I urge my
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 39.
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I would thank all of the speakers who
participated. I think it is really a great achievement, and I want to
commend the sponsor of this resolution, Representative Wasserman
Schultz, for her outstanding leadership and how much she has done to
support that great athletic institution. I would wish the Gators
success in the future as they have done in the past.
General Leave
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5
legislative days to insert materials relevant to H. Res. 39, and the
previous bill, H. Con. Res. 31.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 39, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those voting have responded in the affirmative.
Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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