[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H540-H542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY BRONCOS FOR WINNING THE 2007 
            FIESTA BOWL AND COMPLETING AN UNDEFEATED SEASON

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 43) commending the Boise State University 
Broncos football team for winning the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and completing 
an undefeated season.
  The Clerk read as follows

                               H. Res. 43

       Whereas the Boise State University Broncos football team 
     won the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, defeating the University 
     of Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 43-42 at the University of 
     Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 1, 2007;
       Whereas the Broncos have won the last 5 consecutive Western 
     Athletic Conference football championships;
       Whereas the Broncos are the Nation's top scoring Division 
     1-A collegiate football team for the last 7 seasons, with an 
     average of over 42 points per game;
       Whereas the Broncos are the Nation's 4th winningest 
     Division 1-A collegiate football team for the last 7 seasons, 
     with a record of 75-13 and winning percentage of over .850.
       Whereas the 2007 Fiesta Bowl is widely considered one of 
     the best games in the history of college football;
       Whereas the Broncos are the only Division 1-A collegiate 
     football team to complete the 2006-2007 season undefeated;
       Whereas Broncos head coach Chris Peterson called some of 
     the most creative and courageous offensive plays in bowl-game 
     history, including the game-saving ``hook-and-lateral'', 
     game-extending ``tailback pass'', and game-winning ``Statue 
     of Liberty'';
       Whereas the Broncos are 5-2 in Division 1-A collegiate 
     post-season games;
       Whereas Broncos quarterback Jared Zabransky was named the 
     Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Fiesta Bowl;
       Whereas Jared Zabransky threw for 3 touchdowns and 262 
     yards in the Fiesta Bowl and completed his college career 
     with a record of 33-5 as a starting quarterback;
       Whereas Broncos defensive back Marty Tadman was named the 
     Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Fiesta Bowl;
       Whereas Marty Tadman intercepted 2 Sooner passes, including 
     one returned for a touchdown, and had 5 tackles in the Fiesta 
     Bowl;
       Whereas Broncos running back Ian Johnson, one of the 
     Nation's most exciting running backs, gained 101 rushing 
     yards, scored 1 touchdown, and scored the game-winning 2-
     point conversion in overtime of the Fiesta Bowl;
       Whereas the entire Broncos team should be commended for its 
     determination, work ethic, attitude, and heart;
       Whereas the Broncos are deserving of an opportunity to play 
     for the National Championship;
       Whereas the Broncos are building an impressive legacy of 
     excellence in its football program; and
       Whereas the Broncos have brought great honor to themselves, 
     their university, the

[[Page H541]]

     city of Boise, and the State of Idaho: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the Boise State University Broncos football 
     team for winning the 2007 Fiesta Bowl; and
       (2) congratulates the team for completing an undefeated, 
     13-0 season.

  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.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for 5 legislative 
days during which Members may insert into the Record any material 
relevant to H. Res. 43.
  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 myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise to commend the Boise State 
University Broncos' victory over the mighty Oklahoma Sooners in the 
2007 Fiesta Bowl.
  For all of you who watched the game, you know it was an exciting game 
from start to finish, and anyone who was not a fan of the Sooners had 
no choice but to cheer for the underdog Boise State as the game 
progressed into the second half and overtime.
  Every player for the Broncos should be commended for their effort 
throughout the game, and head coach, Chris Peterson, should be 
commended for making risky calls and preparing his team, a decided 
underdog, for success and for victory.
  Since the Bowl Championship Series began in the 1998-1999 college 
football season, only two teams from non-BCS conferences have been 
invited to BCS games. Following the 2004 season, the Utah Utes from the 
Mountain West Conference defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers in the 2005 
Fiesta Bowl, and now the Boise State Broncos from the Western Athletic 
Conference have become the second non-BCS team to win a BCS game, 
winning one of the most exciting games ever played.
  Boise State's success should not be a shock to anyone who has 
followed this team over the past 5 years. Their victory in the Fiesta 
Bowl completes an undefeated season and their second 13-win season in 
the past 4 years.
  Over the past 5 years, they have an astounding 58 wins and only seven 
losses. There are very few teams during that span of time to have 
experienced a modicum of success that this State University in Idaho 
has experienced.
  I also want to congratulate the Oklahoma Sooners for battling their 
way back in this very exciting ball game. They fell behind by 18 early 
in the second half, but showed tremendous poise and character by coming 
back in the game and even taking the lead very late in the game.
  However, after it was all said and done, the Broncos, led by 
quarterback Jared Zabransky, executed a tremendous hook and ladder for 
a touchdown to send the game in overtime. In overtime, Boise State, 
down one, went for a two-point conversion, and called the patriotic 
Statue of Liberty play, run by Ivan Johnson, to complete the 43-42 
victory.
  I congratulate Boise State University's president, Dr. Bob Kustra, 
Coach Chris Peterson, and the Boise State University's football team 
for a wonderful season and for being the only undefeated major division 
college football team in the Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 43. This 
resolution recognizes the stellar undefeated season of the Boise State 
Broncos, as well as their dazzling 43-42 win over the University of 
Oklahoma Sooners at the 2007 Bowl Championship Series' Fiesta Bowl.
  Boise State was wisely considered the underdog going into the game 
and walked away with an impressive victory. Many considered it to be 
the best college football game ever played. I urge my colleagues to 
support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Simpson), and I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to 
control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from Idaho 
is recognized.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to congratulate 
the Boise State University Broncos football team on an exceptional 
football season and a great victory in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
  I listened with interest to the last resolution congratulating 
Florida and the Florida Gators and their national championship game. 
They truly deserved it. The Florida Gators went into the game against 
Ohio State as significant underdogs in the minds of most of the media, 
and so did the Boise State Broncos against the Oklahoma Sooners enter 
that game as significant underdogs. Nobody really gave them a chance.

                              {time}  1600

  But when the Broncos defeated the University of Oklahoma in the 2007 
Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day, they completed the only, and I will 
repeat, the only undefeated season of any Division I-A collegiate 
football team in the 2006-2007 season. More than that, they showed the 
country what thousands of Boise State fans, known as the Bronco Nation, 
already know; the Boise State Broncos can play with the best.
  Some have suggested that maybe Boise State doesn't have as tough a 
schedule as some other teams. I will tell you that on their schedule 
this year I think they played six teams that were in bowl games in post 
season. They had a pretty tough schedule, and they beat them all.
  The 2007 Fiesta Bowl will go down in the books as one of the best and 
most exciting games in the history of college football. Both teams 
played with talents and heart, unwilling to let mistakes or shifts in 
momentum force their hands. And when, with only moments left in 
regulation, it looked like it was all over, the Broncos knew otherwise 
and turned to the back of their playbook.
  Plays like the ``hook-and-lateral'' and the now famous ``Statue of 
Liberty'' required creativity, skill and guts. The talented Broncos 
executed them perfectly, winning the game in the heart-stopping last 
seconds of overtime. Head Coach Chris Peterson and his players should 
be commended for their courage, resolve and ability.
  Last week Coach Peterson was awarded the Paul ``Bear'' Bryant Award 
and was named 2006 National Coach of the Year. He and his talented 
coaching staff will continue striving to make a winning program even 
better.
  The BSU Bronco football program has taken gifted, big-hearted young 
men and created an impressive legacy in the making. The Broncos have 
won the last five consecutive Western Athletic Conference football 
championships and, with the Nation's top scoring Division I-A football 
team for the last seven seasons.
  Their roster includes such talents as quarterback Jared Zabransky, 
the game's Offensive Most Valuable Player, who completed his college 
football career with a 33-5 record as starting quarterback; Marty 
Tadman, Defensive MVP of the game; and Ian Johnson, one of the Nation's 
most exciting running backs, who scored the game-winning two-point 
conversion in overtime, and after the game proposed to his fiancee, now 
a Boise State cheerleader. I don't know if I would have had that much 
courage, quite frankly, to propose to someone on national television. 
But it just shows the heart and courage of this team.
  These stars are just a few examples of the determination, talent and 
heart that make up the whole Bronco football team. The entire team 
should be commended for both its success on the field and the character 
displayed by each individual.
  The Boise State Broncos football team has made us proud; has made the 
State of Idaho, the City of Boise proud, and I am glad that we have 
this chance to recognize them today.
  And in case anybody wonders if this is just about football, I will 
tell you, in talking to the President of the University, he said that 
after the Bronco season, the number of applications for the

[[Page H542]]

postgraduate program has skyrocketed. So this is more than just about 
football. It is about national recognition for a team and a school, and 
the outstanding character of that school and the educational 
opportunities it provides to people from all over this country.
  Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to speak on this and for 
bringing this to the floor today. This Saturday they have a parade and 
a day of recognition for the Boise State team, and I am sure that they 
will be very honored to have this.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. 
Simpson). And there is no question that he has every right to be very 
proud of the Boise State Broncos.
  As a matter of fact, I think that because it is a small school, 
because it is a school that is not the perennial schools that finish up 
top, say, the last 50 years, for the last 8 or 10 years Boise State has 
had a difficult time trying to prove its worth. Even though they beat 
top contenders, they will say it was a fluke; it was some mistake, it 
was just by luck. And I think that by their continuing winning, by them 
moving up and winning the national championship, I believe that they 
will finally have the naysayers saying that this is really an 
outstanding team.
  We found the same situation in the great State of New Jersey, where 
Rutgers University, a State university that has had a terrible football 
program for years and years and years, although it played one of the 
first football games in the country in 1897 against Princeton, when 
Princeton and Rutgers played. They have now, finally, been able to, 
after last year wasn't a fluke, this year losing only two games and 
going to a major bowl.
  Athletes from New Jersey now are staying in New Jersey, and that is 
what made the difference. New Jersey athletes have made other States' 
teams great, and now that they are staying in the State, we will 
certainly expect to see Rutgers University, perhaps, play Boise State 
next year for the national championship.
  So with that, Madam Speaker, I, again, congratulate the Boise State 
Broncos.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Solis). 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. 43.
  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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