[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1014-H1018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING LOVIE SMITH AND TONY DUNGY ON BECOMING THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HEAD COACHES OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE TEAMS TO
QUALIFY FOR THE SUPER BOWL
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 90) congratulating Lovie Smith of the
Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts on becoming the
first African-American head coaches of National Football League teams
to qualify for the Super Bowl.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 90
Whereas in the 40 Super Bowls prior to Super Bowl XLI, to
be held on February 4, 2007, no National Football League
(NFL) team that played in the Super Bowl had an African-
American head coach;
Whereas on January 21, 2007, in Chicago, Illinois, the
Chicago Bears, coached by Lovie Smith--an African-American--
defeated the New Orleans Saints by a score of 39 to 14 in the
National Football Conference Championship game and advanced
to Super Bowl XLI;
Whereas Lovie Smith was named the 13th head coach in
Chicago Bears history on January 15, 2004;
Whereas Lovie Smith was named the Associated Press NFL
Coach of the Year for 2005;
Whereas Lovie Smith's 11 victories in 2005 are the most by
a second-year coach in the history of the Chicago Bears and
he became the first second-year coach of the Bears to win a
division title, earning the second seed in the National
Football Conference playoffs;
Whereas on January 21, 2007, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the
Indianapolis Colts, coached by Tony Dungy--an African-
American--defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 38
to 34 in the American Football Conference's Championship game
and also advanced to Super Bowl XLI;
Whereas Anthony Kevin ``Tony'' Dungy was named head coach
of the Indianapolis Colts on January 22, 2002;
Whereas the 2006 season was Tony Dungy's 5th with the Colts
and 11th as an NFL head coach;
Whereas Tony Dungy is the 35th coach in NFL history to earn
100 career victories (including playoff victories);
Whereas Tony Dungy leads all NFL head coaches in wins from
1999 to 2005, with a record of 78 wins and 34 defeats;
Whereas the NFL had a record 7 African-American head
coaches in 2006 and a record of 197 African-American coaches
total, including 7 assistant head coaches; and
Whereas since Frederick Douglass ``Fritz'' Pollard became
the first African-American head coach in the NFL in 1922,
there have been nine other African-American head coaches in
the NFL--including five who are currently serving: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates
Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the
Indianapolis Colts for their accomplishments and for being
the first African-American head coaches of National Football
League teams to qualify for the Super Bowl.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, this Sunday, history will be
made in the National Football League when two African American head
coaches battle for a Super Bowl championship.
Not only is this the first time a black head coach has vied for the
title, but two have done so in the same season. Lovie Smith, of the
Chicago Bears, and Tony Dungy, of the Indianapolis Colts, are hailed as
two of the most humble in the league.
In an era where professional sports is crowded with big egos and loud
mouths, these two quietly push their players to be better athletes and
better individuals.
Like myself, Coach Smith grew up in a small town in the South. Coach
Smith talks about how growing up in the small town of Big Sandy, Texas,
taught him the values of hard work, self-determination, self-discipline
and teamwork. These are American values taught in a small town.
One thing that I admire about Lovie Smith is that he approaches
coaching as a professor, as a mentor. He does not yell or swear at his
players. He teaches them and motivates them. He builds his players up,
reflecting a strength of character to be commended and imitated.
{time} 1500
Coach Smith started his coaching career studying under Tony Dungy in
Tampa Bay, and the two developed a defense that relied on team speed
and hard hitting. They also developed a close friendship that
continues, even as opponents in the largest single sporting event in
America.
Through their relationship, both have become brilliant defensive
football minds and refined player managers. Their class and work ethic
make them part of an elite group of coaches, and their contributions
continue to have a great effect on league diversity in the coaching
ranks. Their achievements stretch far beyond the football field, and
their impact is felt throughout the entire African American, as well as
the entire American, community.
I congratulate both of these coaches for their hard work and success.
Of course I want them both to be successful on Sunday, but I must
confess that I would rather that Lovie Smith be more successful than
his mentor.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
[[Page H1015]]
You know, this is really a great Super Bowl we are facing for a
number of reasons, not the least of which for the first time we have
two African American coaches who are going to be coaching the football
teams in the Super Bowl. There has never been an African American coach
reach the Super Bowl, and now we have two, both teams. They are two of
the finest men you are ever going to want to see coaching football
teams, let alone teams in the Super Bowl. Tony Dungy, in his fifth
season with the Colts, has compiled a record of 68-20. He has had five
playoff appearances, he has had four AFC South titles, two AFC
championship games, and finally an AFC championship. He has just done
an outstanding job.
And Lovie Smith has done an outstanding job with the Chicago Bears.
With a team racked by injuries, his first season he went 5-11. Then
they went 11-5 and made the playoffs before falling to the Carolina
Panthers. And then this year they made the Super Bowl for the first
time since Mike Ditka led the Bears back in 1986.
They are both very fine men. They are not just a credit to the
African American race, but they are a credit to humanity. I have
watched both of them on television. They are both very strong Christian
men, they are both very patriotic men, and they are loved by their
teams.
I have not been conversant with how the people in Chicago feel about
Lovie Smith, but everybody in Indianapolis thinks that Tony Dungy walks
on water; they think he is the greatest coach we have ever had. And he
is the kind of guy that, even when he is behind, doesn't know the
meaning of giving up. I mean, this last playoff game when they came
from behind from a greater deficit than any playoff championship team
in history was really something. I admitted, when we were talking about
the game the other night on the floor, that in the first half I was so
upset I almost changed to American Movie Classics. We were behind 21-3.
And I changed over the channel for a minute and I thought, no, I can't
give up on the Colts; they won't give up. I changed the channel back,
and dag-gone they came from that deficit to win the game. It was an
outstanding championship effort. And it was led by an African American,
Tony Dungy, who was the coach.
Lovie Smith did an outstanding job with the Bears. He led them
through a very difficult last few seasons and led them to the
championship. They were both talking about being the first African
American in the Super Bowl, and now they are both at the same time. So
I think that really shows what kind of men they are.
The only difference I would have with my colleague on the other side
of the aisle who has a great resonant voice, Mr. Davis, is that I am
one of the few guys here on the floor today who is going to be rooting
for the Indianapolis Colts.
Now, we may be outnumbered here tonight. My colleagues are going to
be speaking, and most of them are going to be talking about Lovie Smith
and the Bears, you will outnumber us, but on Sunday you won't because
the Colts are going all the way. As I said the other night, I am blue
through and through and I am rooting for the Colts and they are going
to win, but I still love the Bears and Lovie Smith, and I am very sorry
that they won't win, but he is still a great coach.
With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman
from Indiana. He is a distinguished Member of this body, and sometimes
he is very prophetic, he can predict things. Of course I think today he
is making an error. I certainly look forward to Tony Dungy and the
Colts not giving up, but I've got a feeling that they might give out.
It is my pleasure right now to yield such time as she might consume
to the chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, the originator of
this resolution and one who comes from a great sports town where
basketball is the name of their game, Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick
from the State of Michigan.
Ms. KILPATRICK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me the time.
Madam Speaker, I am an avid football fan, an avid basketball fan, as
well as hockey. Michigan and Detroit proper are always part of that
game.
Championships. Unfortunately, two other great teams are in the Super
Bowl, one of the most exciting sports activities happening this weekend
in Miami, Florida as we have seen since the last Super Bowl was held in
Detroit, Super Bowl XL. And I am honored to stand here, as some of my
previous colleagues have said, to just pay respect to the National
Football League. This is not my first association with them. We have
run a coaches' clinic with the National Football League now for some
time. They work with high school coaches to develop their skill so that
their athletes and graduates will matriculate into the NFL as they go
through their college years.
So I am honored to, first of all, thank the NFL for working with us
and with the men across this country, that the young men become strong
in their character, in their competitiveness and in their nature as
they win Super Bowls.
As was said a little bit earlier, Chicago Bears, one of my favorite
teams, and thank you, Coach Lovie Smith and the front office and all of
you who have brought the Bears this far, to the players, to the wives,
to the families for the sacrifices that you have made. We honor you,
Chicago Bears; and we wish you the best, Coach Smith.
And also Coach Tony Dungy. I have followed his career for many years.
The tragedy that he had last year, we all prayed for him in this
Nation, and our prayers are with you as well.
Indianapolis, Chicago, Super Bowl XLI in Miami, just a few hours from
now; and for the first time in the history of the sport, which started
in 1869, we have not one, but two African American men, Lovie Smith
being a protege of Tony Dungy, leading two fantastic teams in one of
the greatest sports of mankind.
So I stand here to thank the NFL and to thank the coaches, the
players, their families and the institution. It was the NFL who
started, in 1987, the Minority Coaches Fellowship that allowed many
offensive coaches and defensive coaches to become head coaches. Today,
we have three head coaches who graduated from that program and actively
working with their sports to bring them this far.
Over the years, and in 2002, the late Johnny Cochran and Cyrus Mehri
put forth a program known today as the ``Rooney Program'' after Dan
Rooney, who I had an opportunity to meet, the owner of the Pittsburgh
Steelers just last year in Detroit during the Super Bowl, which allows
and asks that NFL teams consider achievement and expertise, that they
might move forward and present championship coaches as has been had
right now as we begin to celebrate Super Bowl XLI.
It is a great day that is coming in the next few days. Thank you to
the league, as well as to our heroes, Coach Tony Dungy, Coach Lovie
Smith. And I don't want to stand here and pick a winner; I like the
game too much. Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions won't be there, but we
like you, too, Detroit Lions. Just do better next year, okay? But for
the rest of the world, and as this sport will be watched across the
world, congratulations to the first two African American coaches to
reach the Super Bowl.
May the best team win, and we will be hollering and screaming for you
all Sunday evening. God bless
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Before I yield 3 minutes to my good friend
from Texas, a former judge, before I recognize him, I just want to say
that I have wagered some Indiana popcorn for a deep dish pizza and some
kind of cake, and anybody that wants to bet on the Bears, call me up,
I've got plenty of popcorn.
With that, I yield 3 minutes to my good friend from Texas (Mr.
Gohmert).
Mr. GOHMERT. Well, I certainly appreciate my good friend, Mr. Burton,
yielding, even though I rise to say how much I agree with the gentleman
from Illinois about the greatness of Lovie Smith.
Chicago Bears' head coach Lovie Smith is a Super Bowl-bound
gentleman. He was born May 8, 1958 in the wonderful town of Gladewater,
Texas in my home district in the middle of east Texas. He grew up in
Big Sandy, Texas, was voted the boy most likely to succeed in the class
of 1976 in Big Sandy High School. He was also part of
[[Page H1016]]
three State football championships there in Big Sandy, Texas, where
they do know good football.
After playing college ball at Tulsa, where he earned two-time All-
America and three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference honors, he began
his coaching career at his hometown high school in Big Sandy, Texas.
Now, 2 years later, Lovie Smith began coaching collegiately at Tulsa,
Wisconsin, Arizona State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio State. After
coaching the linebackers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then helping
the St. Louis Rams return to the Super Bowl, Lovie Smith eventually
found himself in Chicago as the defensive coordinator for the Bears.
The team allowed the fewest points in the NFL in 2005 and ranked second
in overall defense. He was named the 13th head coach in Chicago Bears
history on January 15, 2004. Coach Smith was named the Associated Press
NFL Coach of the Year for 2005.
Lovie Smith and his wife, Maryann, have three sons, Matthew, Michael
and Miles, as well as twin grandsons, Malachi and Noah.
Now, Big Sandy City Hall tells us today that they have 1,275
residents; and within that delightfully proud town, there is a street
in which Lovie Smith's childhood home was, where he grew up. It burned
down a couple of years after they moved, but that street is now marked
with a sign that bears the name of Lovie Smith. Coach Smith responded
to that naming: ``Where else would I want it to be? Those are my roots;
that is where I grew up. Most of who I am today came from that street.
There is no other place I would want a sign with my name on it. I am
proud of where I came from.''
Let me tell you, Madam Speaker, we are certainly proud of Coach Lovie
Smith in east Texas.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, if I ever get an opportunity, I
want to go and visit Big Sandy, Texas. So, Representative Gohmert, you
can look forward to visitors coming time and time again.
It is now my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to my
colleague from Chicago, unfortunately, the Bears are in my
congressional district, right outside of his district, but we all share
the Bears, Representative Bobby Rush.
Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, the NFL did not have a single black head
coach in the modern era until the Oakland Raiders, your district, hired
Art Shell way back in 1989. The reason for this was not simply because
the NFL was considered a racist league, but it was that teams tended to
hire people they knew, team owners hired the individuals who they were
familiar with. And they looked for candidates that offered a comfort
level and an image of what sports success had always looked like in the
National Football League.
{time} 1515
Unfortunately, that image was always white, that is, until now, Madam
Speaker.
Madam Speaker, regardless of who wins this Sunday, although I
proclaim victory, the owners and fans will hopefully realize that
success is not always white and male. Hopefully, after Super Bowl XLI
is concluded, NFL teams will truly seek to find the best and most
qualified candidate to lead their teams, whether they look like Bill
Parcells or Dennis Green. Hopefully, other African American assistant
coaches and candidates for coaching positions who have never been given
an opportunity to coach a team will finally have a chance to make a
name for themselves rather than NFL teams continually recycling the
same old faces regardless if they have ever been successful or not.
Who knows if it is mere coincidence or not that the Steelers, the
Pittsburgh Steelers, hired young Mike Tomlin, the team's first black
head coach in its 74-year history and, I might add, an assistant under
Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay, on the same day that Lovie Smith and Tony
Dungy made the Super Bowl.
Madam Speaker, it is always appropriate at this time to share
gratitude and high regards for those individuals who make courageous
decisions, and I share my gratitude and my high regards for Steelers
owner Dan Rooney, the namesake of the so-called Rooney rule, the man
who successfully lobbied in 2002 for a history-making rule that
requires all NFL teams to interview minority candidates for coaching
jobs before they hire their choices.
It is because of visionaries like Mr. Rooney that people like Lovie
Smith and Tony Dungy were even given a chance to become a head coach in
the NFL in the first place. And the whole NFL league, indeed the
Nation, is better off because of it.
Madam Speaker, I would like to send my congratulations to both
coaches, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, and to their teams, the Chicago
Bears and the other team, and say, Go Bears this Sunday in Miami.
Madam Speaker, I name it and I claim it. On Sunday, the Chicago Bears
will be the new NFL Super Bowl champions. And I know my friend and
colleague from Indiana realizes that deep down in the pit of his heart.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Before I yield time to my good friend from
Illinois, another Bears fan who played football without a helmet, I
just would like to say to Congressman Rush, I want lots of pepperoni on
the pizza you are going to buy me Sunday.
I recognize the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) for 3 minutes.
Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. Last
week, I placed a wager with one of our colleagues, Dr. Jindal, and Mr.
Boustany, on the Bears and whether they would win a place at the Super
Bowl. Who won? The Bears. And now we look forward to welcoming these
two sons of Louisiana to pay their football wager, which is to spend a
work session at the Lake County, Illinois, Habitat For Humanity,
ironically preparing a home for a new family displaced by Hurricane
Katrina and now living in northern Illinois.
Regarding the coming contest, my district is home to both Lovie Smith
and the Bears' training facility, Halas Hall in Lake Forest. I am
honored to represent Lovie, whose life story is an inspiration. Raised
in rural Big Sandy, Texas, Lovie's modesty and work led him to become
the premier head coach of the NFL. Since his 5-11 start in 2004, his
first season in Chicago, Lovie coached the Bears to a spectacular 26-9
record over the past two seasons, including two impressive playoff
victories.
Lovie embodies the Bears tradition of tough, hard-nosed football that
has defined the organization since its founding in 1919. As the Bears'
19th head coach, Lovie has joined the coaching giants like Mike Ditka
and George Halas as leaders of the Monsters of the Midway. Chicago has
embraced Lovie as a football icon, and I am proud to honor him on the
floor today.
And today we also have a message for the Bears organization. Lovie
deserves a raise and a ring because he has earned the respect of
everyone from Chicagoland. Best of luck to you, Coach, in Miami. And I
won't say anything cheap like, Bears love horse meat for breakfast
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I am going to continue to
reserve for a minute. I am hoping that my good friend Julia Carson
manages to make it over. I know that she is on her way. And so I would
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I am very happy at this time to
recognize another great American and a great Indianapolis Colts friend
from Indianapolis, Mr. Mike Pence, for 3 minutes.
Mr. PENCE. I thank the gentleman for yielding and ask unanimous
consent to revise and extend in case I say anything especially
offensive to the Bears.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, let me say from my heart that I am honored
to cosponsor this important resolution. It represents an important
cultural step in American life. That we would shatter the color barrier
and ceiling that for reasons unknown to this Hoosier seem to have
prevented the matriculation of an African American head coach to the
Super Bowl, that we would shatter it in a way that both teams arrive
with distinguished head coaches of African descent is enormously
important. I think it sends an extremely important message particularly
to African American youth, and I rejoice in that.
Now, as to whether or not the coach of the Bears deserves a raise and
a ring, let me say with great respect to Lovie Smith, I rise in
particular admiration
[[Page H1017]]
of head coach Tony Dungy in his fifth season with the Indianapolis
Colts. Under his leadership, the Colts have had a record of 60-20, five
playoff appearances, four AFC South titles, two AFC championship games,
and as the world watched in wonder a week ago Sunday, an AFC
championship.
But as Mr. Burton attested, it is his career in Indiana off the field
that I find more impressive than his career on the field. Since his
time in Tampa Bay, he has brought his commitment to Christian values to
young people through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He launched
Mentors for Life, a program that provided tickets to Buccaneers home
games to area youth and their mentors. And I was there about a year ago
when Coach Dungy welcomed thousands of young people to the arena known
as the Wigwam in Anderson, Indiana, and there he shared about his faith
and the importance of faith and character and values to the young men
and women who gathered there.
Whoever it is that walks away with the ring, and I remain adamantly
confident that the horseshoe will leave Miami with the ring, let me say
that Tony Dungy has earned a ring and earned our praise as Lovie Smith
has. Our admiration to two great men, two great leaders.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I have no speakers, but I will
reserve for the purpose of closing.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers.
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I would like to just say that Congresswoman Carson is not yet here,
but I know I speak for her when I say that she admires very much both
Lovie Smith and Coach Tony Dungy, and I am sure that she would say if
she were here that she is going to be rooting very strongly for the
Indianapolis Colts even though she does admire Lovie Smith as a great
American and a great leader. And if she were here, I am sure she would
also want me to say that she would like a piece of the pizza I am going
to get from some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle after
the game on Sunday.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, to close, we have heard all of
the richly and rightly deserved accolades, and I really can't think of
any person in the profession of athletics that I admire more than I do
Tony Dungy. He is indeed just a gentleman's gentleman, a man of
impeccable character, a man who inspires you. Even if you are rooting
for the other team, you still can feel his depth coming through. And so
I wish him well. I certainly hope that he will have some reserves to
share with my good friend Representative Burton so he can help him pay
off the debt.
But I also want to say that I represent lots of different things in
the district that I have. I represent the Bulls, I represent the Bears,
Oprah Winfrey, the mayor of the city of Chicago, and we take great
pride in all that our community is. Lovie Smith has brought the level
of character to the Illinois area, the Chicago community, unmatched. We
wish him and the Bears well. And I am going to leave all of the room
that I can have for everything that my friends Dan Burton and Julia
Carson will bring. Go Bears.
Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House
Resolution 90, recognizing the accomplishments of two outstanding head
coaches in the NFL, Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of
the Indianapolis Colts. On February 4th, 2007 these two men will not
only lead their teams to the field to play in the largest sporting
event in America, Super Bowl XLI, they will also become the first
African-American head coaches to ever bring a team to the NFL title
game.
This past season, both Coach Smith and Coach Dungy experienced
tremendous successes, leading their teams to 13-3 and 12-4 seasons
respectively, and winning divisional and conference crowns for the
cities of Chicago and Indianapolis. But throughout their tenure as
coaches in the NFL, these two men have consistently represented the
pinnacle of class and humility, providing exemplary role models for
their players, families, and any child in America.
Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy are not just competitors, they are also
friends and colleagues. Smith served as Linebackers Coach for Dungy
during their time together in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise.
During this time, Mr. Dungy served as a mentor and friend for Mr.
Smith, engendering the calm and professional manner for which both
coaches are highly regarded.
As a lifelong Chicagoan and a Bears fan, I am especially proud of
Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears, and I wish them the best of luck in
Super Bowl XLI. This Sunday marks the first Chicago appearance in the
Super Bowl in over 20 years, and we are all looking forward to a great
game. Regardless of the outcome, the milestone that Coach Smith and
Coach Dungy have reached makes Super Bowl XLI even more special. For
the first time, an African-American head coach will hoist the Lombardi
Trophy over his head as NFL Champion, and we can all be proud of both
of the two men poised to earn that honor.
Madam Speaker, I again extend my congratulations to Lovie Smith and
Tony Dungy on their outstanding seasons and for their breakthrough at
the highest level of coaching. I wish them both the best of luck in all
of their endeavors, though I certainly wish Coach Smith a bit more luck
this particular Sunday. Go Bears.
Mr. WALBERG. Madam Speaker, this Sunday, when Tony Dungy takes the
field as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, he, along with Chicago
Bears head coach Lovie Smith, will become the first African-Americans
to coach a football team in the Super Bowl, the National Football
League's championship game.
This is just one accomplishment in the extraordinary life of this
native son of Michigan's 7th Congressional District.
Born October 6, 1955, in Jackson, Michigan, Anthony Kevin ``Tony''
Dungy lives his life in a way that truly embodies all the best about
south central Michigan.
Dungy attended Parkside High School in Jackson, excelling on the
football field, basketball court and in the classroom.
Tony next starred as the quarterback of the University of Minnesota
football team from 1973-76. By the time his collegiate career ended,
Dungy finished as the school's all-time leader in attempts,
completions, touchdown passes and passing yardage.
Dungy played an integral role in the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl
winning season of 1978, when he led the team in interceptions.
Following his successful playing career, Dungy spent time as a
collegiate and professional assistant coach, before being named head
coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995.
In 2002, the Indianapolis Colts franchise named Tony Dungy its head
coach, and this season is Dungy's fifth in Indianapolis and his 11th as
an NFL head coach.
Dungy is the first NFL head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams and
became the 35th coach in NFL history to earn 100 career victories in
2005. Dungy also is one of six coaches to win 100 or more regular-
season games in his 10 years as a head coach.
During the past four seasons, Dungy's Colts have won four AFC South
Division championships and compiled the best winning percentage in the
NFL.
As remarkable as Dungy's career on the field has been, he is perhaps
best known for his unique contributions off of it.
Dungy and his wife Lauren, proud parents of five, have been involved
with multiple organizations in the communities he has coached in,
including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Basket of Hope and the
Prison Crusade Ministry.
Through his example of faith and family, Dungy has impacted thousands
of men and women of all ages across our great country.
On behalf of Michigan's 7th District, I would like to extend
congratulations to Coach Dungy, a native son, for his outstanding
accomplishments this season and wish both he and his family happiness
in the years to come.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise in strong
support of H. Res. 90 to commend both Lovie Smith, head coach of the
Chicago Bears, and Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts,
for leading their respective teams to berths in Super Bowl XLI, to be
played this Sunday, February 4, 2007, in Miami, Florida. Never before
in history has a team playing in the Super Bowl been led by an African
American head coach. Super Bowl XLI will make history as the first
Super Bowl to feature not one, but two, African American head coaches.
Although it has taken 41 years, this is an achievement of which all
Americans can and should be justly proud.
Madam Speaker, on January 21, 2007, in Chicago, Illinois, the Chicago
Bears, coached by Lovie Smith defeated the New Orleans Saints by a
score of 39 to 14 in the National Football Conference Championship game
and advanced to Super Bowl XLI. For his phenomenal performance in
restoring the Chicago Bears to their former glory as the ``Monsters of
the Midway,'' Lovie Smith, the 13th head coach in the storied history
of one of the NFL's greatest franchises, was named the Associated Press
NFL Coach of the Year for 2005.
[[Page H1018]]
In the 2005 season, Lovie Smith's Chicago Bear's won 11 games, the
most ever by a second-year coach in the history of the Chicago Bears
and he became the first second-year coach of the Bears to win a
division title, earning the second seed in the National Football
Conference playoffs. The 2006 Chicago Bears won 14 of their 16 games
and earned the top seed in the National Football Conference playoffs.
Madam Speaker, on January 21, 2007, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the
Indianapolis Colts, coached by Tony Dungy defeated the 3-time Super
Bowl Champion New England Patriots by a score of 38 to 34 in the
American Football Conference's Championship game to win the right to
play the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI for the NFL Championship. Tony
Dungy, who is in his 5th season as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts
and 11th as an NFL head coach, having previously coached the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers to the NFC Championship game in the 2000 season, is one of
the NFL's most outstanding head coaches.
For example, Madam Speaker, Tony Dungy is only the 35th coach in the
history of the NFL to win 100 games in his career. And Tony Dungy leads
all NFL head coaches in wins from 1999 to 2005, with a record of 78
wins and 34 losses. Should his Indianapolis Colts prevail in the Super
Bowl, Tony Dungy will join Mike Ditka and Tom Flores and become the
newest member of one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sports: a
Super Bowl champion as both a player and head coach.
Madam Speaker, the NFL had a record 7 African American head coaches
in 2006 and the 197 African-American coaches, including 7 assistant
head coaches, is also a record. While no one would dispute that there
is still much progress to be made on the sidelines and front offices of
the NFL and other professional sports, it is also indisputable that
much progress has been made since Frederick Douglass ``Fritz'' Pollard
became the first African American head coach in the NFL in 1922.
For this reason, Madam Speaker, I take great pride in congratulating
both Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy and their outstanding football teams
for their excellence on the field and the dignity with which they have
conducted themselves off the field. I join with the more than 100
million Americans and billions of viewers globally who will be watching
the Super Bowl in congratulating these two men and their teams for
putting themselves within one victory of the sport's ultimate prize.
And I join with viewers and fans everywhere in wishing to see one of
the great games in Super Bowl history and hoping that the best team
wins.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 90.
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. DAVIS of Illinois. 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, this 15-
minute vote on suspending the rules on H. Res. 90 will be followed by a
5-minute vote on suspending the rules on H. Res. 24 and H. Con. Res.
20. Remaining postponed votes will be taken tomorrow.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 425,
nays 0, not voting 10, as follows:
[Roll No. 61]
YEAS--425
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Akin
Allen
Altmire
Andrews
Arcuri
Baca
Bachmann
Bachus
Baird
Baker
Baldwin
Barrett (SC)
Barrow
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono
Boozman
Boren
Boswell
Boucher
Boustany
Boyd (FL)
Boyda (KS)
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Braley (IA)
Brown (SC)
Brown, Corrine
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Buchanan
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Butterfield
Buyer
Calvert
Camp (MI)
Campbell (CA)
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson
Carter
Castle
Castor
Chabot
Chandler
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Coble
Cohen
Cole (OK)
Conaway
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Cramer
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cubin
Cuellar
Culberson
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
Davis (KY)
Davis, David
Davis, Lincoln
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly
Doolittle
Doyle
Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Edwards
Ehlers
Ellison
Ellsworth
Emanuel
Emerson
Engel
English (PA)
Eshoo
Etheridge
Everett
Fallin
Farr
Fattah
Feeney
Ferguson
Filner
Flake
Forbes
Fortenberry
Fossella
Foxx
Frank (MA)
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Giffords
Gilchrest
Gillibrand
Gillmor
Gingrey
Gohmert
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Gordon
Granger
Graves
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall (NY)
Hall (TX)
Hare
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Heller
Hensarling
Herger
Herseth
Higgins
Hill
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hobson
Hodes
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Inglis (SC)
Inslee
Israel
Issa
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jindal
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jones (OH)
Jordan
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Keller
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Klein (FL)
Kline (MN)
Knollenberg
Kucinich
Kuhl (NY)
Lamborn
Lampson
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel E.
Lynch
Mack
Mahoney (FL)
Maloney (NY)
Manzullo
Marchant
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (CA)
McCarthy (NY)
McCaul (TX)
McCollum (MN)
McCotter
McCrery
McGovern
McHenry
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
McNerney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Melancon
Mica
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller (NC)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Mitchell
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murphy, Patrick
Murphy, Tim
Murtha
Musgrave
Myrick
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Neugebauer
Nunes
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pearce
Pelosi
Pence
Perlmutter
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Poe
Pomeroy
Porter
Price (GA)
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Rehberg
Reichert
Renzi
Reyes
Reynolds
Rodriguez
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Salazar
Sali
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Saxton
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schmidt
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Sestak
Shadegg
Shays
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuler
Shuster
Simpson
Sires
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis
Souder
Space
Spratt
Stark
Stearns
Stupak
Sutton
Tancredo
Tanner
Tauscher
Taylor
Terry
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Tierney
Towns
Turner
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Upton
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walberg
Walden (OR)
Walsh (NY)
Walz (MN)
Wamp
Wasserman Schultz
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Welch (VT)
Weldon (FL)
Weller
Westmoreland
Wexler
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (OH)
Wilson (SC)
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Yarmuth
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--10
Alexander
Davis, Jo Ann
Hastert
LaHood
McDermott
Norwood
Paul
Sullivan
Waters
Wolf
{time} 1557
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and
the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________