[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6248-H6250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING BARTON COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 
                   2007 NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 329) congratulating the Barton College men's 
basketball team for winning the 2007 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball 
National Championship.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 329

       Whereas the Barton College Bulldogs of Wilson, North 
     Carolina, defeated Winona State University of Rochester, 
     Minnesota, the undefeated and defending NCAA Division II 
     Men's Basketball National Champions, 77-75 on March 24, 2007, 
     to become the 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champions;
       Whereas Anthony Atkinson of Barton College, the Elite Eight 
     most valuable player, scored 10 points in the final 39 
     seconds of the

[[Page H6249]]

     game, including a layup at the buzzer, to give Barton College 
     the NCAA Division II men's basketball title and its first 
     NCAA championship in any sport;
       Whereas Barton College played and won 9 overtime games 
     during the 2006-2007 season to finish the season 31-5, 
     including winning its last 21 games, a school record;
       Whereas Barton College, a school with just 1,000 students, 
     defeated teams during the Elite Eight from schools with much 
     larger student bodies (Grand Valley State, Michigan, 23,000 
     students, Cal State San Bernardino, 17,000 students, and 
     Winona State University, 8,000 students);
       Whereas Coach Ron Lievense of Barton College, who had 
     served as a graduate assistant at Winona State University, 
     summed up the Barton College victory: ``I don't see how any 
     ending could be any better for any team--ever'';
       Whereas Barton College continues the long tradition of 
     North Carolina schools winning NCAA basketball championships;
       Whereas Barton College was founded in 1902 as Atlantic 
     Christian College and changed its name in 1990; and
       Whereas Barton College was named a ``Best Southeastern 
     College'' for 2006 by the Princeton Review: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     the Barton College men's basketball team for winning the 2007 
     NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hare) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may insert material relevant to House Resolution 329 into the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Barton College Bulldogs 
for their win in the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
Division II Men's Basketball Tournament.
  On March 24, 2007, Barton College won the NCAA Division II Elite 
Eight Tournament by defeating the defending champions, Winona State 
University of Rochester, Minnesota. College basketball fans, student 
athletes, and the general public were treated to an exciting national 
championship game with one of the greatest rallies in Elite Eight 
Tournament history.
  Barton College had an extraordinary year. The team won all nine of 
its overtime games, an NCAA Division II record. The team also had a 
season record of 31-5 and won their last 21 games, which is a school 
record.
  I want to extend my congratulations to Head Coach Ron Lievense, 
Athletic Director Gary Hall, Barton College President Dr. Norval 
Kneten, and Barton's student athletes for winning the national 
championship.
  I also want to extend my congratulations to Winona State University 
of Rochester, Minnesota, on an excellent season. Winona State finished 
their season with only one loss, which happened to be the national 
championship game.
  Winning the national championship in such a courageous fashion has 
brought attention to the outstanding athletic program at Barton 
College. I know the fans of the university will remember this very 
special moment for many years to come.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in passing House Resolution 329, 
congratulating the Barton College men's basketball team.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1050

  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield as 
much time as he may consume to my good friend, the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Jones).
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Democratic side and the Republican 
side and my dear friend, Mr. Butterfield, for bringing this resolution 
to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I join my friend, Congressman G.K. Butterfield of North 
Carolina, and many of my colleagues to support H. Res. 329, a 
resolution to congratulate the Barton College men's basketball team for 
winning the 2007 NCAA Division II men's basketball national 
championship.
  Years ago, I attended Atlantic Christian College, which changed its 
name to Barton College in 1990. Mr. Speaker, I, like many of my 
colleagues in Congress, have had the fortunate opportunity of playing 
on a championship team. More than 40 years later, I can still vividly 
recall in my mind the wonderful memory of the night my prep school 
basketball team at Hargrave Military Academy won the military league 
championship. No matter what level, winning a championship is something 
an individual will remember all of his or her life. My prep school 
basketball team claimed its championship with a final score of 81-79, 
so I know the firsthand experience of a close game.
  How exciting it was to see Barton College basketball make a 
miraculous comeback from seven points behind in the final 40 seconds to 
defeat Winona State University of Rochester, Minnesota, an undefeated 
team and last year's Division II champion, by a score of 77-75. Senior 
All-American point guard Anthony Atkinson scored the Bulldogs' final 10 
points, including a layup at the buzzer; but I am sure that Anthony 
Atkinson would tell you that the win was a team effort.
  In David and Goliath fashion, Barton College, a school with just 
1,000 students, defeated teams during the Elite Eight from schools with 
much larger student bodies, Grand Valley State, Michigan, 23,000 
students; Cal State San Bernardino, 17,000 students; and Winona State 
University, 8,000 students, to claim the school's first NCAA 
championship in any sport. Again, a student body of 1,000.
  The team's confidence and calm under pressure helped it play and win 
nine overtime games during the 2006/2007 season to finish the season 
31-5 and break a school record by winning its last 21 games.
  Barton College is located in Congressman Butterfield's district, yet 
I share part of the county with Congressman Butterfield. I join him in 
congratulating the coaches and all the members of the 2006/2007 Barton 
College men's basketball team.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I will submit for the Record the names of 
the coaches and the players.


                                coaches

       Ron Lievense (head), Joel Zimmerman, John Skinner, Mark 
     Pounds.


                                players

       Sam Pounds, Jerrett Eason, Brandon Barton, Isaiah Cromwell, 
     Errol Frails, Anthony Atkinson, Bobby Buffaloe, Spenser 
     Briggs, Jeff Dalce, Brandon Raffel, Travis Johnson, Charles 
     Gamble, Darrius Lee, Bobby McNeil, Brian Leggett, Alejo 
     Barovero, David King, Mark Friscone, L.J. Dunn, Mike Flowers.

  Mr. Speaker, Barton College is proud of its college basketball 
history. Now, Barton College is part of North Carolina's rich 
basketball heritage.
  I close by asking my colleagues to support this resolution. And I 
again congratulate the Barton College Bulldogs for this great victory.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield such time as he may 
consume to my friend from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from 
Illinois for giving me this time to speak on this resolution today.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my friend, Congressman 
Walter Jones, and me in recognizing and congratulating this year's NCAA 
Division II men's college basketball champions from my hometown of 
Wilson, North Carolina, Barton College.
  As Congressman Jones said a moment ago, he and I share Wilson County. 
And the campus is technically in my district, even though we both 
legitimately hold claim to that great institution.
  In one of the most exciting basketball games that I have ever seen in 
my life, Mr. Speaker, the Barton College Bulldogs captured its first 
national title after senior guard Anthony Atkinson scored his team's 
final 10 points, including a layup at the buzzer, to rally Barton from 
a 74-67 deficit with just 45 seconds remaining. The improbable come-
from-behind 77-75 victory was against a previously undefeated and 
defending national champion, Winona State University.
  Mr. Speaker, the game capped a tournament full of last-second heroics 
for Barton College, as they won the semifinal game by one point on a 
last-second freethrow, and the quarterfinal

[[Page H6250]]

game on a buzzer-beating overtime three-pointer.
  The tournament followed an equally exciting 31-5 season in which 
Barton College became the first team in the history of the NCAA 
basketball to win four consecutive overtime games. Throughout the 
tournament and the season, the team showed heart, toughness and 
tenacity and determination by finding ways to win no matter what the 
circumstances were. They have had tremendous and deserved support from 
a community that is so proud of this college and this team. As I was 
leaving Wilson yesterday, I stopped by the BB&T branch on West 9th 
Street and there was a large banner in front of the bank congratulating 
the Bulldogs. We are so proud of this team, and we want our Nation to 
know of our proud feeling for this team.
  It is a great honor, therefore, Mr. Speaker, for me to recognize the 
success, efforts and achievements of these outstanding young student 
athletes, and their head coach, a great individual, Ron Lievense, and 
his staff. Their hard work and dedication to team work is something 
that we are all proud of in Wilson County and northeastern North 
Carolina.
  I ask my colleagues to rise and join me in paying tribute to the 
Barton College basketball team.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. 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. Hare) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 329.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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