[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H1051-H1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK SAM
BRADFORD FOR WINNING THE 2008 HEISMAN TROPHY
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 60) recognizing and commending University of
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford for winning the 2008 Heisman Trophy
and for his academic and athletic accomplishments.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 60
Whereas Sam Bradford was born on November 8, 1987, to Kent
and Martha Bradford;
Whereas Sam Bradford's mother and father have instilled in
him an unparalleled work ethic, outstanding leadership
qualities, and a desire to excel;
Whereas Sam Bradford is an active citizen of the Cherokee
Nation of Oklahoma;
Whereas Sam Bradford is a dedicated student at the
University of Oklahoma, majoring in Finance and maintaining a
3.95 grade point average;
Whereas Sam Bradford is a member of the University of
Oklahoma's Fellowship of Christian Athletes;
Whereas Sam Bradford is the quarterback for the University
of Oklahoma's football team (Oklahoma) and has played an
integral role in such team's 2008 National Collegiate
Athletic Association's (NCAA) national championship bid;
Whereas Sam Bradford completed 48 touchdown passes in the
regular season, setting a University of Oklahoma record for
touchdowns in a single season, and also leading the nation in
touchdown passes in the 2008 season;
Whereas in 2008 Sam Bradford surpassed the NCAA record for
most touchdowns by a quarterback through his freshmen and
sophomore years;
Whereas in 2008 Sam Bradford led the nation in passing
efficiency with a percentage of 186.28;
Whereas on October 18, 2008, Sam Bradford passed for 468
yards against the University of Kansas, setting a University
of Oklahoma record for most passing yards in a single game;
Whereas in 2008 Sam Bradford guided Oklahoma to a 12-1
record and played an essential role in Oklahoma's victory
over the University of Missouri in the 2008 Big 12
Championship game on December 6, 2008; and
Whereas on December 13, 2008, Sam Bradford became the 5th
Oklahoma football player to win the Heisman Trophy, college
football's most coveted and prestigious award: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends Sam Bradford for his academic and athletic
accomplishments;
(2) congratulates Sam Bradford for winning the 2008 Heisman
Trophy; and
(3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
transmit a copy of this resolution to University of Oklahoma
President Boren and Head Football Coach Bob Stoops for
appropriate display.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentleman from Kentucky
(Mr. Guthrie) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.
General Leave
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days in which
Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous
material on House Resolution 60 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands?
There was no objection.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
I rise today to congratulate the University of Oklahoma Sooners'
quarterback, Sam Bradford, for winning the Heisman Trophy Award, and I
thank Congresswoman Fallin for introducing this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, the Heisman award is the Nation's most prestigious
collegiate football award, and while Sam Bradford's outstanding
athletic record has made him a most deserving candidate for the award,
his qualities off the field also deserve to be recognized.
Sam Bradford received the Heisman Trophy on December 13, 2008, and
became the first person of Native American descent and only the second
sophomore in Heisman history to win the award. Bradford won the
recognition of Heisman voters by breaking the NCAA freshman touchdown
passing record with 36 touchdown passes and by breaking the NCAA record
with a passing efficiency rating of 186.28. He set two school records
by throwing for 48 touchdown passes in a single season and by passing
for 468 yards in a single game against the University of Kansas.
With Bradford at the helm, the Sooners posted more points in a single
season than any other team and brought the team to a 12-1 season
record. Winning the Heisman award is a tremendous accomplishment, but I
believe we should also recognize his accomplishments off the field.
Excelling in the classroom with a 3.95 grade point average, Sam
Bradford epitomizes what a student athlete should be. He is an active
citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and is a member of the
University of Oklahoma's Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Considering
the demands of a Division I football program, his involvement off the
field is to be commended.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of Oklahoma's
quarterback, Sam Bradford, for his outstanding year, and I urge my
colleagues to pass this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 60, a resolution
recognizing the academic and athletic achievements of Sam Bradford, the
2008 Heisman Trophy winner.
Samuel Jacob Bradford, the University of Oklahoma's quarterback, beat
out the University of Florida's Tim Tebow and the University of Texas'
Colt McCoy to win the Heisman Trophy
[[Page H1052]]
last year. Bradford was the second sophomore and the fifth Oklahoma
football player to ever win the Heisman Trophy. He is only the second
person of Cherokee descent to ever start as quarterback for a Division
I institution. During the quest for the Heisman, Bradford led the
Sooners to the national championship game against Florida while
maintaining an exemplary grade point average of 3.95 as a finance major
at Oklahoma.
I am pleased to stand in support of this resolution honoring the fine
academic and athletic achievements of Sam Bradford, but I would be
remiss if I did not speak up on his behalf and on behalf of all the
young people in America today to express my reservations about the
massive increase in our national debt and in our budget deficit that
would come from the stimulus spending package currently making its way
through Congress.
We need economic stimulus and we need it now, but if we do not
provide the right mix of tax relief and benefits to working families
and to small businesses, I am afraid that we may well make this
recession far more worse than it already is. I hope we can work
together to develop a conference agreement on the stimulus package that
excludes nonemergency government spending but works to truly stimulate
job growth and a more stable economy. I encourage my colleagues to vote
in favor of this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from
Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin).
Ms. FALLIN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to urge the passage of a
resolution honoring an outstanding young man from my home State of
Oklahoma and from my district, Sam Bradford, who is the winner of
college football's highest honor, the Heisman Trophy, and of course he
is from the great university, the University of Oklahoma.
It has been said that sports build character, and we always hope that
is true, but Sam Bradford brings character to sports. He is a
remarkable athlete, honor student and is a member of the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes. Most recently, he reminded us as to how to set
priorities in life.
{time} 1615
He could have earned millions by entering the professional football
draft, but yet he chose to return to college next fall and complete his
degree.
Sam Bradford graduated from Putnam City North High School which is in
my district, and he is the son of a former college football player. Two
years ago, he stepped in as quarterback for the University of Oklahoma
Sooners, his father's alma mater, and by the end of the his first
season, he had thrown 36 touchdown passes, an NCAA record for a
freshman.
Last year, he passed for 48 more touchdowns, setting another record
along the way, and in January, he led his team, OU Sooners, into the
national championship game. They did not win, but they played very
well, and I guarantee you they played with honor. And after the game,
we were treated to the image of two fine young men embracing on the
field: Tim Tebow, last year's Heisman winner, and Sam Bradford. There
are no better role models today in the sport than those two fine young
men. And America would be better served, well-served if these two young
men were to meet again next January in a national championship rematch,
which I hope they do.
Of course, we are very partial to Sam Bradford and Oklahoma, and for
a very good reason. He's a proud member of the Cherokee Indian Nation,
and before each game, he rereads the biblical story of David and
Goliath to remind himself that he must be his very best each day.
In both of his first two seasons, he has made the conference all-
academic team as a scholar athlete, and I can assure you that there are
hundreds, maybe even a thousand, small boys, young boys in Oklahoma
that would love to grow up to be the next Sam Bradford, and they could
hardly pick a better role model than Sam.
In an age where athletic success too often translates into what could
be arrogance or even misbehavior, Oklahoma is proud of our most recent
Heisman Trophy winner. He is a great quarterback. He is a great young
man. He is humble in victory, and he is gracious in defeat.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to urge this body to approve H. Res. 60,
commending an Oklahoma Sooner who reminds us all that success on the
playing field and true humility can go hand in hand.
I know that some of my colleagues from Oklahoma are also very proud
of Sam Bradford. I know that some of them wanted to come today, but
they were all catching their flights, but all the Oklahoma delegation
in the House, in a bipartisan way, are supporting this resolution.
I would urge its adoption.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. As the
gentleman from Kentucky knows, I was racing over here as my colleague
from Oklahoma was extolling our Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. I
was caught on the barber's chair as this momentous event began, and so
the gentleman has been kind enough to allow me to address some of my
remarks toward Mr. Bradford's achievement.
I want to begin by thanking my good friend, the gentlelady from
Oklahoma, Mary Fallin, for bringing the resolution to the floor
honoring Sam Bradford and his remarkable achievements. He was born in
my colleague's district, but his distinction was really earned in mine
because he plays at the University of Oklahoma, and we're
extraordinarily proud of him as a player, as any college would be.
He frankly has won two Big 12 titles in his 2 years. He's had the
opportunity to play for a national championship. We came up a little
bit short in that game, and we congratulate our friends at the
University of Florida who played a great game with a great quarterback,
Mr. Tebow, but we look forward to having the opportunity to meet them
or somebody else somewhere down the road.
We're proud of everything he's done. He's led the country in passing.
He's one of the most accurate throwers, led the country in touchdown
passes. You could literally list the achievements at great length, but
frankly, we're proud of him as a student.
In a day when a lot of athletes are there simply to play football or
basketball or track or whatever their sport is, Sam Bradford is a 3.95
major in finance at the University of Oklahoma. So he's pretty serious
about his academic life.
We're proud of him as a person. Frankly, he's active in the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is active in Read Across America.
Obviously, we're very proud of his native heritage as a member of the
Cherokee Nation. And that's important to us in Oklahoma, certainly
important to me as a member of the Chickasaw Nation, to see the kind of
role model he is, not only for Cherokees but, frankly, for young men
and women all across Indian country, regardless of tribal affiliation.
I think we're probably most proud of him, Mr. Speaker, for the manner
in which he leads. He is a quiet leader. He's not a shouter. He's not
somebody that is theatrical on the field. You don't see him engaging in
taunting for the type of celebration that frankly glorifies the
individual at the expense of the team. You see him lead by example.
And all of his fellow players comment on this repeatedly, that in the
huddle, he's quiet, he's professional, he's business-like, he's quick
to give the credit to the people that he plays with; and, frankly, he's
quick to give the credit to his opponents who he regards with respect
and as worthy adversaries and people who bring their own traits of hard
work and character to the field.
The relationship that he had with not only Mr. Tebow but also with
our rivals in the south, Colton McCoy of the University of Texas, is
the kind of relationship you like to see on the football field, and
frankly probably something all of us in this Chamber could take a
lesson from.
I doubt there is any fiercer rivalry in college football than there
is between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. And
I also doubt that there are any two schools that are prouder of their
two quarterbacks, and
[[Page H1053]]
I also doubt there are any two quarterbacks that respect one another's
talents more and are quick to praise the other's achievements not only
over the course of the season but in the contest in which they're in.
So we are extraordinarily proud, obviously, of Sam Bradford, Mr.
Speaker, because he's led us to victory on the athletic field, because
he's been a student; because, frankly, he's engaged in activities
beyond being an athlete and beyond being a student to help others and
to help his community, because of his Native American heritage. But
most of all, simply because of the kind of person that he is.
He's a role model not just in athletics and not just from my State
but, frankly, he's the kind of person that all of us should aspire to
be. And he's wise beyond his years, and he conducts himself in a manner
well beyond his years.
With that, again, I thank my colleague, Ms. Fallin from the State of
Oklahoma, for bringing this resolution. It's a privilege for me to
speak on it.
Mr. SABLAN. Does the gentleman from Kentucky have any further
speakers?
Mr. GUTHRIE. I have no further speakers, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, House Resolution 60, and urge
my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes.''
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, once again I congratulate University of
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford for his outstanding year, and I urge
my colleagues to pass this resolution.
Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sam Bradford and the
entire OU Football team on their success, both individually and as a
team, in the '08-'09 season.
Sam would be the first person to remind you that one doesn't win an
award like the Heisman Trophy without the hard work, determination, and
success of your fellow teammates, coaches, and staff.
He has said as much on many occasions. But in this instance, Sam
Bradford also deserves special recognition for his poised leadership
and his dedication to excellence on and off the field.
His exceptional play is matched only by the outstanding example that
he sets for young student-athletes in Oklahoma and across the nation.
Congratulations, Sam, on winning the 2008-2009 Heisman Trophy.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res.
60 ``Recognizing and commending University of Oklahoma Quarterback Sam
Bradford for winning the 2008 Heisman Trophy and for his academic and
athletic accomplishments.'' I want to thank my colleague Congresswoman
Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, for introducing this resolution.
Sam Bradford of the University of Oklahoma was selected as the 74th
winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding College
Football Player in the United States for 2008. Bradford, Oklahoma's
amazingly accurate and quick-thinking passer, won the Heisman Trophy
after leading the highest-scoring team in major college history to the
BCS title game.
Bradford hails from Oklahoma City, OK. This year, he completed 302 of
his 442 passes this year, which amounted to 4,464 yards and 48
touchdowns while throwing only 6 interceptions during the regular
season. He also rushed for 5 touchdowns.
While leading the highest scoring offense in the history of Division
I College Football, Bradford broke the Oklahoma season and career
touchdown records both previously held by 2003 Heisman winner Jason
White. Bradford's 84 career touchdowns are the most ever for a player
at the end of his sophomore season.
The Big 12 Athletic Conference was at the epicenter of college
football this season, with both the national championship race and
Heisman chase turning weekly on games played by its three powerhouse
teams, including the pride of Texas, the University of Texas Longhorns.
Bradford is the fifth Oklahoma player to win the award, and second
during coach Bob Stoops' 10 seasons with the Sooners.
Mr. Bradford is not only outstanding on the football field, but he is
a scholar in the classroom as well. He puts the student in student-
athlete, as he has outstanding academics as a finance major. One of his
professors acknowledged that ``without reservation, if all of my
students were like Sam, my job would be really easy.''
Even though Sam Bradford was victorious over Quarterback Colt McCoy
of my beloved University of Texas Longhorns, I extend my hand of
congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment of winning the Heisman
Trophy.
I know that Congresswoman Fallin and the other Representatives from
the State of Oklahoma are quite proud of this amazing feat.
Mr. Speaker, this commendation today recognizes Sam Bradford from the
University of Oklahoma, and his 2008 Heisman Trophy win. This
resolution also notes the extraordinary commitment and daily sacrifices
made by this exceptional young man. I urge my colleagues to support
this resolution.
Mr. SABLAN. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 60.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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