[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 114 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8832-H8834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATING LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL TEAM

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 616) congratulating the Louisiana State 
University baseball team for winning the 2009 National Collegiate 
Athletic Association Division I College World Series.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 616

       Whereas, on June 24, 2009, the Louisiana State University 
     Tigers baseball team completed a remarkable season, winning 
     the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I 
     College World Series Championship at the Rosenblatt Stadium 
     in Omaha, Nebraska, by defeating the top ranked University of 
     Texas Longhorns, 11-4;
       Whereas the success of the team was a direct result of the 
     talent and resolve of every player on the Louisiana State 
     University Tigers baseball team, including Buzzy Haydel, 
     Jared Mitchell, Chad Jones, Derek Helenihi, Leon Landry, 
     Grant Dozar, Mikie Mahtook, Wet Delatte, Ryan Byrd, Tyler 
     Hanover, Austin Ross, Sean Ochinko, Ryan Schimpf, DJ 
     LeMahieu, Nicholas Pontiff, Shane Riedie, Johnny Dishon, 
     Matty Ott, Anthony Ranaudo, Daniel Bradshaw, Randy Zeigler, 
     Beau Didier, Louis Coleman, Chris Matulis, Chris McGhee, 
     Micah Gibbs, Blake Dean, Austin Nola, Jordan Nicholson, Nolan 
     Cain, Paul Bertuccini, Ben Alsup, Kevin Farnsworth, and 
     Spencer Mathews;
       Whereas the Louisiana State University Tigers baseball 
     team's title run included winning 15 of the final 16 games 
     and hitting 13 home runs in 6 College World Series games 
     while averaging more than 8 runs throughout the postseason;
       Whereas the Louisiana State University baseball team 
     completed the year with a 56-17 record, including a 5-1 
     record in the Southeastern Conference tournament, a 3-0 
     record in the Regional tournament, a 2-0 record in the Super 
     Regional contest, and a 5-1 record in the College World 
     Series;
       Whereas the 2009 College World Series Championship 
     represents the sixth National Championship for the Louisiana 
     State University Tigers baseball team;
       Whereas the Louisiana State University Tigers baseball team 
     is 6-0 in winner-take-all national championship games;
       Whereas this victory marks the second time the Louisiana 
     State University Tigers baseball team has won the 
     Southeastern Conference regular season title, the SEC 
     tournament title, and the national title in the same year;
       Whereas coach Paul Mainieri successfully led the Louisiana 
     State University Tigers baseball team back to national 
     prominence in only his third year as head coach;
       Whereas Jared Mitchell was named Most Outstanding Player of 
     the College World Series, after hitting .347 with 2 home 
     runs, 7 RBI, two doubles, and a triple;
       Whereas Chad Jones and Jared Mitchell became the first 2 
     players to win a BCS football championship and a College 
     World Series; and
       Whereas Louisiana State University's national championship 
     spotlights one of the Nation's premier State universities, 
     which is committed to academic and athletic excellence: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the Louisiana State University Tigers baseball 
     team for winning the 2009 College World Series;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, 
     coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in helping 
     the Louisiana State University baseball team during the 2009 
     baseball season;
       (3) congratulates the citizens of Louisiana, the Louisiana 
     State University community, and fans of Tiger baseball; and
       (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     make available enrolled copies of this resolution to 
     Louisiana State University for appropriate display and 
     distribution to the coaches and members of the 2009 Louisiana 
     State University baseball team.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days during which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to insert extraneous material on H. Res. 616 into the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Louisiana State 
University baseball team for their victory in the 2009 NCAA Division I 
tournament.
  On June 24, the LSU Tigers captured the university's sixth national 
baseball championship with an impressive 11-4 victory over the talented 
University of Texas Longhorns. This decisive victory over the Texas 
Longhorns in the third game of a three-game series marked the first 
baseball championship for the Tigers since 2000.
  We want to congratulate the coaches, the fans and the supporters of 
the LSU Tigers in this dramatic victory. They were rated number one 
going into the season, third when the tournament began; and they pulled 
a dramatic victory.
  I must emphasize that LSU is not only an athletic powerhouse, but 
this university is also a premiere academic institution. They offer 
bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. The school 
enrolls over 26,000 students, including more than 1,400 international 
students and over 4,000 graduate students. LSU graduates elite 
athletes, renowned scholars, and famous elected officials who are 
changing the world as we know it.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate Louisiana State University. I 
want to thank Representative Cassidy for bringing the resolution 
forward. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASSIDY. I thank my colleague from Arizona.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H8833]]

  I rise today in support of House Resolution 616, congratulating the 
Louisiana State University baseball team for winning the 2009 National 
Collegiate Athletic Association Division I College World Series.
  Louisiana State University, LSU, was founded in 1853. Its first 
academic session began in 1860. As of the spring of 2009, LSU's 
enrollment is more than 26,000 students, including more than 1,400 
international students and over 4,000 graduate students. LSU includes 
10 senior colleges and schools; and since its first commencement in 
1869, the university has awarded nearly 200,000 degrees. LSU has more 
than 300 student organizations on campus and is widely known for its 
successful athletic program.
  The Louisiana State University Tigers have won 45 national sports 
championships, including five in baseball, three in football, and 25 in 
women's track and field. Since 1986, LSU's baseball has been considered 
an elite program in college baseball, making 15 College World Series 
appearances and winning six national championships. The team was 
founded in 1895, and it played a total of four games that first season. 
The Tigers won their first national championship in 1991; and most 
recently, they were crowned national champions for the sixth time.
  The 2009 LSU Tigers baseball team was led to national victory by 
Coach Paul Mainieri. The team traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, for the NCAA 
College World Series after sweeping Southern University, Baylor 
University, and the University of Minnesota in the regional 
championship and Rice University in the Super Regional Championship.
  In the NCAA Division I College World Series, the LSU Tigers faced the 
Texas Longhorns in the finals after winning victories over the Virginia 
Cavaliers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The LSU Tigers took the national 
title after a grueling three-game series against the Texas Longhorns. 
LSU finished their season 56-17. The team's athletic ability, 
determination, and Coach Paul Mainieri's leadership led the LSU Tigers 
baseball team to their first national championship victory since the 
year 2000.
  As a graduate of both LSU and of the LSU Medical School, I am honored 
to stand before the House today to congratulate and to recognize the 
significant achievements of the players, coaches and students, whose 
dedication and hard work have led to the success of the LSU baseball 
program as the 2009 NCAA Division I College World Series national 
champions.
  I ask my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Geaux (go) Tigers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of my colleague, Mr. 
Cassidy, if he has any additional speakers.
  Mr. CASSIDY. I do.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CASSIDY. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana, my colleague, 
Dr. Boustany.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 616, congratulating the Louisiana State University baseball 
team for winning the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
Division I baseball national championship.
  I want to thank my friend, Congressman Bill Cassidy, for sponsoring 
this resolution and for yielding time to me as well. I also want to 
thank the Education and Labor Committee for bringing it to the floor.
  On June 24, the LSU Tigers defeated the top-seeded University of 
Texas Longhorns 11-4 in the third and final game of the College World 
Series to achieve their sixth national championship in baseball.
  In only his third year as head coach, Paul Mainieri led the Tigers 
back into the national spotlight. The series was sealed by an amazing 
performance from Jared Mitchell, who was named Most Outstanding Player 
of the series and who was a first-round pick in the 2009 Major League 
Baseball draft. Mitchell and fan favorite, pitcher Chad Jones, became 
the first two athletes to win both a College World Series and a BCS 
football national championship.
  Mr. Speaker, I am especially proud of two players from my district. 
First of all, there is my cousin Mikie Mahtook. Mikie lost his dad when 
he was about 6 years old. His dad was also a very well-known college 
athlete at LSU, and Mikie has turned out to be a great young man. He 
was SEC All-Freshman outfielder. He is from Lafayette, my hometown.
  I also want to congratulate Spencer Matthews from Lake Charles, also 
in my district.
  This season, Mikie Mahtook gave an excellent performance in the 
outfield in addition to batting .450 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, 25 
stolen bases, and multiple clutch hits, most notably in game 1 of the 
championship series.
  Spencer recently represented the Thomasville Hi-Toms in the Coastal 
Plain League All-Star game, a wooden bat summer league for college 
players in Wilmington, North Carolina. He pitched a scoreless fifth 
inning in the game, allowing no hits and striking out two batters. Both 
student athletes are tremendous assets to the team and to southwest 
Louisiana.
  Mr. Speaker, we must not forget that, foremost, these student 
athletes perform just as hard in the classroom as they do on the 
baseball field. I am proud to announce that 11 members of this national 
championship team were placed on the 2009 Southeastern Conference 
Spring Academic Honor Roll. Each student athlete must have at least a 
3.0 grade point average to be recognized.
  This championship is very special to the Louisiana State University 
system and to my great State of Louisiana. It is my honor to recognize 
Coach Paul Mainieri and the 2009 LSU Tigers baseball team for all of 
its accomplishments this season and for bringing home the College World 
Series title.
  I also want to commend the families of these players, coaches and 
support staff and the very loyal, very vocal LSU baseball fans who have 
come to recognize Omaha as a home away from home.
  I now ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Geaux (go) Tigers.
  Mr. CASSIDY. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. We have, I believe, no further speakers. I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CASSIDY. I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from 
Louisiana, Congressman Scalise.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. SCALISE. I thank my colleague from Baton Rouge for yielding me 2 
minutes, and it's also good to follow up my colleague from Lafayette 
rising in support of this resolution commending the 2009 LSU Tigers for 
their national championship winning the College World Series.
  As a proud alumnus of LSU, I was very excited to see them regain the 
prominence that they had under Skip Burtman, who won five national 
championship College World Series during his tenure as the head coach, 
probably one of the greatest baseball coaches in the history of college 
baseball. And now to have turned the program over to Paul Maneri, who 
just in his third year won the national title, winning this College 
World Series in Omaha, a place that many people from Baton Rouge and 
fans of LSU all throughout the country enjoy going to, and enjoy 
celebrating national championships like now. They did with the sixth 
national championship, making them number two behind all college teams 
in the history of college baseball.
  So there were a number of notable achievements. Of course, you've got 
to congratulate the coaches and the players, and the entire LSU 
community for what they've done, but there were some distinctions. Chad 
Jones and Jared Mitchell became the first two teammates who actually 
won a BCS national championship being on the 2007 football national 
championship team and also being on the team that won the College World 
Series. So some notable achievements there. And the entire LSU faculty, 
of course. The LSU program generates hundreds of thousands of dollars 
that go back to the academic programs and the great academics at LSU as 
well.
  So, again, I thank my colleague. I'm proud to cosponsor this 
resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.
  Geaux (go) Tigers.
  Mr. CASSIDY. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I yield back the balance of our time, Mr. Speaker.

[[Page H8834]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 616.
  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. CASSIDY. 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.

                          ____________________