[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S54-S57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 389--COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CRIMSON 
    TIDE FOR BEING UNANIMOUSLY DECLARED THE 2009 NCAA FOOTBALL BOWL 
                     SUBDIVISION NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

  Mr. SHELBY (for himself and Mr. Sessions) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 389

       Whereas on January 7, 2010, The University of Alabama 
     Crimson Tide marched into the historic Rose Bowl and defeated 
     the University of Texas Longhorns 37-21, to win The 2010 Bowl 
     Championship Series (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``BCS'') National Championship Game;
       Whereas the Crimson Tide earned a berth in the 2010 BCS 
     National Championship Game by defeating the then-unbeaten 
     Florida Gators 32-13 in the 2009 Southeastern Conference 
     Championship Game;
       Whereas the Crimson Tide finished the 2009 season with a 
     perfect record of 14 victories and 0 losses;
       Whereas the Crimson Tide defeated 3 teams ranked in the 
     Associated Press (referred to in this preamble as the ``AP'') 
     Postseason Top 10 Poll and 5 teams ranked in the AP 
     Postseason Top 25 poll;
       Whereas the Crimson Tide finished the 2009 season ranked 
     first by all 60 AP voters and all 58 USA Today Coaches' Poll 
     voters;
       Whereas the first of 5 victories for the Crimson Tide in 
     the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1926, earned the first football 
     national championship for The University of Alabama and 
     served as one of the first great achievements in the storied 
     winning tradition of the Crimson Tide;
       Whereas the 2010 BCS National Championship Game victory was 
     the 32nd bowl victory and, a NCAA record, 57th bowl 
     appearance for the Crimson Tide;
       Whereas the Crimson Tide previously won a total of 12 
     National Championships, winning in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 
     1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, and 1992;
       Whereas Head Coach Nick Saban has led the Crimson Tide back 
     atop the elite of College Football while instilling 
     discipline, character, and integrity in the young men he 
     coaches;

[[Page S57]]

       Whereas the leadership and devotion of Crimson Tide 
     Athletics Director Mal Moore to The University of Alabama 
     have been crucial for the National Championship teams for 
     which he has played, coached, and served as Athletic 
     Director;
       Whereas Javier Arenas, Terrence Cody, Michael Johnson, Mark 
     Ingram, Rolando McClain, Leigh Tiffin, and Mark Barron earned 
     AP All-America honors for their accomplishments during the 
     2009 season;
       Whereas the 2009 Crimson Tide had a record number of 6 AP 
     First Team All-Americans;
       Whereas in 2009, running back Mark Ingram, Jr. won the 
     first Heisman Trophy in the long and accomplished history of 
     the Crimson Tide football program;
       Whereas in 2009, Rolando McClain was recognized as the top 
     collegiate linebacker in the Nation with the Butkus Award and 
     the Jack Lambert Award, the first to be awarded to a Crimson 
     Tide player;
       Whereas Crimson Tide Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart was 
     honored as the best Assistant Coach in the Nation in 2009, 
     with the prestigious Broyles Award;
       Whereas 13 players on the 2009 Crimson Tide roster had 
     earned their degrees from The University of Alabama before 
     the season began;
       Whereas President Robert Witt has been instrumental to the 
     remarkable academic and athletic success that The University 
     of Alabama has experienced since his arrival at the Capstone;
       Whereas The University of Alabama is devoted to educating 
     young persons and providing them with the tools to excel 
     throughout their lives;
       Whereas the excellence on the field of the Crimson Tide 
     brought pride to The University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide 
     faithful, and the whole of the great State of Alabama: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates The University of Alabama Crimson Tide 
     for being unanimously declared the 2009 NCAA Football Bowl 
     Subdivision National Champions;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, and staff whose hard work and dedication helped the 
     Crimson Tide win the National Championship; and
       (3) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) President of The University of Alabama, Dr. Robert 
     Witt;
       (B) Athletic Director of The University of Alabama, Mal 
     Moore; and
       (C) Head Coach of The University of Alabama Crimson Tide, 
     Nick Saban.

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