[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1203-H1205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMENDING OHIO STATE FOOTBALL TEAM ON 2010 ROSE BOWL VICTORY

  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1047) commending The Ohio State University 
Buckeyes football team for its victory in the 2010 Rose Bowl.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1047

       Whereas The Ohio State University (Ohio State) Buckeyes 
     football team achieved many historic accomplishments during 
     the 2009 regular season;
       Whereas Ohio State defeated favored Oregon 26-17 in the 
     Rose Bowl on January 1, 2010;
       Whereas Ohio State won its seventh Rose Bowl all-time;
       Whereas Ohio State won its fifth consecutive Big Ten title 
     and played in its fifth consecutive BCS bowl;

[[Page H1204]]

       Whereas Ohio State finished the season at 11-2, ranked 
     fifth nationally;
       Whereas Ohio State led the Big Ten for the eighth 
     consecutive season in academic all-conference honorees;
       Whereas Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel became only the second 
     coach in Ohio State history to win both a NCAA National 
     Championship and a Rose Bowl (Woody Hayes);
       Whereas the Ohio State defense ranked in the Top 5 
     nationally in 4 different categories;
       Whereas Quarterback Terrelle Pryor threw for 266 yards, ran 
     for 72 yards, and scored two touchdowns, leading all players 
     for both teams in these categories; and
       Whereas Quarterback Terrelle Pryor was the Rose Bowl MVP: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends The Ohio State University (Ohio State) Buckeye 
     football team for its victory in the 2010 Rose Bowl;
       (2) congratulates Coach Jim Tressel, winner of five Big Ten 
     titles; and
       (3) recognizes the accomplishments of the Ohio State 
     Buckeye football team, which has played in more BCS Bowl 
     Games than any other team in college football.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Petri) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Puerto Rico.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise, extend, and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 
1047 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to congratulate the Ohio State University Buckeyes 
football team for their victory in the 2010 NCAA Rose Bowl. On January 
1, the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference faced off against 
the Oregon Ducks from the Pac-10 Conference for the 96th Rose Bowl 
game. The Buckeyes defeated the Ducks by a score of 26-17, collecting 
their seventh Rose Bowl crown.
  The Buckeyes finished their season with an 11-2 record and a fifth 
national ranking. In addition to winning its seventh Rose Bowl title, 
Ohio State won its fifth consecutive Big Ten title, playing in its 
fifth consecutive BCS bowl game. The Buckeyes have played in eight BCS 
games, the most of any school. The players and coaches deserve to be 
recognized for their outstanding accomplishments.
  Congratulations are in order for Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State's 
quarterback and 2010 Rose Bowl MVP. Pryor threw for 266 yards, ran for 
72 yards, and scored two touchdowns, leading all players from both 
teams in these categories.
  I also want to extend my congratulations to Head Coach Jim Tressel. 
Coach Tressel just completed his ninth season with the Buckeyes. Since 
taking the position, Tressel has led the Buckeyes to an overall record 
of 94-21, with nine bowl appearances and one national championship.
  The extraordinary achievement of this year is a tribute to the skill 
and dedication of the many players, coaches, students, alumni, 
families, and fans that have helped to make the Ohio State University 
Buckeyes a great football program. Winning the Rose Bowl and finishing 
the season with an 11-2 overall record have brought acclaim to the 
school and to the Buckeye football team. I know the fans of the 
university will revel in this victory as they look forward to the 2010 
season.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the Ohio State University 
Buckeyes for their success and thank Congresswoman Kilroy for bringing 
this bill forward.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of the resolution before us, House Resolution 
1047, commending the Ohio State University Buckeyes football team for 
its victory in 2010's Rose Bowl game.
  In the 2010 Rose Bowl, the Ohio State University Buckeyes defeated 
the University of Oregon on January 1, 2010. Sophomore quarterback 
Terrelle Pryor scored two touchdowns and was Rose Bowl's offensive most 
valuable player. Although Oregon's team fought valiantly, the Buckeyes' 
defense held fast. Despite the Ducks' lead early in the third quarter, 
the Buckeyes' defense marched forward to win the game 26-17.
  Known as ``The Granddaddy of Them All,'' the Rose Bowl game kicked 
off a myriad of college football legacies in 1902. Since then, the game 
has showcased 18 Heisman Trophy winners, produced 32 national 
champions, featured 197 consensus All-Americans, and honored 98 college 
football legends by inducting them into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
  The 2010 Rose Bowl was the seventh Rose Bowl won by the Buckeyes. The 
2009-2010 season marked the fifth consecutive Big Ten title for the 
Buckeyes and the fifth consecutive BCS Bowl for the team.

                              {time}  1645

  Ohio State was ranked fifth nationally and competed in a manner 
unparalleled in the Rose Bowl game. The Buckeyes have won seven 
national championships and produced seven Heisman Trophy winners. While 
the tradition of excellence certainly presents itself on the gridiron, 
Ohio State University's commitment to academic excellence is equally 
abundant.
  Ohio State University is the flagship institution of Ohio's public 
university system. It has been ranked as the 18th best public 
university by U.S. News & World Report and houses several programs that 
were ranked among the top 10 in these United States. The university was 
established in 1870, and its students have excelled since that time.
  I extend my congratulations to head coach Jim Tressel and all of the 
hardworking players, the fans, and to Ohio State University. I am happy 
to join in recognizing the Ohio State Buckeyes for their 
accomplishment, and wish all involved continued success, except of 
course when they are playing the Wisconsin Badgers.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she 
may consume the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kilroy), the sponsor of this 
legislation.
  Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
1047, bipartisan legislation I introduced to recognize the Ohio State 
University Buckeyes football team for its victory in the 2010 Rose 
Bowl. As a graduate of the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State 
University, and the Representative of the 15th Congressional District, 
where Ohio State University is located, it is my very great pleasure to 
wear the scarlet and gray today, and to publicly and formally 
congratulate the Buckeyes on a wonderful season, particularly for its 
Rose Bowl win.
  I would like to thank the 26 cosponsors of this resolution for 
joining me in recognizing the Buckeyes' achievements, including all 18 
members of the Ohio delegation. Buckeye football unites us across party 
lines. And I thank my Big 10 colleague from Wisconsin for his support 
of the resolution, and particularly for his kind words about Ohio State 
University's strong history of academic achievement. I am pleased that 
we can set aside partisan differences to come together and recognize 
the achievements of the student athletes of Buckeye football. I would 
also like to thank Chairman Miller for his help in bringing this 
resolution to the floor.
  On January 1, 2010, central Ohio cheered on the Ohio State Buckeyes 
as they defeated the University of Oregon Ducks 26-17 in the 96th Rose 
Bowl game. It was the Buckeyes' fifth straight BCS bowl appearance and 
seventh Rose Bowl victory in the program's history. The Buckeyes' 
strong defense held the high-powered Oregon offense to 27 points below 
its season average.
  While the win was a result of a tremendous team effort, quarterback 
Terrelle Pryor, son of Pennsylvania, Mr. Speaker, turned in an 
exceptional individual performance, throwing for 266 yards and rushing 
for 72 more, earning the Most Valuable Player award.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 
Buckeyes' worthy opponent, the Pac 10 champion Oregon Ducks, on a great 
season. Led by their quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and their running back 
LaMichael James, the Ducks came into the game ranked number seven and 
boasted one of the most prolific offenses in the Nation. Although the 
Buckeyes prevailed in Pasadena, Oregon overcame adversity all season 
and should also be proud of their achievements.

[[Page H1205]]

  A great thing about college football is that you see the students 
come and go and new teams every year. And so after losing a wealth of 
experience on both offense and defense, some thought that 2009 might be 
a rebuilding year for the Ohio State Buckeyes' football team. But 
instead, during a banner month of November, the Buckeyes tallied wins 
over then-number 10 Penn State and then-number 13 Iowa in a thrilling 
overtime game on their way to winning the Big 10 title.
  The Buckeyes achieved many historic achievements during the 2009 
season. The team earned its fifth consecutive Big 10 Conference title, 
and its sixth in the last eight seasons. The Buckeyes also won at least 
10 games 5 straight years for the first time in the program's storied 
history. The Ohio State defense was ranked in the top five nationally 
in four statistical categories, while shutting their opponents out 
three times. This year's senior class is the most successful in Ohio 
State history, winning a school record 44 games over the past 4 years. 
In addition, head coach Jim Tressel became only the second Ohio State 
coach, along with Woody Hayes, to win both a Rose Bowl championship and 
the national championship with the Buckeyes. Most importantly, 31 
Buckeyes were named to the Big 10 all-academic team, and the Buckeyes 
have led the Big 10 in all-academic team honorees in eight consecutive 
seasons.
  One other comment about the Rose Bowl, this one about the Rose Bowl 
Parade. Many great marching bands, including those from Ohio, marched 
on that day in the Rose Bowl Parade, but it was a banner day when the 
marching band from the Ohio State School for the Blind marched the 
streets of Pasadena as part of the Rose Bowl Parade, an historic first. 
And I really congratulate those students, their teachers, and their 
band director. We are very proud of their outstanding achievement as 
well.
  As it turns out, the Buckeyes' victory in the Rose Bowl was a sign of 
good things to come for Ohio State athletics in 2010. The women's 
basketball team recently won the Big 10 regular season title for the 
sixth year in a row, a new record, and the Big 10 tournament title for 
the second year in a row. Meanwhile, the men's basketball team won a 
share of the Big 10 regular season championship going into this 
weekend's Big 10 tournament. I wish both of these teams the best of 
luck during their postseason runs.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution 
recognizing the Ohio State Buckeyes' athletic and academic 
achievements. The 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes football team conducted 
itself both on and off the field with the excellence we have come to 
expect from this great program. I congratulate the Buckeyes on their 
season and look forward to cheering them on in 2010. As we say in Ohio, 
Go Bucks.
  Mr. PETRI. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. I now urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution congratulating the Ohio State Buckeyes for their Rose Bowl 
victory, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1047.
  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. PIERLUISI. 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.

                          ____________________