[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 110 (Monday, July 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6010-H6011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1456) congratulating the University of Dayton
men's basketball team for winning the 2010 National Invitation
Tournament basketball championship.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1456
Whereas, on April 1, 2010, the University of Dayton Flyers
men's basketball team won its third National Invitation
Tournament basketball championship in school history;
Whereas the University of Dayton Flyers men's basketball
team won their first National Invitation Tournament
basketball championship in 1962, and their second in 1968;
Whereas the University of Dayton Flyers men's basketball
team has 40 all-time victories in the National Invitation
Tournament, second only to St. John's University in Queens,
New York;
Whereas the University of Dayton Flyers men's basketball
team has three regular season conference championships and
one conference tournament championship since joining the
Atlantic 10 Conference in 1995;
Whereas in addition to their success on the court, the
University of Dayton men's basketball team upholds a high
standard of academic excellence, achieving an overall
graduation success rate of 100 percent every year since Brian
Gregory was named head coach in 2003;
Whereas the University of Dayton Flyers men's basketball
team won the championship game by defeating the 2009 NCAA
Tournament National Champion University of North Carolina Tar
Heels 79 to 68;
Whereas the roster of the championship Flyer team included
Mickey Perry, London Warren, Rob Lowery, Chris Johnson, Dan
Fox, Josh Parker, Paul Williams, Luke Fabrizius, Luke
Hendrick, Logan Nourse, Marcus Johnson, Chris Wright, Devin
Searcy, Matt Kavanaugh, Peter Zestermann, Kurt Huelsman, and
Josh Benson;
Whereas head coach Brian Gregory and his coaching staff,
including assistant coaches Billy Schmidt, Jon Borovich, and
Cornell Mann, director of basketball operations Matt Farrell,
strength and conditioning coach Mike Bewley, and athletic
trainer Nate Seymour deserve tremendous credit for their
outstanding determination and accomplishments; and
Whereas the students, alumni, administration, faculty, and
supporters of the University of Dayton are to be
congratulated for their loyalty and pride in their
championship caliber basketball team: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the University of Dayton men's basketball
team for winning the 2010 National Invitation Tournament
Division I men's basketball championship; and
(2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches,
students, and support staff who were instrumental in the
Flyers' victory.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Polis) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.
General Leave
Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res.
1456 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1456,
which congratulates the University of Dayton men's basketball team for
winning the 2010 National Invitation Tournament Basketball
Championship. The N.I.T. is the oldest tournament in college
basketball. Started in 1938, it was the first postseason collegiate
basketball tournament to be played in the country, 1 year before the
NCAA.
The Dayton Flyers claimed victory over last year's champs, the
University of North Carolina Tar Heels, with a 79-68 win that Thursday
night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was the Flyers'
first N.I.T. title in 42 years and their third in University of
Dayton's history. Additionally, this was Dayton's 22nd appearance in
the N.I.T., second only to St. John's at 27.
This Dayton men's basketball season marked Head Coach Brian Gregory's
seventh season with the Flyers. He led the time to the 2004 NCAA
tournament and the 2009 NCAA tournament as well as the 2008 N.I.T.
Dayton players showed excellent offense against the Tar Heels.
Reserve guard Paul Williams scored 16 points for Dayton, while Chris
Wright and Chris Johnson both had 14 points for the Flyers. With a
strong lineup, Dayton beat four teams from major conferences en route
to the championship.
I also want to congratulate the Flyers for their excellence off the
court. The Dayton team had a 100 percent graduation rate in 2010, a
rate they have maintained every year since Brian Gregory was named head
coach in 2003. I join the students, alumni, faculty, and staff at the
University of Dayton in celebrating these impressive student-athletes.
Madam Speaker, I once again congratulate the Dayton Flyers on winning
the 2010 National Invitation Tournament, and I thank Representative
Turner for bringing this resolution forward.
[[Page H6011]]
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1600
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1456, congratulating the
University of Dayton's men's basketball team for winning the 2010
National Invitation Tournament basketball championship.
On April 1, 2010, the University of Dayton Flyers defeated the
University of North Carolina Tarheels 79-68 in the finals of the
National Invitation Men's Basketball Tournament. The Flyers men's
basketball team now holds 40 all-time victories in the National
Invitation Tournament, or NIT, the second-most victories in tournament
history.
Flyers Coach Brian Gregory led the team to victory in his seventh
season as Dayton's head coach, every season of which has been a winning
season. Head Coach Brian Gregory has also led the team to two NCAA
tournaments and two National Invitation Tournaments.
Flyers player Chris Johnson earned the 2010 NIT most outstanding
player, and Marcs Johnson was selected to the NIT All-Tournament team.
The Dayton Flyers finished the 2009-2010 season with 29 wins and 14
losses, ending the season with the team's third NIT title.
Although we are celebrating the University of Dayton's athletic
excellence, we should take a moment to recognize the quality of the
University of Dayton's academic programs as well. The University of
Dayton is a top-tier national doctoral-level university, and one of the
10 best Catholic universities in the Nation, according to U.S. News &
World Report.
Founded in 1850, the University of Dayton's offerings include 70
high-quality undergraduate programs in four divisions and graduate
programs at the master's and doctoral level, as well as a law degree.
The largest private university in Ohio, the University of Dayton, is a
leader in higher education. So I extend my congratulations to
University of Dayton President Daniel Curran, Head Coach Brian Gregory
and his staff, the hardworking players, and of course the fans. I wish
all continued success and ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of
the resolution, a representative of Dayton and surrounding areas in
Ohio, Mike Turner.
Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House
Resolution 1456, congratulating the University of Dayton men's
basketball team for winning the 2010 National Invitation Tournament
basketball championship.
This past season, the Dayton Flyers men's basketball team won its
third NIT championship in school history. The team won the championship
on April 1, defeating the 2009 NCAA Tournament national champion North
Carolina Tarheels 79-68. The University of Dayton men's basketball team
is second in all-time wins in the NIT with 40.
In addition to their success off the court, as has been stated, the
University of Dayton academically is also very successful with its
student athletes. The men's basketball team upholds a high standard of
academic excellence. The program has graduated every senior student
athlete since Brian Gregory was named head coach in 2003, including
seven players this season. But in addition, UD graduated 96 percent of
all its student athletes in 2008, the most of any Atlantic 10
Conference school, and it tied for 10th in the Nation.
In 2006, the Savior of Our Cities national survey of community
revitalization ranked the University of Dayton number one among
Catholic universities and number three overall in helping save
America's cities from blight. They are very active in our community
revitalization. The University of Dayton is also a center of research
excellence, with UDRI being a major contributor to research that
affects our national security.
Not only does the men's basketball program serve as a significant
aspect of campus life, it also plays a major role in bringing people
from the surrounding area into the city. The Flyers men's basketball
team has been one of the biggest sports attractions in the Dayton area
for years. Since UD Arena opened in 1969, Dayton has been in the NCAA's
top 35 in home attendance every season. This past season, the Flyers
led the Atlantic 10 Conference in attendance for its 13th straight
season.
The University of Dayton is one of the 10 largest Catholic schools in
the United States and is the largest of the three Marianist
universities in the Nation. The students, alumni, administration,
faculty, and supporters of the University of Dayton are to be
congratulated for their loyalty and pride in their championship-caliber
basketball team.
I would like to thank my Ohio colleagues, all of whom are original
cosponsors of this resolution. As a proud alumnus of the University of
Dayton MBA program, I urge all of my colleagues to support this
resolution congratulating the University of Dayton's men's basketball
team on their successful season.
Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. POLIS. Once again, I congratulate the Dayton Flyers on winning
the 2010 NIT tournament, and I thank Representative Turner for bringing
this resolution forward.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1456.
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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