[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 25 (Thursday, February 11, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S846-S847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING THE DENVER BRONCOS ON THEIR SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, after the very weighty and serious 
discussion that just preceded me, I come maybe with a little bit more 
lighthearted message for the Presiding Officer and my colleague, the 
senior Senator from Colorado, Mr. Bennet.
  I think everybody knows here--the folks up in the gallery may know--
that Denver is home of the Super Bowl 50 winners, the Denver Broncos. 
The Presiding Officer and I attended the Super Bowl on Sunday, and I am 
sure he agrees it was quite a treat.
  God blessed us with beautiful weather, and the people of Santa Clara 
really made us feel welcome and at home. They did an amazing job. The 
Super Bowl organizers are to be commended for their attention to detail 
and the superb work they did to make us feel welcome. It was a 
fantastic experience for me. So I can only imagine, with the Presiding 
Officer having the winning team, how much fun it was for him.
  I think it is safe to say that there are thousands in Colorado on a 
Rocky Mountain high this week, and I will bet there are even more who 
are really happy that the Broncos won the Super Bowl.
  The Denver Broncos played a great game, and they defeated my Carolina 
Panthers. Both defenses played extraordinarily well, and the Broncos' 
offense did just enough to get the job done.
  So to the Presiding Officer and Senator Bennet, I come to the Senate 
Chamber today to fulfill my wager to humbly offer my congratulations to 
the Super Bowl champion, the Denver Broncos, and to all their fans in 
your great State and, I would argue, across the Nation.
  But before I talk about the beloved Panthers, I want to thank you for 
not accepting some of my maybe exuberant or overexuberant offers that I 
made as a possible friendly wager. And for C-SPAN viewers at home, you 
may want to avert your eyes.
  I really don't think I would have looked very good in an orange beard 
with Broncos earrings. With all due respect to the Presiding Officer, 
you looked a lot like Papa Smurf with a blue beard. So a simple speech 
of congratulations is what I have to offer.
  The truth is, I am deeply disappointed about the Panthers' loss. But 
it is also true that, unless the Broncos are playing my Panthers or my 
childhood team, the Miami Dolphins, I am usually pulling for the 
Broncos. The Broncos' organization, starting with the Bowlen family and 
Coach Kubiak, are topnotch and well respected in the NFL. Former greats 
such as John Elway, Terrell Davis, Shannon Sharpe, Ed--how could he 
wear so few pads and still survive--McCaffrey, and so many other 
members have made this team so much fun to watch over the years.
  But then there is this guy, Peyton Manning, or ``The Sheriff,'' as 
Coach Gruden nicknamed him back in 2009. I have been watching Peyton 
Manning since he was recruited to the University of Tennessee many 
years ago--a five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl winner on two 
different franchises. Next month, on March 24, he is going to be 40 
years old, and he is playing at the top of his game. Peyton is an 
amazing athlete, but what really makes Peyton extraordinary is his 
character and his behavior on and off the field. He is a true 
gentleman, a great sport, and he is a scholar of the game.
  I opted not to put up a graphic on the New England Patriots because 
anybody who knows me knows that I am not much of a fan of the New 
England Patriots, dating back to a December 1982 snowplow game.
  But, in addition to all the other things Peyton Manning has done, he 
also led the Broncos to a victory over the Patriots in the AFC 
Championship, completely deflating Tom Brady's shot at another Super 
Bowl ring. That alone makes Peyton Manning a great American, in my 
book.
  The Broncos and I do have something in common. We were both born in 
1960. We are both 56 years old. They built a franchise that most fans 
expect to be in contention every year.
  The Panthers, on the other hand, are young. They were born in 1995. 
They are 20 years old. They have already gone to the playoffs seven 
times. They have won two NFC Championships and been in the big game 
twice, and I believe that next year they have a good shot to be in 
contention.

[[Page S847]]

  So before I close, I thank owner Jerry Richardson, Coach Ron Rivera, 
and the Carolina Panthers. Mr. Richardson is a pillar of our community, 
and Coach Rivera has developed a Super Bowl-caliber team: Cam Newton, 
the league MVP; Luke Kuechly, our defensive standout; a total of 10 Pro 
Bowlers this year; and a 17-to-2 season. It was fun to watch. The Super 
Bowl was fun to watch.
  You know, I did grow a playoff beard. After we ended the playoff 
season, I proudly displayed it for weeks on the Senate floor, back in 
North Carolina, and at Levi Stadium on Super Bowl night.
  But on Monday morning I got misty-eyed as I shaved it off in San 
Francisco. So with all apologies to Tony Bennett, I penned a poem based 
on one of his songs about that same city. I called it ``I left my hair 
in San Francisco.''

     I left my hair in San Francisco
     After the game, it haunted me
     I'm cleanly shaven, quite sad and bare
     While Broncos fans dance like Fred Astaire
     The loveliness of Santa Clara seems somehow sad today
     The glory of my Panthers' season is of another day
     But I'm looking forward to next year's season
     Because I expect a Super Bowl repeat for many good reasons

  To Senator Bennet and to the Presiding Officer, congratulations on a 
great Super Bowl win for the Denver Broncos, and I look forward to many 
more games that our two teams may play in the future.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I will be very brief. I have a longer set 
of remarks that I want to give next week celebrating the Broncos' 
victory, and I know our colleague from Wyoming is here.
  But since the Presiding Officer is shackled to the desk and can't 
make remarks, I would say on his behalf how grateful the two of us are 
to the Senator from North Carolina for the graciousness of his remarks. 
I know how hard it must have been.
  But to have the Senator not only make the remarks but provide 
original poetry at the end, is more than anybody could have expected. 
So through the Chair I thank the Senator for that.
  I also want to say how proud we are of the Broncos and the Broncos 
organization, the Bowlen family, and the entire team for what they were 
able to pull off. I was able to watch it in my living room with my wife 
and daughters.
  I congratulate, in particular, Von Miller, who is the MVP, and our 
defense, who played a game like no other defense I have ever seen.
  Finally, I would simply say thank you to Peyton Manning for the 
example he has set for my children and for children all over our 
State--that what matters is not how good you are or how skilled you are 
or how you act in the minute, but what matters is the patient decades 
of hard work a person is willing to put in to perfect their craft. That 
is what Peyton Manning has demonstrated. That is what he has shown. 
That is the value he has lived. I think he has made a huge difference, 
as I say, to the next generation of Coloradans.
  We learned last week, as well, that this game, just like any game, is 
not about any one individual; it is about a team. We saw a team--the 
weaknesses and strengths--come together and win a game over a very, 
very tough organization in the Carolina Panthers.
  (Mr. BARRASSO assumed the Chair.)
  With that, I see my colleague from Colorado is now on the floor.
  I yield the floor by saying: Go Broncos.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.
  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Wyoming for 
providing relief and the Presiding Officer for allowing me to make 
remarks.
  I thank my freshman colleague from the great State of North Carolina 
for those kind words. I can only imagine if the Senator from Colorado, 
Mr. Bennet, and I had to give the same remarks had the outcome been 
different, that we could only be so gracious. So thank you very much 
for the congratulations to the Denver Broncos and, obviously, the 
Carolina Panthers. It was an exciting game that they were able to be a 
part of, and there will be many more years of success to both 
franchises, undoubtedly.
  For those of you in Colorado who were able to watch the game, what an 
exciting time it was. We can remember the great teams led by John 
Elway--whether they played the Packers or the Falcons for the two Super 
Bowl victories--and now this exciting victory at Santa Clara as well. 
Also, a million people showed up in downtown Denver, CO, just a few 
short days ago to express their outpouring of support for the Denver 
Broncos. This has truly been an exciting time for the people of 
Colorado.
  I am very pleased that Senator Bennet and I didn't have to grow a 
beard. Thank you, Senator Tillis, from the great State of North 
Carolina.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sasse). The Senator from Wyoming.

                          ____________________