[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S147-S149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



     Recognizing the NDSU 2022 NCAA Division II Championship Title

  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 2022 Football 
Championship Subdivision national champions, the North Dakota State 
University Bison.
  This past weekend, North Dakotans once again filled Toyota Stadium in 
Frisco, TX, where the NDSU Bison seized their 17th NCAA championship, 
earning victory over the Montana State University Bobcats by a score of 
38 to 10.
  I had the opportunity to join Bison Nation in Frisco to cheer on the 
team, and, as always, the fans created an overwhelming atmosphere of 
support and team spirit.
  At the same time, the Bobcats should come away from the game with 
pride, having capped off a successful season. The Bison have now won 9 
of the past 11 FCS championships--an achievement that goes unmatched in 
modern collegiate football history.
  Further, this victory followed a strong season for the Bison, where 
they had a 14-win and 1-loss record--a continuation of a decades' worth 
of excellence and skill. Since 2011, the NDSU Bison have had 149 wins 
to only 12 losses, which includes a streak of 39 consecutive wins. Such 
a record stands as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the 
players and staff, including Head Coach Matt Entz.
  Accordingly, I am joining with my colleague Senator Cramer to 
introduce a resolution honoring the NDSU Bison's achievements. We 
congratulate all of the players, coaches, and university leadership, 
including Athletic Director Matt Larsen, NDSU President Dean Bresciani, 
and others, on building this tremendously successful program. We 
recognize the important support of Bison Nation, which helps drive this 
team to victory year after year.
  The NDSU Bison are the pride of North Dakota. Their accomplishments, 
character, and work ethic represent the very best of our State. We say 
congratulations again to the national champions, and, as always, we 
say: Go Bison.
  I ask unanimous consent to have the resolution printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                               Resolution

       Congratulating the North Dakota State University Bison 
     football team for winning the 2022 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Division I Football Championship 
     Subdivision title.
       Whereas, the North Dakota State University (referred to in 
     this preamble as ``NDSU'') Bison football team won the 2022 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this 
     preamble as the ``NCAA'') Division I Football Championship 
     Subdivision (referred to in this preamble as the ``FCS'') 
     title game 1n Frisco, TX, on January 8, 2022, in a well-
     fought victory over the Montana State University Bobcats by a 
     score of 38 to 10;
       Whereas, including the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS title, the 
     NDSU Bison football team has won 17 national football 
     championships;
       Whereas, the NDSU Bison football team has won 9 of the last 
     11 NCAA Division I FCS titles, an achievement that continues 
     to be unmatched in modern collegiate football history;
       Whereas, the NDSU Bison have displayed tremendous 
     resilience and skill since 2011, with 149 wins to only 12 
     losses, including a streak of 39 consecutive wins;
       Whereas, head coach Matt Entz and his staff led the NDSU 
     Bison football team to a dominant season and a second 
     championship in his 3 years as head coach at NDSU, continuing 
     the NDSU Bison football program's culture of excellence;
       Whereas, thousands of Bison fans once again attended the 
     championship game in Frisco, TX, reflecting the tremendous 
     pride and dedication of Bison Nation, which has supported and 
     helped drive the achievement of the NDSU Bison football team; 
     and
       Whereas, the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS title was a victory 
     for both the NDSU Bison football team and the entire State of 
     North Dakota: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the North Dakota State University Bison 
     football team for winning the 2022 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Division I FCS title;
       (2) commends the players, coaches, and staff of the North 
     Dakota State University Bison football team for--
       (A) their tireless work and dedication; and
       (B) fostering a continued tradition of excellence;
       (3) congratulates North Dakota State University President 
     Dean Bresciani, North Dakota State University Athletic 
     Director Matt Larsen, and all the faculty and staff of North 
     Dakota State University for creating an environment that 
     emphasizes excellence in both academics and athletics; and
       (4) recognizes the students, alumni, fans, and all of Bison 
     Nation for supporting the North Dakota State University Bison 
     football team so well during its successful quest to bring 
     home yet another NCAA Division I FCS trophy for North Dakota 
     State University.

  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, before I turn to my colleague Senator 
Cramer, I want to mention that I was at the national championship game. 
It was just fantastic.
  As I say, Bison Nation, which is all our Bison fans from North Dakota 
and across the country, and the coaches, the staff, President 
Bresciani, and, of course, these great student athletes who had such a 
wonderful game--it was a great show. They turned out in force in 
Frisco, TX. We are starting to call Frisco Fargo South, which is 
actually the name of one of the high schools up in Fargo, which is kind 
of fun. But our fans travelled down there so well, filled the stadium, 
and they did once again. It was just a wonderful atmosphere. It was on 
national television, so they performed on a national stage, and people 
from across the country got to watch a wonderful game.
  But leading up to that game, in the semifinals, they played James 
Madison University, which has a tremendous football program as well. 
That was on a Friday night, and it was the Friday night where we were 
last here several weeks ago voting until about 2 o'clock in the 
morning.
  The reason I bring up the story is because we must have had--you were 
there, Mr. President--we must have had like north of 20 votes at least. 
So we started early in the evening and went until 2 in the morning or 
thereabouts.
  But the semifinal game between the North Dakota State University 
Bison and the James Madison Dukes was on television that Friday 
evening, so between votes, we were going into the cloakroom, and we had 
it on television there. So between votes, all the Senators--at least in 
the Republican cloakroom--we had it on, and we were watching the game.
  It was a lot of fun and helped, you know, with the long evening, but 
it really demonstrated how this program has done so much in terms of 
for the State and NDSU and really providing an awareness nationwide of 
these great student athletes we have, because all of our colleagues got 
to see them, and they commented on not just the caliber of the football 
that our team played--it was a hard-fought game. James Madison has a 
wonderful program as well; again, really just a class operation. So the 
Bison won in a hard-fought game.
  But the other thing that was fun--we have a dome. We call it the 
Bison Dome. Go figure. And remember that Bison is B-I-S-O-N, but it is 
a Z, not an S, when you say it properly. But they showed all the fans 
having fun and the noise in the dome, which makes it so hard to come up 
and play North Dakota State on our home field in our dome. Everybody, 
of course, is dressed in green and gold. But what an incredible sports 
atmosphere.
  For anyone who likes collegiate athletics, this is one of the most 
iconic, greatest venues in the country. Again, it is Bison Nation. It 
is the fans. It is everybody--the coaching staff, President Bresciani, 
his whole team, the staff and faculty, and, of course, most of all, the 
student athletes.
  I know the Presiding Officer, coming from Michigan, knows what great 
sports teams are all about.
  Their commitment, their hard work, their passion, their support of 
Bison Nation--all these things just make it a joyous and wonderful 
thing.
  I can't say enough about these young people, the commitment they made 
and the hard work that they do. Many of them may actually end up in the 
professional ranks. So they are playing at an extremely high level. 
They are just wonderful young people, and I can't say enough great 
things about them.
  Once again, now 9 out of the last 11 years, national champs--again, 
congratulations and go, Bison.
  With that, I would like to turn to my colleague Senator Cramer.

[[Page S148]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I thank Senator Hoeven. I just want to 
fully associate myself with every word of Senator Hoeven and every 
thought you just heard. John Hoeven is not just a Senator who 
represents the State that the Bison play in; he is a fan. To say the 
least, he is a fan.
  Senator Hoeven did a great job, as have ESPN and everybody else, in 
highlighting the legacy of the Bison Nation. There has been 9 out of 11 
national championships.
  One of the things I really appreciate about Coach Matt Entz--who, by 
the way, was named this year again the FCS Coach of the Year. That is 
the second FCS National Coach of the Year in the last 3 years. He has 
been the coach for 3 years.
  But, as he likes to point out, while it is, in fact, the ninth 
national championship in 11 seasons for the Bison, it is the first one 
for this team--a fact that we sometimes forget. Excellence over time 
requires one excellent team after another. So I want to focus just a 
little bit not so much on the legacy but on this particular team.
  Remember, as Senator Hoeven said, they beat the Bobcats 38 to 10. It 
became 38 to 10 after they had been ahead 35 to 0. That is not a minor 
thing in collegiate football. But the 38-to-10 victory tied with the 
fourth largest margin of victory in FCS championship game history. 
After that is NDSU's 28-point victory over Towson to cap the 2013 
season. It was the fourth time NDSU has won the FCS championship by 26 
or more points.
  North Dakota State's 108 rushing yards in the first quarter and 160 
in the second quarter marked the third and fourth times in the 2021 FCS 
playoffs that the Bison ran for 100 yards in a quarter. Imagine that. 
Twice they did it in the same game--103 in the first quarter and 116 in 
the second quarter of NDSU's second-round win over Southern Illinois.
  Now, NDSU's 28-to-0 halftime lead was the largest halftime margin in 
FCS championship history, passing the 24-to-0 Bison lead over 
Jacksonville State in 2015. In other words, this team, this one team, 
is excellent among excellence. They had 378 yards rushing and 540 yards 
of total offense. That was the most by the Bison in FCS championship 
game history, surpassing a 300-yard rushing performance against Sam 
Houston State in 2012 and 488 total yards against Eastern Washington in 
the 2018 season.
  We have to talk a little bit about fullback Hunter Luepke, who was 
voted the Most Outstanding Player of the championship game. He tied a 
career-high with three rushing touchdowns--the first three of the game, 
one shy of the FCS championship game record of four rushing touchdowns 
by Furman's John Bagwell in 1985.
  This team, this one excellent team out of dozens of excellent teams 
over the years, and this one excellent player obviously stand out, 
along with their one excellent coach, as I said earlier, Matt Entz, the 
FCS National Coach of the Year.
  I love that Senator Hoeven consistently refers to these players as 
student athletes because, remember, before they are football players, 
they are students, and I think it is worth noting what exceptional 
students they are.
  NDSU's Cole Wisniewski was the winner of the NCAA Elite 90 Award. The 
Elite 90 is presented to the student athlete with the highest 
cumulative grade point average participating at the finals site for 
each of the NCAA's championships. But he is one among many. Five 
student athletes were named to the football all-academic team. NDSU 
linebacker Jackson Hankey headlines this group of five student athletes 
named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team on 
December 14.
  I think it is important to highlight and be specific about these 
guys. Hankey is a senior from Park River, ND. John and I know Park 
River. It is a pretty small place. He has an undergraduate degree not 
in underwater basket weaving and not even in physical education, 
although there is nothing wrong with that, but, rather, in agricultural 
economics. He was selected to the first team with a 3.636 grade point 
average.
  Here are the other four besides him: Hunter Luepke, the outstanding 
player of the game, has a 3.42 GPA in finance. Sophomore defensive 
tackle Eli Mostaert has a 3.733 GPA in finance. Kicker Jake Reinholz 
has a 4.00 GPA in the master's degree program in mechanical 
engineering. The senior defensive tackle, Lane Tucker, has a 3.857 GPA 
in the MBA program. Great athletes are smart athletes. Great athletes 
are smart athletes.
  All right. To continue that, this is a tribute. Well, while they take 
the stage on ESPN and on game day and the various programs, it is 
important to point out that North Dakota State University's athletic 
teams achieved a remarkable--remarkable--semester last fall with a 
3.418 grade point average among all 427 student athletes. Three Bison 
teams earned the highest ever GPA. The statistics are incredible. They 
are incredible in terms of academic achievements of these outstanding 
athletes throughout all of the sports at North Dakota State University, 
not just football. But they definitely lead the charts.
  So, to wrap up, in talking again a little bit about the dynasty, one 
of my favorite quotes--and I refer to it a lot; I use it a lot when I 
talk about Bison football--is Aristotle, who said:

       We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, [therefore], is 
     not an act, but a habit.

  It is not an act. It is a habit.
  There are 9 out of 11 national championships in the FCS alone. Before 
that, as Division II, they won several national championships. They 
never lost a national championship. In other words, they repeatedly win 
national championships. That makes winning habitual. It is habitual.
  They made their ninth appearance, as I said, in the championship 
game--the most of any FCS team. They won them all, as we know. They now 
have 17 football national championships in history. They won their last 
13 title game appearances. I mean, it is kind of remarkable. They 
improved to 41 and 3--imagine this, Senator Hoeven--41 and 3 in FCS 
playoffs since 2010.
  We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a 
habit.
  I, as well, salute Dean Bresciani, the president; Matt Entz, the head 
coach; the entire coaching staff; the entire faculty; every student 
athlete; and every parent who got these student athletes to college.
  It is just a remarkable thing to be able to represent this level of 
excellence, and I join Senator Hoeven in saying: ``Horns up! Go Bison! 
Go Bison!''
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I thank Senator Cramer for his comments 
and wonderful commentary on these great student athletes, but there is 
one other point I want to make that goes to the excellence of this 
program.
  In the last national championship they won, the quarterback was a 
wonderful player by the name of Trey Lance. He played for 1 year as a 
redshirt freshman. So he easily could have been playing this year, 
which would have been probably his sophomore or, maybe, junior year. It 
is a little hard to say with the COVID spring season, but I think it 
would have been his sophomore year.
  The reason he wasn't able to quarterback the team is that he was 
quarterbacking the San Francisco 49ers to a win in the NFL. So they 
bring in another redshirt freshman quarterback who platoons with some 
other players, who is another wonderful quarterback, Cam Miller. So 
they win it with another player.
  Again, it just shows, even as they lose some of these players--
sometimes in the transfer portal and sometimes to the NFL, as Senator 
Cramer said--they keep bringing in just excellent athletes, and he 
mentioned a number of them. It is not just that they are excellent 
athletes; they are student athletes. Again, that goes to the quality 
and the character of the program.
  So we commend all of them--Senator Cramer, thanks for joining me--and 
also with Kelly Armstrong in the House in recognizing a wonderful group 
that truly deserves it--all the Bison nation.
  Anything else from Senator Cramer? All right.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I want to congratulate the North Dakota

[[Page S149]]

Senators, my colleagues, on the great job with their football team.
  ``Go Bison!''
  Well done, North Dakota.