[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S6000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 503--CONGRATULATING THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 
   SEMINOLES FOR WINNING THE 2023 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 503

       Whereas, on December 2, 2023, the Florida State University 
     Seminoles football team won the 2023 Atlantic Coast 
     Conference (ACC) Football Championship;
       Whereas this marks a conference-leading 16th ACC Football 
     Championship that the Seminoles have won since they joined 
     the ACC in 1992;
       Whereas the Seminoles defeated the nationally-ranked 
     University of Louisville football team in the 19th ACC 
     Football Championship game;
       Whereas the Seminoles finished the regular season 
     undefeated for the sixth time in program history;
       Whereas the Seminoles were 1 of only 3 undefeated Power 
     Five conference teams in America.
       Whereas this marks the 109th ACC title for Florida State 
     University Seminoles Athletics;
       Whereas the Seminoles led all schools with 8 Seminoles 
     players selected to the ACC All-Conference First Team;
       Whereas the Seminoles led all schools with 17 ACC All-
     Conference selections on the first, second, and third teams;
       Whereas Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis--
       (1) earned the 2023 ACC Football Player of the Year award; 
     and
       (2) earned the 2023 ACC Offensive Player of the Year award;
       Whereas Seminoles Head Coach Michael Norvell--
       (1) won his first ACC Football Championship in only his 
     fourth season as head coach; and
       (2) is only the fourth coach in program history to finish 
     the regular season undefeated;
       Whereas the Seminoles were the only undefeated Power Five 
     Conference Champion to ever be left out of the playoffs;
       Whereas the Seminoles were never ranked lower than fifth in 
     any College Football Playoff rankings;
       Whereas the Seminoles were jumped in the final College 
     Football Playoff rankings by 2 teams with 1 loss despite the 
     Seminoles having an undefeated record;
       Whereas for the first time in the 10-year history of the 
     College Football Playoffs system, 2 teams below the top 6 in 
     the penultimate rankings each made an unprecedented jump of 4 
     spots to make the playoffs in the final rankings;
       Whereas the 13-member College Football Playoff Selection 
     Committee has continually operated under an opaque structure 
     and decision-making process during its 10-year history, 
     culminating in the unprecedented decision to leave out the 
     undefeated Seminoles from the playoffs;
       Whereas the College Football Playoff Selection Committee 
     failed to adhere to its own College Football Playoff 
     Selection Committee Protocols and Guiding Principles during 
     the selection process;
       Whereas the College Football Playoff Selection Committee 
     did not follow its own precedent, such as when in 2014 the 
     Committee admitted a 1-loss team into the playoffs, despite 
     starting and winning its conference championship game with a 
     third-string quarterback;
       Whereas, despite facing substantial adversity throughout 
     the entire season and the loss of numerous key players to 
     injuries, the Seminoles finished the season undefeated and as 
     the ACC Football Champions; and
       Whereas the entire Seminoles roster, the coaches, and the 
     support staff should be recognized for their outstanding 
     season and contributions to an outstanding season: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Florida State University football 
     team, and the students, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees 
     of Florida State University, for winning the 2023 Atlantic 
     Coast Conference Football Championship and completing an 
     undefeated season; and
       (2) respectfully directs the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the President of Florida State University, Richard 
     McCullough;
       (B) the Athletic Director of Florida State University, 
     Michael Alford; and
       (C) the Head Coach of the Florida State University football 
     team, Michael Norvell.

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