[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 605]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 605]]

           TRIBUTE TO THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS FOOTBALL TEAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have often said that in my district, the 
colors orange and white are almost as patriotic as red, white, and 
blue. That is because orange and white represents the official colors 
of the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Volunteers football 
team, now the undisputed NCAA national football champion.
  Mr. Speaker, just a few short weeks ago the Tennessee Vols completed 
a perfect 13-0 season and earned their first national championship in 
47 years.
  Under the eye of the great coach Phillip Fulmer, the winningest 
active coach in the NCAA, who has now won about 85 percent of his games 
as the head coach, the Vols captured their second consecutive SEC 
championship. To top it all off, Coach Fulmer was named both the SEC 
and National Football Coach of the Year.
  Many other people also have helped make this past season more 
memorable than ever. The Vols defense, led by defensive coordinator 
John Chavis, held 7 opponents to 14 points or less and 8 to under 100 
yards rushing this season. The Vol defense ended the 1998 season ranked 
6th nationally in rushing defense, and had one of the best overall 
defenses in the Nation.
  The Vol offense, led by now departed offensive coordinator David 
Cutcliffe, who took the top spot at the University of Mississippi, 
powered through opponents all season long. The new offensive 
coordinator is not new to aggressive and successful play. Coach Randy 
Sanders, who took over the offensive reins during the Fiesta Bowl, was 
previously the quarterbacks and running backs coach at UT.
  Coach Sanders' first game saw his offense perform exceptionally well 
against the tough Florida State defense. The Volunteer offense had a 
tremendous season indeed, averaging over 211 yards rushing per game, 
leading the SEC and ranking among the top nationally.
  Mr. Speaker, who else could assemble such a great coaching talent and 
staff but the greatest athletic director in the Nation, Doug Dickey? 
Coach Dickey has had amazing success in his career at UT. As head 
football coach from 1964 through '69, Coach Dickey put the UT football 
program back on the map, winning two SEC championships and leading the 
Vols to high national rankings in several bowl game appearances.
  For the last 13 years Coach Dickey has been a true leader in the 
field of college athletics, and has built the University of Tennessee 
into a sports powerhouse in the NCAA. Additionally, his efforts to 
build scholarship fundraising have led to an increase in UT's level of 
giving from $800,000 to more than $9 million annually to the athletic 
department.
  Mr. Speaker, the people I have mentioned thus far have contributed a 
great amount to the success of the UT football program, but they alone 
could not have done it without a host of great Volunteer athletes. The 
Volunteer football squad achieved a perfect season last year, and 
joined the 1951 Volunteers as the only other national championship team 
in Tennessee football history.
  The championship team was led by four captains, all of whom brought 
outstanding leadership and exciting action to the Volunteer team. All 
American linebacker and co-Captain Al Wilson was the emotional leader 
of the Vol defensive team, and perhaps in the biggest game of the 
season Al Wilson broke the single game individual ``caused fumble'' 
record in a match-up against Florida.
  Co-Captain and placekicker Jeff Hall had an amazing season, earning 
the SEC all-time scoring record with 371 points in his career. He also 
had a game-winning field goal at the buzzer, to win the season opener 
against Syracuse. More importantly, Jeff hall was named an academic 
All-American and SEC player.
  Co-Captain Shawn Bryson and Mercedes Hamilton helped the Vol offense 
dominate opponents throughout the season. Both players started every 
game, and provided much needed support to the offensive effort. Bryson, 
who started every game as fullback, rushed in one game for over 200 
yards on 21 carries with four touchdowns.
  Mercedes Hamilton, who started every game as offensive right guard, 
was a key blocker who helped lead the Vol offensive running game. Mr. 
Speaker, without a doubt, most quarterbacks would rather not have had 
to follow a player like Peyton Manning. However, Tee Martin, the 
fantastic leader of the Tennessee offense, rose to the challenge.
  Under enormous pressure, Martin posted a tremendous season, 
completing an NCAA record 24 consecutive passes in a 2-game period 
against Alabama and South Carolina.
  His favorite receiver, Peerless Price, was another Vol who certainly 
lived unto his name Peerless. He led the Vols with 61 catches for over 
900 yards in 1998, and finished his career ranked third on UT's all-
time list for receptions and receiving yards, and also had a 100-yard 
kickoff return against Alabama.
  Mr. Speaker, there were many key players and others that made this 
season a very special one for the Vols. As I said before, the Fiesta 
Bowl gave the Vols their second national title in 47 years.
  The 1951 Volunteers, led by the Great Coach, General Robert Neyland, 
was the last Tennessee team to win the National championship. Some of 
the greatest names in Tennessee football history came from that very 
team. Names like: Jim Haslam, Col. Gene Moeller, Gordon Polofsky, Bill 
``Moose'' Barbish, Herky Payne, Tex Davis, Boomer Boring, Any Myers, 
Pat Shires, Doug Atkins, Andy Kozar, Bob Davis, Bill Addonizio, John 
Michels, and Don Bordinger all shaped the history of Tennessee football 
and put the volunteers on the map of NCAA football powerhouses.
  I know that the players of the 1951 team are extremely proud of the 
players and coaches of the 1998 Volunteers.
  Finally Mr. Speaker, this year brought an end to the most outstanding 
college football radio show in the history of the game. The ``Voice of 
the Vols'' John Ward and his partner Bill Anderson stepped down after 
the Fiesta Bowl on January 4th. For over 30 years, Ward and Anderson 
have given Tennessee football fans around the world chill bumps, 
calling every game with a heartfelt passion that is second to none in 
college football. The two are the longest-running broadcast pair in 
Division 1-A college football.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the newly crowned NCAA National Champion 
Tennessee Volunteers and everyone who has contributed to their perfect 
season. Go Vols!

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