[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   KURT WARNER OF THE ST. LOUIS RAMS

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the two 
Iowans who led the St. Louis Rams to victory in Sunday's Super Bowl. 
Quarterback Kurt Warner, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Offensive 
Lineman Adam Timmerman, a native of Cherokee, Iowa. It is a bittersweet 
irony that a third Iowa native, injured Quarterback Trent Green, 
couldn't play this season and so Kurt Warner stepped in to the 
position.
  Nobody--I mean nobody--could have predicted that Kurt Warner would be 
holding the Super Bowl trophy under the Georgia Dome last Sunday. Not 
Kurt Warner who was stocking the shelves of the Hy-Vee Market in Cedar 
Falls, Iowa a few years ago. Not Kurt Warner who was bypassed by the 
NFL draft out of college and went straight to the Iowa Barnstormers and 
then the Amsterdam Admirals. And certainly not the Kurt Warner who 
warmed the bench at the University of Northern Iowa.
  This is a true American success story. An Iowa boy comes from the 
bench to Super Bowl 2000 where he sets a Super Bowl record for passing 
yards--414 yards in all, topping Joe Montana's 1989 Super Bowl record 
of 357 yards. It doesn't get much better than that!
  And Kurt Warner had help from another Iowa boy, Adam Timmerman, the 
Rams offensive lineman, a native of Cherokee, Iowa. Timmerman and the 
Rams offensive line held the Titans to one sack in the entire game, 
allowing Warner time to complete the passes that won him his Super Bowl 
record.
  You know, I am sure many of you have heard me talk about the ladder 
of opportunity, about leaving the ladder down so others can climb up. 
Well, Kurt Warner built his own ladder of opportunity, sticking with it 
at every turn, persevering against odds that would sink a weaker man. 
It is great to see him at the top.
  Iowa is proud of its native sons and daughters. For the past several 
months, Iowa has been in the public eye because of the caucuses. And 
now that the Iowa caucuses are behind us, Iowans are proud to share the 
spotlight with homegrown heroes Kurt Warner and Adam Timmerman. I know 
we all wish Kurt and Adam good luck in this Sunday's Pro Bowl in 
Honolulu.

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