[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 626-627]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



SENATE RESOLUTION 14--COMMENDING THE GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY EAGLES 
    FOOTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2000 NCAA DIVISION I-AA FOOTBALL 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. CLELAND (for himself, and Mr. Miller) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 14

       Whereas Georgia Southern University is a member of the 
     Southern Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association Division I-AA and the Conference's champion for 4 
     consecutive years;
       Whereas in 2000, Georgia Southern captured its second 
     consecutive and a record-setting sixth overall Division I-AA 
     national title;
       Whereas Head Coach, Paul Johnson, has won numerous Coach of 
     the Year awards during his career; has a 50-8 win-loss record 
     at Georgia Southern, which is one of the best records in 
     college football; and had 13 first-year starters in the 2000 
     season but was still able to win 13 games on the way to 
     another national championship;
       Whereas junior running back, Adrian Peterson, ran for 148 
     yards in the championship game, which marked the 43rd 
     consecutive game in which he rushed for 100 or more yards;
       Whereas the students, alumni, and supporters of Georgia 
     Southern University, as well as the community of Statesboro, 
     are to be congratulated for their unshakable commitment to 
     the Georgia Southern University football team; and
       Whereas their Division I-AA national championships in 1985, 
     1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, and 2000, as well as their place as 
     runner-up in 1988 and 1998, make the Georgia Southern 
     University program the most successful college football 
     program in Division I-AA football history: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, that the Senate--
       (1) commends the Georgia Southern University Eagles 
     football team for winning the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA 
     collegiate football national championship;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, 
     coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in helping 
     Georgia Southern University win the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA 
     collegiate football national championship and invites them to 
     the United States Capitol Building to be honored;
       (3) requests that the President recognize the 
     accomplishments and achievements of the 2000 Georgia Southern 
     football team and invite them to Washington, D.C. for a White 
     House ceremony for national championship teams; and
       (4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to make available 
     enrolled copies of this resolution to Georgia Southern 
     University for appropriate display and to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of the resolution to each coach and member of 
     the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA collegiate national championship 
     football team.

  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the Georgia 
Southern University football team for their second consecutive and 
sixth overall NCAA's Division I-AA football national championship. In 
addition to the record number of National Championships, Georgia 
Southern has captured four consecutive Southern Conference titles. 
Never in the history of Division

[[Page 627]]

I-AA has there been such a successful football program and I see no end 
to their success in the future. Among the many players and coaches who 
were honored this year was Coach Paul Johnson who was recognized as the 
American Football Coaches Association's 2000 Regional Coach of the 
Year. Another notable performance was that of junior running back 
Adrian Peterson who completed his 43rd consecutive game rushing for 
more than 100 yards--including 152 yards against the much larger 
school, the University of Georgia and 148 yards against Montana in the 
National Championship game. Much credit is due to all the players--
offense, defense and special teams--who made this wonderful season 
possible.
  While the Eagles had just two losses this season--one to rival Furman 
and the other to the Division I-A opponent the University of Georgia--
they had an impressive list of victories this season, including: a 57-
12 victory over Johnson C. Smith; a 24-17 victory over Wofford; a 31-10 
victor over Chattanooga; a 56-3 victory over VMI; a 42-24 victory over 
Western Carolina; a 34-28 victory over Appalachian State; a 27-10 
victory over the Citadel; a 42-7 victory over East Tennessee State; and 
a 32-9 victory over Elon. Additionally, in the post season, Georgia 
Southern defeated: McNeese State 42-17; Hofstra 48-20; Delaware 27-18; 
and finally, Montana 27-25 for the National Championship.
  Mr. President, at this time, I would like to recognize all the 2000 
Georgia Southern football team for their dedication to the team and 
their commitment to the hard work it takes to win a national 
championship: Derek Adams, T.J. Anderson, Mike Anderson, Brad Bird, Rob 
Bironas, Chris Blount, Bubba Brantley, James Burchett, Travis Burkett, 
Victor Cabral, P.J. Cantrell, Charles Clarke, Edmund Coley, Paul 
Collins, Dreck Cooper, Reggie Cordy, Melvin Cox, Leonard Daggett, Devin 
Danridge, Kevin Davis, Dietrich Everett, Hakim Ford, Nate Gates, Justin 
Godsey, Ryan Hadden, Eric Hadley, Travis Hames, Winston Hardison, Kevin 
Heard, Nick Heuman, Sean Holland, Dallas Horne, Donte Hunter, Trey 
Hunter, Eric Irby, Chris Johnson, Titus Johnson, Willie Johnson, Jamar 
Jones, Josh Jones, Nick Kearns, Tom LaRocco, Robert LeBlanc, Robert 
Locke, Basail Mack, James McCoy, Jim McCullough, Chad McDonald, Eric 
McIntire, Jesse McMillan, Corey Middlebrooks, Steven Moore, Phillip 
Mouzon, Mark Myers, Jason Neese, Derrick Nobles, Chris O'Neil, Carlton 
Oglesby, Terry Owens, Kevin Patterson, Freddy Pesqueira, Adrian 
Peterson, Lavar Rainey, J.R. Revere, Matt Rio, Aundra Robinson, Elliott 
Rogers, Darryl Rountree, Anthony Scott, Joe Scott, Scott Shelton, Mike 
Stewart, Dion Stokes, Taqua Thrasher, Gino Tutera, Zzream Walden, 
Michael Ward, Andre Weathers, Sid Wildes, Anthony Williams, Chaz 
Williams, Derrick Williams, Tyrie Williams, Verge Williams, Justin 
Wright, Brian Young, David Young, James Young and Mike Youngblood.
  Finally, I would like to offer my thanks and congratulations to the 
people of Georgia Southern--the students, alumni, supporters, faculty, 
staff as well as the community of Statesboro. As you well know, this 
championship could not have been accomplished without your unshakable 
commitment to the football program last year and the many previous 
years. I am proud of all the Eagle players and coaches and I am proud 
to say the most successful football team in Division I-AA is still in 
Statesboro, Georgia.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the resolution be printed in 
the Record.

                          ____________________