[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5783]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             COMMENDING THE BLUE DEVILS OF DUKE UNIVERSITY

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 67, submitted earlier 
by Senators Helms and Edwards.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 67) commending the Blue Devils of 
     Duke University for winning the 2001 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Mens Basketball Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, Monday night, April 2, I was one of the 
countless North Carolinians--along with students, alumni, and admirers 
from across the country--watching the Blue Devils of Duke University 
win the 2001 NCAA Men's College Basketball National Championship.
  The talented young men who make up Duke's remarkable team have 
assembled a fine record in winning its third championship in the last 
eleven years.
  Mr. President, Duke University's Men's Basketball program has indeed 
achieved a special place in sports history.
  North Carolinians have become accustomed to outstanding basketball 
teams representing our state during the past quarter century. In 
addition to Duke's three National Championships, the North Carolina Tar 
Heels brought home the trophy in 1982 and 1993, while the North 
Carolina State Wolfpack won in 1974 and again in the memorable 1983 
tournament when coached by the brave and inspirational Jim Valvano, 
whom is missed greatly.
  But on the April 2 night, after a hard-fought battle with the fine 
Wildcats of Arizona University, the Duke Blue Devils emerged 
victorious, 82-72. Led by All-Americans Shane Battier and Jason 
Williams and boosted by a stellar performance by sophomore sharpshooter 
Mike Dunleavy, this Duke team is an example of what can be achieved 
through hard work and dedication.
  Mr. President, the 2001 Duke team breezed through the season with 
customary excellence, finishing tied for first place in the Atlantic 
Coast Conference regular season, winning or sharing this honor for an 
unprecedented fifth time in five years. Duke then proceeded to win the 
ACC championship for the third year in a row.
  Coach Mike Krzyzewski has built a much admired program during his 21 
seasons at Duke. He recruits talented and committed student-athletes 
and molds them into a tightly-knit basketball ``family''. His 
dedication to the team members has been rewarded with long-lasting 
relationships between coach and player.
  ``Coach K's'' guidance is often cited by his former players as 
crucial to each of them realizing his potential both on and off the 
court.
  This program has earned Coach Krzyzewski and his teams not only three 
national championships, but seven appearances in National Championship 
games during the past 16 years.
  The Duke program is a meaningful example for Americans, especially 
younger Americans, of determination, perseverance, and success in North 
Carolina. Day in and day out, whether in the classroom or on the court, 
the members of this team have shown the country what it takes to be 
national champions.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 67) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 67

       Whereas the 2000-2001 Duke University Blue Devils' men's 
     basketball team (referred to in this resolution as the ``Duke 
     Blue Devils'') had a spectacular season;
       Whereas the Duke Blue Devils finished the regular season 
     with a 26-4 record, claiming a record 5 straight finishes in 
     first place during the Atlantic Coast Conference regular 
     season;
       Whereas the Duke Blue Devils won the 2001 Atlantic Coast 
     Conference Tournament Championship, winning the championship 
     of that tournament for the third year in a row;
       Whereas the Duke Blue Devils are the first men's basketball 
     team to be a number 1 seed in the National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association's Men's Basketball Tournament during 4 
     consecutive seasons since that association began seeding 
     teams in 1979;
       Whereas the Duke Blue Devils amassed the most wins, 133, in 
     a 4-year period of any National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association men's basketball team in history;
       Whereas Shane Battier received the 2001 Naismith Award as 
     men's college basketball Player of the Year;
       Whereas Coach Mike Krzyzewski has taken the Duke Blue 
     Devils to 7 national championship games in 16 years;
       Whereas Coach Krzyzewski led the Duke Blue Devils to the 
     team's third national championship;
       Whereas the Duke Blue Devils are a fine example of academic 
     and athletic dedication and success;
       Whereas the team's success during the 2000-2001 season was 
     truly a team accomplishment; and
       Whereas the Duke Blue Devils won the 2001 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball 
     Championship: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate commends the Blue Devils of Duke 
     University for winning the 2001 National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association Men's Basketball Championship.

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