[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 294]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       MOUNT UNION FOOTBALL TEAM

 Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Mount Union Purple Raiders football team, from Alliance, OH, on a 
number of outstanding achievements. The Purple Raiders just recently 
won the Division III National Championship for the fifth time in six 
years. Maintaining a perfect record of 13 victories, Mount Union's team 
has the longest current winning streak of any NCAA football team, and 
has won 82 of the last 83 games.
  While their execution of the split-back offense is flawless, it is 
Mount Union's academic performance that is truly remarkable. The 
college, as a whole, boasts 14 Academic All Ohio Athletic Conference 
winners and three Academic All-Americans. The football team has 
graduated a near-perfect percentage of players in the last 16 seasons. 
I applaud the Purple Raider players who exceed all expectations on the 
gridiron, as well as in the classroom.
  For the local residents of Alliance, OH and the students of Mount 
Union, there is so much to be proud of. As they crowd into the oldest 
college football stadium in Ohio every fall, they are not only cheering 
for the heroes of the Purple Raiders, but also for future heroes, 
future leaders who will have acquired the valuable experiences that 
come with a solid education and a demanding athletic routine. These 
experiences will aid them in making a positive impact years from now.
  Again, I congratulate head coach Larry Kehres and his Purple Raiders 
on a perfect championship season. They are a shining example of true 
student-athletes, and I wish them the best of luck next fall.

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