[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL ON THEIR 
             VICTORY IN THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 2002

  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) men's basketball team 
for their accomplishment this season.
  The CCSU Blue Devils defeated Quinnipiac College by a score of 78-71 
to win their conference, improve their record to 27 wins and 4 losses 
and more importantly secure an invitation to the NCAA tournament for 
the second time in 3 years.
  As the buzzer sounded the capacity crowd of 3,556 erupted in 
celebration of our hometown Blue Devils continuing their nation-leading 
winning streak to 19 games.
  Mr. Speaker, to watch the students storm the court, and to hear Head 
Coach Howie Dickenman, himself a CCSU graduate, say ``This was an event 
tonight, an event that the whole city rallied around'' is to understand 
what March Madness is all about.
  I am proud to be a resident of the city of New Britain, home of the 
2002 Northeast Conference regular season and conference tournament 
champions. I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating this 
exemplary group of student-athletes, their coaches, parents, 
classmates, and others who supported and cheered them on this season.
  Mr. Speaker, their exceptional play this season is an inspiration to 
all of us. Congratulations to the Blue Devils, and best of luck in the 
Big Dance. To steal a phrase from Dick Vitale and Bristol Connecticut's 
own ESPN, CCSU you are ``awesome with a capital A baby!''

                          ____________________