[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1381-1382]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      GRAND VALLEY UNIVERSITY WINS NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I want to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues the recent accomplishments achieved by Grand Valley State 
University's, GVSU, football team who on December 14, 2002, became the 
2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, Division II 
Football Champions. This championship was the first in Grand Valley's 
history, and completes a perfect season in which the GVSU Lakers went 
14-0 maintaining their position atop the Division II football rankings 
for the entire season. Even more impressive is the fact that the Lakers 
are 33-1 in their last 34 games with their only loss coming in the 2001 
title game.
  Preceding their National Championship, the GVSU Lakers won the Great 
Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, GLIAC, Football Championship 
with a perfect record in league play. The Laker's depth was evidenced 
by their placing 18 players on the All-GLIAC team. Quarterback Curt 
Anes was named the GLIAC Player of the Year for the second straight 
season, and received the Harlon Hill Trophy as NCAA Division II's most 
outstanding player. In addition, head coach Brian Kelly was recently 
named the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of 
the Year. Coach Kelly has led the GVSU Lakers to a 104-34-2 record 
during his 12 years as head coach, and includes five GLIAC titles and 
five NCAA Division II playoff appearances.
  The championship game, which I was lucky enough to see on television, 
was a true nail-biter. The game matched the top ranked Grand Valley 
State Lakers against the second ranked Valdosta State University 
Blazers. After marching through the playoffs with relative ease, the 
Lakers found a formidable opponent in Valdosta State, and the game was 
appropriately close to the very end. GVSU sealed the game when All-
American quarterback Curt Anes tossed a 10-yard pass to fellow All-
American wide receiver and his primary target David Kircus with 1 
minute and 4 seconds remaining securing a 31-24 victory.
  Over the last 2 years, the GVSU Lakers have demonstrated great 
strength, skill, unity, and perseverance. Their ability to regroup 
after last season's loss and maintain their top ranking all season 
bears witness to the focus and common purpose shared by the entire 
team. I commend them for their hard work and dedication. I know that my 
colleagues will join me in congratulating the GVSU Lakers on winning 
the 2002 NCAA Division II Football Championship.
  I ask unanimous consent that a list of the players and coaches be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:
       Players:
       Curt Anes, Kentwood, MI
       Ryan Balcom, Allendale, MI
       Joe Ballard, Chesaning, MI
       Mike Banaszak, Detroit, MI
       Terrance Banks, Gary, IN
       Matt Beaty, Detroit, MI
       DeJuane Boone, Detroit, MI
       Josh Bourke, Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
       Kevin Boyd, Highland, IN
       Ryan Brady, Chesaning, MI
       Marvis Bryant, Miami, FL
       Brent Burleson, Carmel, IN
       Kirk Carruth, Saginaw, MI
       Roberto Cepero, Miami, FL
       Justin Cessante, Dearborn Heights, MI
       Dion Charity, Kentwood, MI
       Michael Christmon, Pontiac, MI
       Jeremy Cochrane, Montrose, MI
       Dustin Cole, Mattawan, MI
       Phil Condon, Fraser, MI
       Kyle Daisy, Stevensville, MI
       Louis Dauser, Grand Rapids, MI
       Chad Day, Lake Orion, MI
       Todd DeVree, Hudsonville, MI
       Orlando Dickerson, Allen, TX
       Jamel Dillard, Saginaw, MI
       Marcel Dillard, Saginaw, MI
       Jeff Dock, Stevensville, MI
       Melvin Estes, Chicago, IL
       Sean Ferguson, Wyoming, MI
       Cullen Finnerty, Brighton, MI
       Eric Fowler, New Haven, MI
       William Gray, Kalamazoo, MI
       Scott Greene, Hartland, MI
       Lucius Hawkins, Inkster, MI
       Aaron Hein, Hartland, MI
       Antwaan Henderson, Stevensville, MI
       David Hendrix, Stevensville, MI
       Tyrone Hibbler, Flint, MI
       Mike Hoad, Farmington, MI
       Mike Holloway, Chelsea, MI
       Boomer Hoppough, Ionia, MI
       Dan Hosford, Belmont, MI
       Tom Hosford, Belmont, MI
       Ryan Hukill, Midland, MI
       Kevin Jacksom, Grand Rapids, MI
       David Kircus, Imlay City, MI
       Matt Koss, Goodrich, MI
       Brandon Langston, Northville, MI
       Brent Lesniak, Dowagiac, MI
       Sidney Lewis, Bellwood, IL
       Mario Locricchio, Clinton Township, MI
       Brian Lydigsen, Orlando Park, IL
       Scott Mackey, Bay City, MI
       Keyonta Marshall, Saginaw, MI
       Scott Martin, Sterling Heights, MI
       Michael McFadden, Saginaw, MI
       Brian McGeath, Petoskey, MI
       Chris McInally, Grand Blanc, MI
       Justin McNamara, Rochester, MI
       Josh Meerman, Coopersville, MI
       Kevin Parsons, Detroit, MI
       Colin Peterson, Grand Haven, MI
       Mike Pinter, Mishawaka, IN

[[Page 1382]]

       Robert Pratt, Kalamazoo, MI
       Michael Rahn, Grosse Ile, MI
       Ryan Rainwater, Grand Blanc, MI
       Matt Regnery, Fenton, MI
       Mark Remmler, Grand Rapids, MI
       Shad Risk, Eaton Rapids, MI
       Joe Rivard, Marine City, MI
       Ashea Roberson, Ann Arbor, MI
       Bob Roesner, Pontiac, MI
       Sean Roland, Detroit, MI
       Brandon Ryan, Grand Blanc, MI
       Matt Sammond, Crystal Falls, MI
       Ramon Scott, Redford, MI
       Darren Smith, Traverse City, MI
       John Smith, Southfield, MI
       Jordan Soper, Midland, MI
       Reggie Spearmon, Inkster, MI
       Marcus Spencer, Kalamazoo, MI
       Micah Staley, Concord, MI
       Chris Stoddard, Hubbardston, MI
       Greg Stoddard, Hubbardston, MI
       James Streit, Sterling Heights, MI
       Adam Sullivan, Rochester, MI
       Michael Tennessee, Sterling Heights, MI
       Leon Thomas, Detroit, MI
       Ross VanderKamp, Holland, MI
       Dan Vaughn, Stevensville, MI
       Nicholas Viau, Cheboygan, MI
       Derek Washington, Detroit, MI
       Dale Westrick, Grand Ledge, MI
       Orlando Williams, Maywood, IL
       Troy Williams, Battle Creek, MI
       Luke Winstrom, Zeeland, MI
       Todd Wojciechowski, Clinton Township, MI
       Jason Wynn, Detroit, MI
       Matt Yoches, Dearborn Heights, MI
       Coaches:
       Brian Kelly--Head Coach
       John Jancek--Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
       Jeff Quinn--Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
       Ron Burton--Defensive Line
       Greg Forest--Wide Receivers
       Chuck Martin--Defensive Backs
       Jeff Duvendeck--GA Offensive Line
       Cal Fox--Defensive Assistant
       Todd Kolster--GA Running Backs
       Jack Prince--Offensive Assistant.

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