[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 211-212]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY LAKERS FOR WINNING THE 
          2002 NCAA DIVISION II FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 13) congratulating the Grand Valley State 
University Lakers for winning the 2002 NCAA Division II Football 
National Championship.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 13

       Whereas on December 14, 2002, the Grand Valley State 
     University Lakers won the 2002 NCAA Division II Football 
     National Championship by defeating Valdosta State University;
       Whereas this national championship is the school's first in 
     a varsity sport;
       Whereas the Lakers won the 2002 Great Lakes Intercollegiate 
     Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football Championship with a 
     perfect 9-0 record in league play;
       Whereas the Lakers completed the 2002 season with a perfect 
     14-0 record, and won 33 of its last 34 games;
       Whereas Head Coach Brian Kelly has been with the team since 
     1991, and has lead the team to a 104-34-2 overall record;
       Whereas the Lakers returned 51 letter winners, including 16 
     starters from the 2001 team that fell only to North Dakota in 
     the NCAA Division II National Championship game;
       Whereas the Lakers placed 18 players on the 2002 All-GLIAC 
     team;
       Whereas quarterback Curt Anes was named the GLIAC Player of 
     the Year for the second straight year and earned the 2002 
     Harlon Hill Trophy as NCAA Division II's most outstanding 
     player;
       Whereas the Lakers defense dominated opponents by ranking 
     34th in the Nation in rushing defense and recording 58 
     quarterback sacks;
       Whereas the students, alumni, faculty, and fans of Grand 
     Valley State University showed their support for by helping 
     the Lakers set a GLIAC record for regular-season attendance; 
     and
       Whereas the Lakers have displayed great strength, ability, 
     and perseverance this season and have made the State of 
     Michigan proud: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the Grand Valley State University Lakers 
     for winning the 2002 NCAA Division II Football National 
     Championship and recognizes all the players, coaches, and 
     support staff who were instrumental in this achievement;
       (2) requests that the President recognize the 
     accomplishments of the 2002 Grand Valley State University 
     football team and invite them to Washington, D.C., for a 
     White House ceremony for national championship teams; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Grand Valley 
     State University for appropriate display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Woolsey) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 13.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Grand Valley State 
University Lakers Football Team. On December 14, approximately 3 weeks 
before the Ohio State Buckeyes became national champions, the Grand 
Valley State University Lakers Football Team set the national standard 
by winning the NCAA Division II Football National Championship by 
defeating Valdosta State University.
  In all seriousness, as a Wolverine from the great State of Michigan, 
just north of the State of Ohio, congratulations to our colleagues of 
the Big Ten, the Ohio State Buckeyes. It was a great year for the 
Midwest. My sympathy to my colleagues in other parts of the country who 
did not enjoy the same type of success the Midwest had this year during 
the football season.
  This game also was an exciting game that pitted the number one ranked 
Grand Valley State Lakers against the number two ranked and perennial 
football powerhouse Valdosta State University from the great State of 
Georgia. Ultimately, the game was won by the Lakers when quarterback 
Curt Anes threw a 10-yard scoring pass to wide receiver David Kircus 
with 1:04 left in the game to lift the Lakers to a 31-24 victory.
  In addition to the national championship victory and the second 
consecutive trip to the national championship game, Grand Valley 
captured its second consecutive Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic 
Conference Football Championship with a perfect 9-0 record, and going 
through the playoffs and concluding the season with a perfect record of 
14-0.
  Head Coach Brian Kelly, who has been with the team since 1991, has 
led the team to a 104-34-2 overall record and has much to be proud of. 
Coach Kelly assembled an extraordinary football program and a stellar 
coaching staff.

[[Page 212]]

  Led by senior quarterback Curt Anes, who on the evening before the 
championship game was awarded the 2002 Harlon Hill Trophy as Division 
II Football's most outstanding player, the Grand Valley State Football 
Team was an example of resiliency and determination as they strived to 
meet their team goal of a national championship. This triumph was truly 
a team effort.
  Finally, I would like to also offer my thanks and congratulations to 
the extended family of Grand Valley State University, the alumni, the 
faculty, the fans, and of course the students who supported this team.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in support of H. Res. 13, congratulating the Grand Valley 
State University Lakers for winning the NCAA Division II National 
Football Championship. This national championship is a special moment 
for Grand Valley State's fans and its university community. It is the 
school's first national championship in any varsity sport.
  This is an outstanding achievement, especially when we consider that 
Division II football athletes do not have the benefit and publicity 
garnered by Division I schools. I know that as a fact because one of my 
sons was an All American Tackle for a Division II school and it was 
exciting, but they did not get any of the recognition that the Division 
I schools garnered.
  I want to extend my hearty congratulations to Head Coach Brian Kelly, 
the Grand Valley State community, all of their fans, and most 
importantly their student athletes. Grand Valley's athletes have 
certainly performed admirably, and they deserve all the praise that we 
can give them.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
colleague from the State of Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), who also represents 
a number of Grand Valley State campuses in his district.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this 
time, and I can only echo the words of congratulation that he has 
offered.
  Just to give a little more information about Grand Valley State 
University, it did not start until 1960, with 223 students. If they 
fielded a football team that year, it would have consumed 10 percent of 
the student body. And in 42 short years, they went from that to a 
rather large University of 20,000 students, more than 48,000 alumni, 
and winning the national championship in the NCAA. It is an astounding 
record.
  Also, I might mention that the main campus is in the west Michigan 
area, represented by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra), from 
whom we just heard; but the downtown campus is in my district. That 
consists of many graduate studies programs, engineering, and post-
graduate course offerings.
  It is a remarkable record of success. I have to pay tribute to the 
former president, Arend (Don) Lubbers, who served from 1968 through 
2001 and did an incredible job of taking a fledgling university and 
building it into a full-grown university. In fact, the football stadium 
at Grand Valley is named after him, and is called Lubbers Stadium. The 
current president, Mark Murray, succeeded Lubbers in 2001. He has been 
there a short time and has done a great job of continuing the work 
there.
  Football and sports are not the be-all and end-all of the university 
experience, especially in Michigan, where we have a strong orientation 
towards academic performance. But President Lubbers understood that 
successful sports teams are a source of pride for the students, staff, 
administration, and alumni of the schools they represent. In this 
respect, Grand Valley State University Lakers have ably represented 
their university and all of west Michigan in their march to the 
national championship.
  The opportunity of playing on national television in the Division II 
championship game in each of the past two seasons has given Grand 
Valley State University national exposure it never would have received 
otherwise. I wish to congratulate the team for their tremendous 
performance this year. They came within one game of winning the 
national championship last year. They came back determined to win it 
this year, and they did.
  Congratulations are also due to Coach Brian Kelly, who was named last 
night as the American Football Coaches Association's Division II 
National Coach of the Year. He has done an outstanding job there. I 
also want to congratulate senior quarterback Curt Anes, who received 
the Harlan Hill Trophy, which is Division II's equivalent of the 
Heisman Trophy. He is also a First-Team All American.
  Senior wide receiver David Kircus, also a First-Team All American, 
set numerous NCAA Division II and school records throughout his career.
  In addition, congratulations are due to offensive lineman Dale 
Westrick and defensive lineman Keyonta Marshall, both named First-Team 
All Americans.
  Also, I have to congratulate not only the school, not only the team, 
the coach and the players, but also the supporters of the Grand Valley 
State University Lakers, who set a conference attendance record. That 
shows their loyalty and their support for the university and for their 
sports teams.
  So I am very pleased that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) 
has offered this resolution. I am very pleased to join him in 
commending Grand Valley State University and their football team for 
their very, very, very fine performance.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and 
I would once again like to congratulate the Grand Valley State 
University Lakers. They have had an awesome year. Today we recognize 
them and congratulate them for that performance.
  Mr. Speaker, as we pass this resolution, I would extend to the 
President a request that he invite the Grand Valley State University 
football team to Washington, D.C., to a White House ceremony that the 
White House traditionally hosts for Division II national championships 
of all sports; and we look forward to that happening.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the extended Grand Valley State 
University family.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 13.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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