[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 345-346]
[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 recently won the 
Division III National Championship for the sixth time in 7 years. 
Maintaining a perfect record of

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14 victories this season, Mount Union's team is 109 and 1 in the last 
11 regular seasons, and since 1990 the Raiders have won an incredible 
162 out of 170 games.
  I congratulate these fine young athletes on yet another championship 
season and would like to recognize Raiders' coach Larry Kehres for his 
dedication and commitment to the school and the team. He has just been 
named the AFCA Division III National Coach of the Year, making him the 
first coach to win seven National Coach of the Year Awards. This is an 
unprecedented accomplishment, and I congratulate Coach Kehres and wish 
him and the Purple Raiders all the best for next season and many more 
after that.
  While their execution of the split-back offense is flawless, it is 
Mount Union's academic performance that is truly remarkable. The 
football team has graduated a near-perfect percentage of players in the 
last 17 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 and the students of Mount Union, 
there is so much to be proud of when it comes to the Purple Raiders. As 
the fans 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 learned the 
valuable lessons that come with a solid education and a demanding 
athletic routine. These experiences will aid them in making a positive 
impact many years from now.
  Again, I congratulate head coach Larry Kehres and his Purple Raiders 
on another perfect championship season. They are a shining example of 
true student-athletes.
  I ask that the names of the Mount Union College Purple Raiders 
football team coaching staff and players be listed at the conclusion of 
my remarks.
  The list follows.


                     purple raiders coaching staff

       Larry Kehres, Don Montgomery, Jeff Wojtowicz, Joe Leigh, 
     Marty Cvelbar, Vince Kehres, E.J. Henderson, Rudy Sharkey, 
     Paul Gulling, Gene Paina, Joel Cockley, and Clyde Ross.


                       student assistant coaches

       Jason Candle, Jason Gerber, Nick Lesniak, and Kacy Carter.


                                players

       Jamoni Robinson, Randy Mason, Josh Reger, Aaron Bubonics, 
     Rourke Skelton, Ryan Rimedio, Jason Cavell, Jay Francis, Josh 
     Liddell, Steve Watson, Derrick Leach, Michael Hinger, Rob 
     Adamson, Zac Bruney, Joe Montgomery, Wade Kirk, Jesse Clum, 
     Brandon Fishbach, Ryan Modica, Andrew Winkler, Jesse 
     Burghardt, Ken Whitfield, Mike Miller, Matt Cole, Grant 
     Relic, Marty Mazanec, Tom Underdahl, Mike Adamson, Matt 
     Caponi, Michael Kernik, Chris Kern, Russell Logan, Matt 
     Sotcan, Sean Keegan, Jamie Allman, Robert McDavid, and Ross 
     Watson;
       Cody Bertone, Vince Suber, Jared Gulling, Dustin Blake, 
     Michael Marcellino, Justen Stickley, Scott Casto, Nick 
     Sirianni, Emery Holmes, Justin Burton, Todd Frank, E.J. 
     Lilly, Jonathan Falatic, Anthony Frate, Aaron Robinson, Jeff 
     Strauch, Jordan Beach, Mike Sabo, Josh Church, Brett Jordan, 
     Dan Pugh, Ryan Witkoski, Mike Abramo, Jeff Berdysz, Chase 
     Ross, Mike Gibbons, Rick Ciccone, Brian Weiser, Tony Buckler, 
     Nick Ciani, Michael Deitrick, Jonathan Bailey, Jason 
     McElhaney, Kalvine Mcgee, Keith Spivey, Kelechi Ibeh, and 
     Josh Wells;
       Antoine Beale, Chris Carter, Kyle Pelfrey, Luke Garland, 
     Vince Ilacqua, Joe Culler, Mark Brace, Brian Wise, Shaun 
     Spisak, Monty Harris, Stan Watson, Byron Jackson, Brian 
     Miller, Brett Linzey, Justin Meiser, James Wetzel, Peter 
     Gasparro, George Wilders, Brent Fox, Scott Kyser, Thomas 
     Cesarz, Dusty Sanna, Jim Nelson, Derek Buell, Bruce 
     Novestine, Bryan Myers, Josh Lahmers, Josh Huffman, John 
     Gliha, Mike Restivo, Dave Knestaut, Josh Hoskins, Ron 
     DeJulio, Thomas Manning, Grant Savelli, Mike Reeder, and John 
     Brutvan;
       Daniel Blume, Bob Bradley, Eric Cook, Jeff Goodwill, Ryan 
     Knapp, Vance Vukelic, Don Penny, Adam Holmes, Eric Spurlock, 
     Robert VanDyke, Frederick Blackman, Dusty Wilson, Jesse 
     Wells, Rick Prescott, Eric Ardo, Pat Yappel, Mark Pauli, 
     Dominic Danesi, Levi Motts, Justin Coston, Frank Palcko, 
     George Momirovic, Drew DeHart, Brian Boucher, Brian Leckonby, 
     Jonathan Harvey, Maurice Gibson, Larry Kinnard, Michael Gill, 
     Josh Johnson, Matthew Byrne, Brent Miller, Derek McIntosh, 
     Adam Slopek, Andrew Blake, Doug Miller, Joe Bugara, and 
     Marcello DeAngelis; and
       John Healy, Trevor Smith, Randell Knapp, Tom Sanor, Geoff 
     Dartt, Aarik Gault, James Cunningham, Michael Myers, Joel 
     Sickmeier, Corey Brunson, Drew Hanley, Greg Braur, Keith 
     Brown, Travis Johnson, Caleb Chappelear, Mike Maluk, Matt 
     Campbell, Kristopher Takach, Josh Ludwig, Jake Guthrie, 
     Antoine Dillard, Matthew Bogo, Victor Preisel, Dan Phillips, 
     Edward Dick, Karl Jackson, Buddy Wolf, Brandon Harr, Rob 
     Conroy, Johnny Josef, Scott Campbell, Jeff Knoblauch, Chad 
     Teague, Sam Vucelich, Ryan Westerburg, Donte Rhode, and Brian 
     Proud.

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