[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 381-382]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE HILLTOPPERS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 16 submitted 
earlier by Senator Bunning and myself.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 16) honoring the Hilltoppers of 
     Western Kentucky University from Bowling Green, Kentucky, for 
     winning the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     Division I-AA Football Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
the players and coaches of the Western Kentucky University Hilltopper 
football team on winning the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA National 
Championship.
  When people take a look back at Western's championship season, they 
will certainly wonder how in the world a team which lost three of its 
first five games wound up winning the national title? The answer lies 
in the hearts and minds of every single member of Western Kentucky's 
team, from the coaches to freshmen walk-ons. Not only did this team 
refuse to give up, they made it their mission to work harder on and off 
the field to achieve their dreams and goals. Head Coach Jack Harbaugh 
deserves special recognition for his

[[Page 382]]

ability to right Western's ship before it veered too far off course.
  Having to go on a six game win streak simply to reach the post-
season, Western entered the Division I-AA playoffs as a longshot. To 
even reach the championship game, Western had to beat the number two 
and three rated teams in the nation. Once in the title game, Western 
was simply too strong to be stopped. They beat the number one rated 
McNeese State Cowboys by a score of 34-14, exacting revenge on the team 
which had beat them early in the season. Quarterback Jason Michael 
threw for a career-high 185 yards and running back Jon Frazier added 
159 yards on the ground in the national title match. This was Western 
Kentucky University's first NCAA football championship.
  Mr. President, I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in 
congratulating the Hilltopper football players, Head Coach Jack 
Harbaugh, Athletic Director Dr. Wood Selig and Dr. Gary Ransdell on 
winning the 2002 Division I-AA National Championship. This win reflects 
very highly on Western Kentucky University and the entire Commonwealth 
of Kentucky. Who said Kentucky wasn't a football State?
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. 
Bunning, for introducing this resolution congratulating the Western 
Kentucky University Hilltoppers on capturing the National Collegiate 
Athletics Association's NCAA Division I-AA championship, and I would 
urge the Senate to adopt it.
  Mr. President, the story of Western Kentucky University's 2002 
football season is one of perseverance and determination in the face of 
long odds. After a disappointing start, in which Western Kentucky 
dropped three of its first five games, Coach Jack Harbaugh rallied the 
Hilltoppers to victories in their last six regular season games. This 
late-season charge helped Western Kentucky secure one of the final 
spots in the Division I-AA playoffs. Once in the NCAA tournament, 
Western was faced with a daunting path to the championship which 
required them to defeat each of the top three ranked teams on 
consecutive weekends. However, Western Kentucky rose to the challenge 
and even exacted a measure of revenge by defeating Western Illinois and 
McNeese State, two of the teams that had previously defeated the 
Hilltoppers during the regular season. With its 34 to 14 victory over 
McNeese State on December 20, 2002, Western Kentucky University 
captured the first NCAA football championship in the program's proud 
eighty-nine year history.
  I want to congratulate the Hilltopper football team, head Coach Jack 
Harbaugh, Athletic Director Dr. Wood Selig, and President Gary Ransdell 
on capturing the 2002 Division I-AA national championship and thank 
them for the outstanding manner in which they represented Western 
Kentucky University and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements related thereto be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 16) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 16

       Whereas on December 20, 2002, the Western Kentucky 
     University Hilltoppers from Bowling Green, Kentucky, won the 
     2002 NCAA Division I-AA Collegiate Football Championship;
       Whereas this championship is Western Kentucky University's 
     first NCAA Football Championship since its football program 
     began in 1913;
       Whereas the Hilltoppers had an impressive and overall 
     record of 12 wins and 3 losses, including 10 consecutive wins 
     and winning the championship game;
       Whereas the Hilltoppers showed tremendous dedication to 
     each other, appreciation to their fans, sportsmanship to 
     their opponents, and respect for the game of football 
     throughout their 2002 season;
       Whereas Western Kentucky University was represented with 
     integrity and principled leadership under the direction of 
     its head coach Jack Harbaugh, athletic director Dr. Wood 
     Selig, and president Dr. Gary A. Ransdell; and
       Whereas on December 20, 2002, the 15th ranked Western 
     Kentucky University Hilltoppers faced the number 1 ranked 
     McNeese State University Cowboys for the 2002 NCAA Division 
     I-AA Football Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and 
     came away victorious by a score of 34 to 14: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate honors the Western Kentucky 
     University football team from Bowling Green, Kentucky, for 
     winning the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.

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