[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 1761-1762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOLEY. Madam Speaker, I was not always sure I would be here 
congratulating a Florida football team for taking the Super Bowl, but 
it is hands-down the best feeling in the world, and I know Tampa Bay's 
Congressman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis), who is here on the 
floor, will also be taking the floor to commend his hometown team, as 
well as Florida's Super Bowl champions.
  As anyone who has every had a passing interest in the sport knows, 
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl yesterday against the 
Oakland Raiders. And I am only sorry that I will not be in Tampa when 
the celebration begins tomorrow, because if there is any town that 
deserves those celebrations, it is Tampa, Florida.
  You see, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the NFL in 1976 and began 
their history losing their first 26 games in a row. For that great feat 
they earned the nickname the Tampa Bay Yucs.
  What they achieved last night more than made up for that slow, humble 
start. The Bucs trounced the Oakland Raiders to win the Super Bowl 48-
21. Let me repeat that, 48-21. It was a wipe out. I do not even think 
there is any question we need a recount on that one.
  Tampa's 39-year-old coach, John Gruden, has now become the youngest 
head coach in history to win a Super Bowl.
  I want to congratulate the Tampa Bay players and their coaches on 
their victory. Congratulations also to the dedicated fans in the Tampa 
Bay area, who now have the bragging rights that no one will dispute.
  From the outset last night, the omens were good for Tampa. Don Shula 
flipped the coin, and the Bucs won the toss. For those who play tennis, 
Shula

[[Page 1762]]

was the coach of the last team from Florida to win the Super Bowl, the 
Miami Dolphins, and members of the undefeated Dolphins were recognized 
at the ceremony last night.
  Maybe it is just coincidence, but the Tampa Bay area is home to one 
of our Nation's top defenses, the U.S. Special Operations Command, and 
``defense'' was the word that took Tampa to the top last night. The 
Tampa Bay Bucs entered the Super Bowl with the number-one-ranked 
defense in the league, and it was this defense that clinched the game.
  Football is a team sport, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers demonstrated 
that beyond doubt, not just during the Super Bowl win, but throughout 
the whole season, where they went 12 and 4.
  While I want to congratulate the entire organization for the 
fantastic job each and every one of them did to win the Super Bowl, I 
would also like to mention a few players for their contribution off the 
field that speaks volumes for the caliber of everyone on the team.
  When Derrick Brooks is not playing linebacker and winning the NFL's 
Defensive Player of the Year award, he is involved in the Boys & Girls 
Club throughout his area with the Brooks' Bunch program.
  The Brooks' Bunch is a group of Boys & Girls Club members whom Brooks 
began working with after signing with Tampa Bay in 1995. Drawing from 
some of Tampa's most underprivileged neighborhoods, these kids have 
become a fixture in Brooks' life.
  Aside from 24 tickets he purchases for every Bucs home game, Brooks 
also mentors and tutors his Bunch, taking them on educational trips to 
places like Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, the American West and even South 
Africa. Brooks constantly stresses the importance of education, and the 
kids have responded to his message.
  Last spring, they successfully nominated Brooks for the Educational 
Visionary award from the Hillsborough Education Foundation in 
recognition of his work with the Brooks' Bunch, a nice edition to his 
2000 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
  Then there is John Lynch, Tampa Bay's safety and its 2002 nominee for 
the NFL Man of the Year. A five-time Pro-Bowler, Lynch established the 
John Lynch Foundation in 2000 to provide encouragement and positive 
alternatives for young people.
  The foundation believes that good, solid values can be learned 
through education, sports and community involvement. Through his 
foundation, Lynch provides financial assistance for high school 
students to attend the college of their choice.
  Finally, there is Tampa wide receiver Kennan McCardell, alias Santa 
Claus. This past Christmas Eve, McCardell took 10 children from the 
Hillsborough Department of Child Services foster care program for an 
early morning shopping spree at a local toy store. McCardell told the 
kids they each had $500 to spend. McCardell's generosity rubbed off on 
the children, who spent some of their allowances on their family and 
friends.
  Again, congratulations to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their 
championship; and thank you Derrick, John, and Kennan and members of 
the Tampa Bay organization for all your contributions to the Tampa Bay 
community. You have always been champions off the field, and now you 
have taken over the championship on the field too.
  Be proud, because we are certainly proud of you, Tampa Bay 
Buccaneers.

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