[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18613-18615]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING THE APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING 
           THE 2006 NCAA DIVISION I-AA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 210) commending the Appalachian State 
University football team for winning the 2006 National Collegiate 
Athletic Association Division I-AA Football Championship, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 210

       Whereas on December 15, 2006, the Appalachian State 
     University football team (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``Mountaineers'') defeated the University of Massachusetts 
     football team by a score of 28-17, to win the 2006 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-AA Football 
     Championship;
       Whereas the Mountaineers were successful due to the 
     leadership of Coach Jerry Moore, and in great part to the 
     spectacular play of Most Valuable Player Kevin Richardson, 
     who scored all 4 touchdowns, and to Corey Lynch, whose fourth 
     quarter interception helped seal the victory;
       Whereas the championship victory was the pinnacle of a 
     remarkable season for the Mountaineers, who ended the season 
     with a 14-1 record;
       Whereas the Mountaineers' offense was led by Southern 
     Conference Freshman of the Year Armanti Edwards, who rushed 
     for over 1,000 yards and passed for over 2,000 yards, and 
     accounted for 30 touchdowns in his first season;
       Whereas the success of the Mountaineers' offense is 
     attributed to Kevin Richardson, who rushed for over 1,000 
     yards, William Mayfield, who had over 1,000 yards receiving, 
     and the impenetrable offensive line, who made it possible for 
     those amazing statistics to occur;
       Whereas the Mountaineers' intimidating defense was led by 
     Marques Murell, Jeremy Wiggins, Monte Smith, and Corey Lynch;
       Whereas the Mountaineers were undefeated in conference 
     games through the 2006 season and are the champions of the 
     Southern Conference for the second year in a row;

[[Page 18614]]

       Whereas Appalachian State University affirmed its position 
     as a dominant football program by securing its second 
     consecutive national championship;
       Whereas in 2005, Appalachian State University became the 
     first team from North Carolina to win an NCAA football 
     championship with a 21-16 victory over Northern Iowa;
       Whereas the members of the 2006 Appalachian State 
     University football team are excellent representatives of a 
     fine university that is a leader in higher education, 
     producing many fine student-athletes and other leaders;
       Whereas the Mountaineers showed tremendous dedication to 
     each other, appreciation to their fans, sportsmanship to 
     their opponents, and respect for the game of football 
     throughout the 2006 season; and
       Whereas residents of the Old North State and Appalachian 
     State University fans everywhere are to be commended for 
     their long-standing support, perseverance, and pride in the 
     team: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the champion Appalachian State University 
     football team for their historic win in the 2006 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-AA Football 
     Championship;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, alumni, and support staff who were instrumental in 
     helping Appalachian State University win the championship; 
     and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House to transmit copies of 
     this resolution to Appalachian State University Chancellor 
     Kenneth Peacock and head coach Jerry Moore for appropriate 
     display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. 
Foxx) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.


                             General Leave

  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days during which to insert material relevant to H. 
Res. 210 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Kentucky?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Appalachian State 
University for winning the 2006 NCAA Division I-AA Football National 
Championship.
  On December 15, 2006, the Appalachian State University Mountaineers 
captured their second consecutive NCAA Division I-AA Football National 
Championship by defeating the University of Massachusetts Minutemen by 
a score of 28-17.
  I want to extend my congratulations to Mountaineer head coach Jerry 
Moore, Chancellor Kenneth Peacock, the student athletes and fans for a 
national championship and a 14-1 season.
  I also want to extend my congratulations to the University of 
Massachusetts and their student athletes for a great season. The 
Minutemen finished their season with a record of 13 wins with only two 
losses for the year.
  The Mountaineers achieved some amazing accomplishments in 2006. The 
team won the Southern Conference for the second year in a row; six 
players were named Associated Press All Americans; Armanti Edwards was 
named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year; and Coach Jerry Moore 
was named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.
  Madam Speaker, I once again commend and congratulate the Appalachian 
State University Mountaineers for their dedication and success.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 210, 
congratulating the Appalachian State University football team for 
winning the 2006 NCAA Division I-AA National Collegiate Athletic 
Association Championship.
  It's my honor today to recognize the tenacity, sportsmanship and 
national championship victory of the Appalachian State University 
football team. The ASU Mountaineers won their second straight NCAA 
Division I Football National Championship in a 28-17 victory over 
Massachusetts this past season. Powered by the record-breaking, four 
touchdown performance of junior running back Kevin Richardson, and the 
stellar leadership of Head Coach Jerry Moore, ASU has solidified its 
place among the best of America's college football teams.
  In their championship performance, the Mountaineers rushed for 285 
yards, with Richardson racking up 179 of those yards. His four-
touchdown performance also broke the NCAA Division I Football 
Championship Subdivision single season record with 30 rushing 
touchdowns in 15 games. Richardson, who is the Southern Conference 
Offensive Player of the Year, finished the season with 1,676 yards 
rushing, a new ASU record.
  In a testament to ASU's remarkable championship season, Head Coach 
Jerry Moore was named the American Football Coaches' Association 
Division I-AA Coach of the Year. Moore was also named the Southern 
Conference Coach of the Year for a record fifth time.
  Coach Moore's been at ASU for 18 years, and last year may have been 
his best year yet. Despite a 23-10 loss in the season opener at NC 
State, he led ASU to a 14-game winning streak crowned by their national 
championship win. Their record-breaking winning streak found the 
Mountaineers dominating opponents by an average margin of victory of 
22.6 points.
  During his time at Appalachian, Moore has amassed an impressive 154-
68 record, which sets him apart as the winningest coach in Southern 
Conference history.
  The 2006 season was a remarkable time for the Mountaineers, and not 
surprisingly, the team is overflowing with accomplishments. Eight ASU 
players were named All Americans, and 19 were All Conference 
selections.
  ASU players also made a clean sweep of the Southern Conference's 
post-season awards. Offensive Player of the Year went to Kevin 
Richardson. Marques Murrell took home Defensive Player of the Year. 
Kerry Brown won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, and Armanti Edwards 
captured the Freshman of the Year honor.
  Edwards led the Mountaineers to 13 victories as a freshman 
quarterback and was the second freshman and fifth player overall in 
Division I history to tally 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards 
in a season.
  ASU's 14-game winning streak and 14-1 overall record set school 
records for wins in a season and consecutive victories. ASU now holds 
the Nation's longest Division I football winning streak at 14 games. In 
addition to having the longest overall winning streak in Division I, 
the Mountaineers also hold the longest home winning streak in the 
football championship subdivision at 27 straight games.
  I'm so proud to be an alumnus and to represent Appalachian State 
University in Congress and to once again recognize its accomplishments 
on and off the playing field. It was just over a year ago that I had 
the honor of recognizing the Mountaineers as the 2005 NCAA Division I-
AA football national champions. Their repeat national championship 
performance this past season is a clear instance of the value of hard 
work and integrity.
  I applaud the players and coaches who are receiving their due 
recognition for another fantastic season. I especially want to 
compliment Coach Moore for his strong faith and his open expression of 
his faith. He and his assistant coaches are excellent role models for 
the players and students they lead.
  Two national championships in as many years is reason to celebrate. 
I'm pulling for a third championship in 2007 and a third opportunity to 
honor these fine players and coaches on the floor of the House of 
Representatives.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and 
in December of 2005, the day after Appalachian was crowned I-AA champs 
of intercollegiate football, I spoke on this

[[Page 18615]]

House floor and said, The frigid and unforgiving winds that normally 
blow across the Blue Ridge Mountains during the months of winter are 
blowing less brutally and less severely today for, on this day, I said, 
these winds sweep across the campus of Appalachian State University, 
home of the National I-AA champs of intercollegiate football.
  That speech, Madam Speaker, is applicable today because as my friend, 
Ms. Foxx, indicated, the Mountaineers repeated as national champs last 
December, and those same Blue Ridge winds were as refreshing in 2006 as 
they were in 2005, and hopefully, as Ms. Foxx said, they will be 
equally refreshing in December of 2007.
  Over a century ago, Madam Speaker, a small teachers' college was 
founded in rural Appalachia. Then, Boone was a sleepy Blue Ridge 
hamlet; the Appalachian campus equally sleepy.

                              {time}  1945

  Now this campus has awakened.
  Appalachian State University is recognized as one of the sterling 
jewels in North Carolina's higher education crown. It is recognized as 
well as the home of America's reigning I-AA champions of 
intercollegiate football, the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
  Best wishes to Chancellor Peacock, Coach Moore and the entire 
Appalachian family.
  Again, I thank the gentlelady from North Carolina for handling this 
resolution.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes).
  Mr. HAYES. I thank the gentlelady.
  Let me just simply say that Congresswoman Foxx and Congressman Coble 
have done a fine job of outlining the accomplishments, which are 
absolutely remarkable, of the Appalachian Mountaineers.
  As a point of personal privilege, since my son-in-law is the wide 
receivers coach there, I want to add my congratulations, that my son-
in-law, daughter and grandchildren are very much part of the 
Appalachian theme in Boone, which is a tribute to athletics and 
scholarship. People should gather, do things that we really care about 
and make a difference in peoples' lives.
  The seniors on this team never lost a home game the whole time, the 4 
years that they were at Appalachian. Again it's about scholarship, it's 
about participation, it's about sportsmanship and these men and women, 
because a lot of men and women involved were a true tribute to the type 
of sportsmanship and scholarship that we all aspire to.
  My congratulations to the twice champions and soon-to-be three-time 
champion Appalachian Mountaineers.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I simply want to end by saying 
congratulations to Appalachian State University. Go Mountaineers.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I also want to close by congratulating 
the entire Appalachian State University family.
  I urge my colleagues to pass H. Res. 210.
  Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to sincerely congratulate the 
Appalachian State University football team for winning the 2006 
National Collegiate for the second year in a row, Athletic Association 
Division I-AA Football championship.
  December 15, 2006, marked a historic day for this university as the 
Appalachian State University football team defeated the University of 
Massachusetts 28-17 to win the championship.
  Most Valuable Player Kevin Richardson's four touchdowns and Corey 
Lynch's fourth-quarter interception, all under the direction of Coach 
Jerry Moore, secured the road to victory crowning the remarkable season 
for the Mountaineers. An intimidating defense led by Marques Murell, 
Jeremy Wiggins, Monte Smith, and Corey Lynch, complemented by a high-
powered offense led by Richardson, who rushed for over 1,000 yards, and 
William Mayfield, who had over 1,000 yards receiving, and an 
impenetrable offensive line, made it possible for this championship to 
occur.
  Undefeated in conference games and champions of the Southern 
Conference for the second year in a row, Appalachian State University 
affirmed its position as a dominant football program by securing its 
second consecutive national championship. Not only have they become 
great sportsmen, but they have consistently showed great dedication to 
each other, continued sportsmanship to their opponents, gratitude to 
their unwavering fans and respect for the sport itself.
  I am proud of the 2006 Appalachian State University football team for 
bringing the championship home to western North Carolina. These student 
athletes are excellent representatives of a fine university and have 
contributed to its long history of excellence and achievement.
  Mr. YARMUTH. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 210, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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