[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 24291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS FOOTBALL TEAM

  Mrs. DOLE. Madam President, today I would like to recognize 
the Appalachian State University Mountaineers football team for pulling 
off one of the biggest upsets in college football history. To recognize 
this achievement, Senator Burr and I have introduced Senate resolution 
number S. Res. 309.
  On September 1, 2007, the Appalachian State Mountaineers of the NCAA 
Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division 1-AA, 
beat the University of Michigan Wolverines, ranked fifth nationally, of 
the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, formally known as Division 1-A, by 
a score of 34-32 in front of 109,000 spectators at ``The Big House'' in 
Ann Arbor, MI. No Division 1-AA team has ever been victorious over a 
nationally ranked Division 1-A opponent.
  The win over the Wolverines was an extraordinary team effort. 
Quarterback Armanti Edwards threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns 
while rushing for 62 yards and 1 touchdown. The receiving corps 
combined for 227 yards of offense with 2 touchdowns from Dexter Jackson 
and 1 from Hans Batichon. In addition, the defense had an outstanding 
game and forced 2 critical turnovers in the second half--1 fumble 
recovery and 1 interception--to guide the Mountaineers to victory.
  During the fourth quarter the Mountaineers came up with the special 
plays needed to complete the monumental win. With Appalachian State 
trailing 32-31, Brian Quick blocked a Michigan field goal setting-up 
what would become the game-winning drive. On the ensuing drive, kicker 
Julian Rauch put a 24-yard field goal through the uprights to move the 
Mountaineers ahead 34-32 with 26 seconds left in the game. The 
Mountaineers, however, still needed 1 more big play from its special 
teams. With just a few seconds remaining, Corey Lynch dramatically 
blocked a Wolverine field goal attempt to seal the victory.
  After the final gun, head coach Jerry Moore, who put together a 
masterful game plan, was carried off the field by his players in 
victory. The Appalachian State Mountaineers' victory over the Michigan 
Wolverines demonstrates that any achievement is possible with hard work 
and a great deal of heart.
  I applaud the tremendous effort by the players, head coach Jerry 
Moore, and the assistant coaches and support personnel who all played 
critical roles in this historic victory. In addition, I would like to 
congratulate Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock, chancellor of Appalachian State 
University, Charles Cobb, athletic director, and all of the students 
and fans to whom this win meant so much.

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