[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15038-15041]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING 2008 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPION FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1327) congratulating the 2008 National 
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Baseball Champions, 
the Fresno State Bulldogs, on an outstanding and historic season, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1327

       Whereas California State University, Fresno, better known 
     as Fresno State, was founded in 1911 and has offered advanced 
     degrees since 1949;
       Whereas Fresno State has one of the top Agriculture 
     Sciences and Technology programs in the California State 
     University system, with a worldwide reputation in water 
     technology, more than 200 awards for student-produced wines, 
     and research having global impact in the areas of food 
     production, land preservation, and irrigation;
       Whereas Fresno State's Craig School of Business has been 
     recognized in the Princeton Review's top business schools and 
     is nationally acclaimed for its Lyles Center for Innovation 
     and Entrepreneurship;

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       Whereas Fresno State also offers well-regarded programs in 
     schools or colleges devoted to arts and humanities, health 
     and human services, education and human development, social 
     sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics and engineering;
       Whereas Fresno State is home to approximately 19,000 
     undergraduate students, 2,200 graduate students, and nearly 
     1,000 post-baccalaureate students;
       Whereas in the recent Western Association of Schools and 
     Colleges accreditation process, Fresno State was commended as 
     a ``national model for institutions interested in becoming 
     generators of social mobility, economic development, and 
     student success'';
       Whereas Fresno State prepares its students to prosper in 
     their chosen careers by being responsible citizens in their 
     communities, as well as in the State, Nation, and world;
       Whereas all Fresno State athletic programs pride themselves 
     on recruiting male and female athletes from local high 
     schools and junior colleges;
       Whereas every member of this year's championship baseball 
     team is from California, with many players hailing from such 
     San Joaquin Valley towns as Fresno, Clovis, Bakersfield, 
     Visalia, Hanford, and Turlock;
       Whereas the Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team beat the 
     University of Georgia Bulldogs two games to one to win the 
     2008 College World Series;
       Whereas the Fresno State Bulldogs opened the College World 
     Series with a victory over sixth-seeded Rice University and 
     had two wins over number-two national seed University of 
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
       Whereas the Bulldogs hit 14 home runs, the second most in 
     College World Series history, and set the record for the most 
     extra-base hits, runs batted in, and total bases in a 
     championship game;
       Whereas the Bulldogs became the first team in College World 
     Series history to score at least 17 runs more than once in 
     the same College World Series;
       Whereas the Bulldogs became the first number-four regional 
     seed to reach the College World Series since the tournament 
     expanded in 1999;
       Whereas all 10 of the Bulldogs' postseason wins have come 
     against teams ranked in the top 15, including its final 7 
     wins over national seeds;
       Whereas the Bulldogs played on the road for over 40 days;
       Whereas, throughout the College World Series, the Bulldogs 
     won 6 elimination games, including a 19-10 victory over the 
     University of Georgia Bulldogs in the championship series;
       Whereas, for the third consecutive season, the Bulldogs 
     earned a preseason ranking in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's 
     Fabulous 40 and an 18th-place ranking from Baseball America 
     Magazine;
       Whereas the Bulldogs won 47 games and lost 31 games during 
     the 2008 season;
       Whereas 7 members of the Bulldog team were named to the 
     Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference Team;
       Whereas on May 17, 2008, the Bulldogs won their third 
     straight Western Athletic Conference championship;
       Whereas on May 25, 2008, the Bulldogs won their third 
     straight Western Athletic Conference tournament after beating 
     the University of Nevada;
       Whereas the Bulldogs had not played in a College World 
     Series since 1991;
       Whereas the Bulldogs won the Long Beach Regional and Tempe 
     Super Regional tournaments, and beat 3rd-ranked Arizona State 
     University, 6th-ranked San Diego University, and 11th-ranked 
     Long Beach State University;
       Whereas head coach Mike Batesole was named the 2008 
     National Coach of the Year, the second time in 10 years he 
     has won the award;
       Whereas Steve Susdorf was named the Western Athletic 
     Conference Player of the Year, Tanner Scheppers was named the 
     Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Danny Muno 
     was named the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the 
     Year, and head coach Mike Batesole was named the Western 
     Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year;
       Whereas Steve Susdorf, Tanner Scheppers, Erik Wetzel, Alan 
     Ahmady, and Brandon Burke earned First-Team All-Western 
     Athletic Conference honors;
       Whereas seniors Clayton Allison, Blake Amador, Jason 
     Breckley, Brandon Burke, Jacob Hower, Ryan Overland, and 
     Steve Susdorf and junior Kris Tomlinson have graduated or 
     will graduate within 9 semesters, having managed their time 
     well enough to keep up with studies and play championship 
     baseball over 78 games and hundreds of practice sessions;
       Whereas Steve Susdorf was a Western Athletic Conference 
     All-Academic awardee for the fourth year and also won ESPN 
     The Magazine Academic All-District and second team Academic 
     All-America honors;
       Whereas senior Clayton Allison, juniors Kris Tomlinson and 
     Erik Wetzel, and freshmen Trent Soares and Jake Floethe were 
     also Western Athletic Conference All-Academic performers;
       Whereas Tommy Mendonca was named the College World Series 
     Most Outstanding Player and was named to the 2008 National 
     Collegiate Team;
       Whereas Erik Wetzel, Steve Susdorf, Steve Detwiler, and 
     Justin Wilson were named to the 2008 College World Series 
     All-Tournament Team;
       Whereas, in addition to the players who earned all-
     conference honors, the Bulldogs saw outstanding play from 
     Danny Muno, Jordan Ribera, Gavin Hedstrom, and Ryan Overland;
       Whereas Bulldog coaches Mike Batesole, Matt Curtis, Mike 
     Mayne, and Pat Waer and the entire Bulldog roster and staff 
     have earned a special place in Fresno State sports history;
       Whereas many members of the Bulldog team will never play 
     professional baseball and truly give meaning to the term 
     ``student-athlete''; and
       Whereas Fresno State's competition for the national 
     championship has been exciting to watch for all those who 
     have an attachment to the University, the San Joaquin Valley, 
     and the game we call our national pastime: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association (NCAA) Baseball Champions, the Fresno State 
     Bulldogs, on an outstanding and historic season; and
       (2) recognizes that the Bulldogs, in winning their first 
     College World Series, concluded an unprecedented season and 
     championship that captivated baseball fans across America.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous 
material on H. Res. 1327 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the California State 
University Fresno State men's baseball team for winning the 2008 
Division I College World Series.
  Since June 14, the first day of the College World Series, Fresno 
State made an improbable run at the championship. As a fourth seed, 
they fought and clawed their way into the College World Series. Just to 
make the College Word Series, Fresno State had to win the Western 
Athletic Conference. Though they edged their way into the CWS, their 
presence was definitely felt. They gave college baseball fans across 
the country special treat with their amazing play.
  The Bulldogs belted their way through their matchup with Rice 
University. This lopsided affair ended with the final score being 17-5. 
The Bulldog team had a pair of home runs and eight out of the nine 
starters had a hit. The team steamed forward to play the second-seeded 
University of North Carolina. In this best-of-three series, Fresno won 
the first game 5-3, lost a tight second match 4-3, and sealed their 
championship fate beating UNC 6-1 in the final affair.
  In the championship series against the University of Georgia, the 
Fresno Bulldogs ended up losing their first game in the best-of-three 
series. The Fresno players bounced back with a vengeance. They cruised 
to a 19-8 victory with run after run. In the final game, Fresno brought 
home a championship after defeating University of Georgia 6-1.
  I want to extend my congratulations to Coach Mike Batesole who was 
named the 2008 National Coach of the Year--the second time he has won 
this award. He has led them through an amazing College World Series. 
Assistant Coaches Matt Curtis, Mike Mayne, and Pat Waer complete the 
coaching staff. All of them have done a stellar job preparing this 
confident group.
  Congratulations are always in order for Tommy Mendonca for winning 
the College World Series MVP and for being invited to play with the USA 
National Collegiate Baseball Team. Mendonca hit .285 with 19 home runs, 
70 RBIs and eight doubles for the College World Series champions this 
season. He also hit four home runs and drove in 11 runs during the 
College World Series.

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  Winning the national championship as an underdog has brought national 
acclaim to Fresno State. They are the lowest seed to win a College 
World Series and the first men's team to win a national championship 
for their school. These Bulldogs have earned a special place in Fresno 
State sports history.
  I once again congratulate Fresno State for their amazing success.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Nunes) such time as he may consume.
  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, Mr. Costa and 
Mr. Radanovich. Mr. Costa, of course, is a very proud alum of Fresno 
State so he's very excited for this day, and I want to thank them both 
for their help on passage of this important legislation.
  I rise today to congratulate my hometown baseball team, the Fresno 
State Bulldogs, who entered the College World Series as underdogs and 
against all odds succeeded in clinching the championship title. The 
Fresno State baseball program has had a successful history since its 
inception in 1922. Bulldog baseball boasts five titles, three WAC 
championships, 30 NCAA tournament appearances and four appearances in 
the College World Series. The program has produced excellent Major 
League Baseball players throughout their 86-year history and many other 
student athletes that excel both on and off the field.
  The story of the Fresno State Bulldogs in the College World Series is 
one of outstanding achievement.
  With sweat and guts, the Bulldogs won the WAC tournament merely to 
qualify for the College World Series Their performance at the national 
championship not only proved that they belonged in this elite 
tournament, but also left no doubt they were the best team in the 
Nation.
  Without regard for the doubters and the critics, Fresno State 
baseball exhibited an uncompromising commitment to success, which is 
truly characteristic of this university. Challenge after challenge, 
they pulled through in the face of adversity and achieved the greatest 
victory in the school's history.
  During their outstanding run at the 2008 College World Series, the 
Fresno State Bulldogs broke a series of records. They were the only 
team in College World Series history to score more than 17 runs in two 
separate games. The team also set records for the most home runs, most 
extra-base hits, most runs batted in, and most total bases in a 
championship game. Fresno State was the lowest seeded team to ever to 
win the College World Series, and this championship victory marks the 
highest achievement of the program in its entire history.
  While they excelled as a team, some were also recognized for their 
exceptional individual performances. Fresno State player Tommy Mendonca 
was chosen as the Most Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Player in the 
College World Series, and was selected for the U.S.A. Baseball National 
Team. Coach Mike Batesole received the Coach of the Year award for the 
second time in his career. Many other outstanding performances are 
highlighted in this resolution.
  The accomplishment of this team has filled the community with the 
utmost sense of pride. As underdogs, Fresno State overcame all the odds 
and achieved the much-deserved title of champions of the College World 
Series. Congratulations to the Fresno State Bulldogs for the tremendous 
achievement.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend as much time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Congressman 
Nunes, for the introduction of this resolution. He has the university 
in his congressional district. Congressman Radanovich and myself share 
the same sort of pride and enthusiasm for the university, and all three 
of us work very closely with the institution, we think one of the 
finest academic institutions in the country. Congressman Bishop, we 
thank you for your kind words.
  We want to recognize today the Fresno State baseball team, the 
Bulldogs, the Bulldogs of the West, on their victory over the 
University of Georgia last month to claim the 2008 NCAA Division I 
baseball championship of the country. Obviously, as Congressman Nunes 
mentioned, I am a proud alum of the University of California at Fresno 
State, or as we like to refer to it, the Bulldogs.
  What Fresno State accomplished in their road to victory winning the 
national championship has all the makings of a movie. The Dogs came 
into the tournament, it was noted, fourth regional seed, and along the 
way beat prestigious powerhouse universities like Rice, the University 
of North Carolina, two big wins. They are the first, as was noted, 
fourth seed to reach the finals and win the National Collegiate 
Athletic Association championship in any sport in the history of our 
country.

                              {time}  1230

  As a matter of fact, they are the lowest seed to win a national 
championship, including professional sports. They went from underdogs 
to wonderdogs. The team played on the road for 40 straight days and 40 
nights. Forty days and 40 nights they played away from home, first 
going to Baton Rouge to win the WAC tournament, then going back to Long 
Beach to win the Western tournament, and then to the super-regionals in 
Phoenix to win that tournament, beating the University of Arizona 
twice, with their record of 30-2, the University of Arizona in their 
home stadium; yet the Bulldogs prevailed to put themselves in the 
College World Series Finals.
  What's important to note about this long trek, this incredible 
journey, is that there were five Bulldogs who made this year's College 
World Series All-Tournament Team. They were Erik Wetzel, Steve Susdorf, 
Steve Detwiler, Justin Wilson, and Tommy Mendonca. Congratulations to 
all of them. They were all Californians.
  These truly are student athletes in the finest sense of the word. I 
suspect the majority of these folks will never play professional 
baseball, although I suspect they all might want to, and we wish them 
the best in their endeavors. But these were student athletes who are 
getting a college education and, in the meantime, enjoying those 
wonderful aspects of student sports for their university and for their 
own pride of accomplishment.
  Tommy Mendonca, from Turlock, California, was named the College World 
Series Most Outstanding Player and was recently named to the 2008 
National Collegiate Team. He comes from a strong Portuguese family, 
that both Congressman Nunes and I share, and we enjoyed watching him 
play all season long.
  The character, the camaraderie, the preparation, and the ultimate 
performance of the success of this team flows from Coach Batsole and 
his wonderful staff that really made a difference. When the team 
started out 8-11 at the beginning of the season, expectations 
diminished, but they didn't let that, with a series of injuries, put a 
damper on their spirit, and that spirit of the Bulldogs came back. Go 
Dogs!
  I want to thank my friend Congressman Nunes for introducing this 
resolution and my dear friend Congressman Radanovich for his support 
for the university. This is a great time that we share for the Valley 
and for the University of Fresno State.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) such time as he may consume.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Delaware for 
giving me time to speak on this.
  I'd like to begin first by thanking my colleagues Mr. Nunes and Mr. 
Costa and Mr. Cardoza for working with me to introduce H. Res. 1327, 
and congratulate the Fresno State Bulldogs on winning the NCAA Division 
I College World Series.
  The Fresno State baseball team's journey of becoming the College 
World Series champion is, without a doubt, a Cinderella story. The 
Bulldogs faced

[[Page 15041]]

obstacles and hardships, and yet they were able to overcome the odds to 
secure the college national baseball championship.
  Fresno State University is known for the quality education that it 
has provided since its founding in 1911. For 97 years, the students of 
Fresno State, including its student athletes, have illustrated the 
university's commitment to excellence in education. Now, Fresno State 
will also be known for its excellence in our national pastime.
  The Bulldogs' triumph has highlighted the quality athletic programs 
of Fresno State. The Bulldogs' baseball team is the only team in NCAA 
history to win a championship with a regular season record of 47 wins 
and 31 losses. Additionally, the Bulldogs spent over 40 long days away 
from home during their trek towards becoming the College World Series 
champions.
  The achievement of the Fresno State baseball team is not just an 
accomplishment that can be celebrated by Fresno State University, but 
by all residents of California's Central Valley and by all fans of 
America's favorite pastime.
  The Bulldogs captured baseball fans' hearts as college baseball fever 
spread Fresno State's colors of cardinal and blue across the Central 
Valley and the Nation, making this College World Series the most 
watched of all time according to ESPN. Radio fans tuned in to local 
Central Valley radio station, KMJ 580, to listen to the game.
  My family and I were among those huddled around our TVs, hanging on 
every pitch, e-mailing the results to our son King who was away at 
camp. Perhaps next year, when the Bulldogs are playing for back-to-back 
championships, we will listen to that game on the radio.
  As the lyrics in the Bulldogs' fight song state: ``So fight and give 
the best there is in you . . . we'll fight on to victory.'' And the 
Bulldogs did just that. With unwavering determination, with complete 
dedication, the Bulldogs gave their all, and in the end, they were 
victorious.
  It is with great pride that I stand here with my colleagues today 
supporting H. Res. 1327, congratulating the Fresno State Bulldogs on 
their College World Series Championship. Go Dogs!
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I'm prepared to yield back. I'd just like to 
make a comment or two and I will do so, and I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  I would like to thank all of those who were involved in this. Mr. 
Cardoza couldn't be here to speak, but I thank him as well for his 
interest in this.
  And I would just like to congratulate everybody involved with Fresno 
State. I watched some of these games on television. You see a Georgia 
versus a Fresno State and your immediate thought is, well, gee, Georgia 
must be dominant in this situation as they are a very dominant athletic 
team in the country. But indeed, Fresno State fought to win two out of 
three of those games and I think deserve a tremendous amount of credit, 
especially considering the year that they had gone through.
  This is an excellent school, and sometimes outside actions cause us 
to look at other things. And looking at the academics at Fresno State, 
which include a broad array of offices and services, including over 50 
academic departments, eight colleges, a Henry Madden Library, the 
Division for Graduate Studies, the Division of Continuing and Global 
Education and dozens of centers and institutes, all these are designed 
to support the central academic mission of the university, that of 
creating an environment of engaged, student-centered learning. And they 
I think deserve to be congratulated for the academic side of what 
they're doing, as well as their great victory in the NCAA baseball 
tournament this year.
  I congratulate them.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1327, 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.

                          ____________________