[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 24]
[Senate]
[Pages 32713-32714]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TEAM

  Mr. President, I commend and congratulate the Northwest Missouri 
State University Football team on their most recent victory in the NCAA 
Division II Championship this past weekend. Their journey to this game 
and their performance in it testifies to their dedication and 
perseverance.
  The Bearcat football team has seen much success and disappointment 
over the past four seasons. Having reached the championship contest the 
previous 4 years only to fall short in the title game, the Bearcats, 
led by Coach Mel Tjeerdsma, would not be denied victory in this fifth 
straight championship contest.
  By a score of 30-23 over the Grand Valley State Lakers, a formidable 
opponent, the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats wiped away their 
heartbreak from the past with their win.
  The victory comes on the 10th anniversary of their last national 
championship, and once again brings great

[[Page 32714]]

pride to their football program, students, faculty, their home city of 
Maryville, and the entire State of Missouri. The NWMSU Bearcats have 
now won three national championships since 1998, proving to be one of 
the best programs in Division II football.
  It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Coach Tjeerdsma and his 
entire coaching staff, current students, faculty and alumni, and most 
all the football players who never gave up--especially the senior class 
who have gone through the challenges of the past 4 years. They proved 
that with hard work and dedication any goal is attainable.
  Congratulations to the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats 
on their third Division II football National Championship. We look 
forward to more good things to come from this university and this 
football program.

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