[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19783-19784]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR THE 2010 SOUTHWESTERN 
                    ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, it's my pleasure to rise on 
the floor of the House and congratulate the Texas Southern University 
Fighting Tigers, who won the SWAC competition in Birmingham, Alabama, 
against Alabama State. Congratulations to Coach Cole, the athletic 
director, President John Rudley, the Board of Regents, but most of all, 
our outstanding football players, who are vested in character and 
integrity and doing the right thing. Let me thank all the students, the 
band, all of those who came to cheer.
  I had the great privilege of being there in Birmingham, Alabama, to 
support this great team. They celebrated today at city hall with the 
mayor and the community, and we look forward to a greater understanding 
of who Texas Southern University is, a great institution, vested in the 
history of this country, educating young people. And now we can call 
them the Fighting Tigers, the 2010 winners of the SWAC championship. 
Fighting Tigers, congratulations to all of you.
  Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to recognize and to 
congratulate the Texas Southern University, TSU, Tigers for bringing 
home the Southwestern Atlantic Conference, SWAC, Championship to my 
district in Houston, Texas. In a display of great sportsmanship and 
great endurance, the Tigers defeated the Alabama State Hornets on 
December 11, and became conference champions for the first time in 42 
years. I would like to congratulate the Tigers' athletic association, 
their football team, and, of course, Coach Johnnie Cole on a momentous 
finale to a tremendous season.
  As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, it is truly an honor 
to recognize Texas Southern University not only for their conference 
championship, but also for their academic successes as one of the 
nation's largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities, HBCU. 
Additionally, TSU contributes to the multiculturalism that makes 
Houston the diverse city it is today, by hosting a number of 
international students. Texas Southern University, which is located in 
the heart of metropolitan Houston, proudly serves students of diverse 
socioeconomic, cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds. Moreover, Texas 
Southern University is poised towards a greater tomorrow--its academic 
programs are designed to encourage and develop America's future model 
citizens.
  The fighting Tigers of TSU dominated defensively throughout the 
December 11th game against the Alabama State Hornets at Legion Field. 
With the final and, winning score of 11-6, the Tigers were able to 
rejoice in the reclamation of the SWAC Championship, the team's first 
since 1968--but this time it is theirs alone. Guided by Coach Cole, and 
led by Dejuan Fulghum, Defensive MVP of the Championship game, and Riko 
Smalls, Offensive MVP of the Championship game, the fighting Tigers 
were able to bring home the SWAC championship.
  Coach Johnnie Cole achieved many successes in his tenure at Texas 
Southern University. By transforming and revitalizing the Tigers' 
football team, he truly has brought football back to TSU. Coach Cole 
has had a long history with TSU, ever since he played on losing TSU 
football teams in the 1980s. Though, this year, Coach Cole turned a new 
leaf for TSU, by coaching an astoundingly successful and triumphant 
football team all the way to the

[[Page 19784]]

SWAC championship. Since joining the football leadership team in 2008, 
Coach Cole has ignored the defeatist mentality and has a renewed focus 
on reigniting the school spirit for the TSU Fighting Tigers. This year, 
they finished the season on an eight game winning streak, and Cole 
bringing TSU the first Conference Championship since 1968 was ``icing 
on the cake.'' I would like to congratulate Coach Johnnie Cole on his 
recent award for the Southwestern Atlantic Conference's Coach of the 
Year; his success represents the future of TSU. It truly was a great 
combination--with Coach Johnnie Cole, athletic director Charles 
McClelland, a supportive and spirited student body, and finally a 
hardworking and motivated football team--that led the fighting Tigers 
to a great year of dignity, sportsmanship, and success.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to take a few moments to recognize the 
Most Valuable Players from the 2010 Southwestern Atlantic Conference 
Championship game. I believe that they exhibited the great athleticism 
and leadership that paved the way for the Tigers' Championship on 
December 11. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge Dejuan Fulghum, the 
SWAC's Defensive Player of the Year, and the Championship Game's Most 
Valuable Defensive Player. Dejuan Fulghum is a senior linebacker, who 
has had a tremendous career with the TSU Tigers. He led the 
Southwestern Atlantic Conference in sacks, with nine this year, and was 
third in tackles, with 91. Furthermore, he recorded an interception and 
two forced fumbles that led to the Football Championship Subdivision 
designating TSU as the number two defensive team. The Championship 
Game's Most Valuable Offensive Player, Riko Smalls, a sophomore 
quarterback, was called to the field on last Saturday, when senior 
quarterback Arvell Nelson was unable to play. Riko Smalls helped place 
TSU in the best position for winning the Championship, and rose to his 
role as a leader on the field. Riko Smalls' first start with the TSU 
Tigers, in arguably their most important game, demonstrates the growing 
capabilities of the Texas Southern Tigers and of the TSU coaching 
staff. The entire team was well prepared to succeed that day and I 
congratulate all the Texas Southern Tigers; and, I would like to 
commemorate the success of their football team, which can now claim the 
title of the best college football team in Houston.
  In representing the eighteenth district of Texas, I am proud to 
commemorate the fighting Tigers of TSU for their athletic success, and 
moreover, to commemorate the greater TSU community for their scholastic 
drive and dedication to becoming champions on and off the field.

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