[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5603]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATING BUTLER UNIVERSITY

  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, today I honor Butler University's 2010 Men's 
Basketball team for its historic season which culminated in last week's 
NCAA championship game in Indianapolis.
  Although the Bulldogs narrowly lost to the Duke University Blue 
Devils, 2010 was a season for the record books.
  This was Butler's first-trip to the NCAA ``Final Four'' and the best 
performance by a school of Butler's size in 40 years. Butler entered 
the championship game with a 25-game winning streak, the longest in the 
Nation.
  The championship was especially meaningful as the team played in 
Indianapolis, nearby the university's home court, the storied Hinkle 
Fieldhouse.
  I particularly want to recognize the work of Butler's coach, Brad 
Stevens. Under the leadership of this native Hoosier, the Bulldogs have 
become a national power. In his first three seasons, Coach Stevens has 
won 89 games--a Butler record.
  Much of that success can be attributed to the Bulldogs' guiding 
philosophy, the ``Butler Way'' which emphasizes the importance of 
working as a team, both on and off the court.
  Dr. Bobby Fong, the university's president, and the faculty and 
administration of Butler all deserve credit for maintaining the right 
balance between athletics and academics. Butler has one of the highest 
graduation rates of all the schools in this year's NCAA Tournament, and 
2 of this year's 15 Academic All-Americans were players for the 
Bulldogs.
  Butler's commitment to both academic and athletic excellence embodies 
the best of college athletics. I am proud to recognize their winning 
combination of talent and determination.
  The Butler University Bulldogs have proved once again that an 
underdog team from the Hoosier State can capture America's heart.

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