[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19815-19816]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ROBERT GRIFFIN III

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, in Texas, football and team loyalty is 
a key part of our identity. Today, I know that Baylor University 
students, alumni, and fans--known as the Baylor Nation--are bursting 
with pride over the

[[Page 19816]]

first Bear to win the Heisman Trophy. Robert Griffin III was named the 
2011 Heisman Trophy winner for his incredible accomplishments on the 
football field. Baylor finished this season ranked No. 15 nationally 
with a 9 to 3 record which included impressive victories over 
nationally ranked TCU, Oklahoma, and Texas. While Baylor and Big 12 
fans have witnessed Griffin's football prowess, many more American 
sports fans will have the opportunity to watch him lead the Bears in 
the Valero Alamo Bowl on December 29, 2011.
  But it is not only his football talent that makes Robert such a 
remarkable young man. RG3, as he is known to his friends and fans, is 
the consummate student-athlete. An honor roll student at Baylor, he 
graduated with a degree in political science in only 3 years with a 
3.67 GPA. While he was leading the Bears this year on the gridiron, he 
was studying for his master's degree in communications, and he has 
indicated that he would like to attend law school as well.
  Robert's career at Baylor balances academics and athletics and should 
serve as a role model for other aspiring young athletes. The discipline 
to succeed was instilled in him at a very early age by his parents, 
Robert, Jr., and Jacqueline Griffin, both Army noncommissioned 
officers, who laid the groundwork for his strong work ethic. A graduate 
of Copperas Cove High School just outside Ft. Hood, Robert was a three-
sport star athlete--he still owns Texas' High School State records for 
the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles--and a top student.
  Throughout his career at Baylor, Robert set 52 school records in 
passing, rushing, and total offense. He has thrown for an incredible 
10,070 yards, and 77 touchdowns, while rushing for 2,220 yards and 32 
touchdowns. During his impressive 2011 Heisman winning season, Robert 
passed for almost 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns, while rushing for 655 
yards and 7 touchdowns. He also earned the Davey O'Brien Award, 
presented annually to the best NCAA quarterback.
  On Saturday, December 10, 2011, Robert Griffin III was recognized as 
the greatest college football player of the year. The Heisman Trophy is 
the most prestigious and coveted award in college sports, and no one is 
more deserving of this honor than Robert Griffin III.
  Congratulations to Robert Griffin III on an incredible season; to his 
family, who provided the foundation for his abilities; to his teammates 
and the entire Baylor Nation. This is truly a storybook ending to a 
tremendous season.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, on December 10, the most prestigious 
sports fraternity in the country welcomed its newest member, Baylor 
University's Robert Griffin III, as the 77th winner of the Heisman 
Memorial Trophy. Griffin is Baylor's first recipient of the Heisman 
Trophy and the first player from the school to be named a finalist for 
the award since quarterback Don Trull finished fourth in 1963. The son 
of two retired U.S. Army sergeants, Griffin led the 15th ranked Baylor 
Bears to a 9 to 3 record and their second straight bowl appearance. The 
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year has energized the football program 
and helped to end Baylor's 16-year absence from bowl games.
  Hailing from Copperas Cove, TX, Griffin put up spectacular numbers, 
completing 72 percent of his passes for 3,998 yards with 36 touchdown 
passes. He also led the Nation in passing efficiency with a rating of 
192.3, which broke the single-season Football Bowl Series record. On 
top of his impressive passing statistics, Griffin averaged 4.0 yards 
per carry for 644 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Although 
Griffin is only a junior, he holds 46 of Baylor's career offensive 
records including passing yards, passing touchdowns, and rushing 
touchdowns by a quarterback. While leading Baylor to one of its 
greatest seasons in history, he helped accomplish other important 
firsts for the program. After winning a combined 4 games in November 
during their first 15 seasons in the Big 12, Griffin guided the Bears 
to a perfect 4 to 0 record in the same month, with 3 of the wins 
against rivals Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech. The late-season victory 
over Oklahoma marked the first time in school history that Baylor was 
able to defeat the mighty Sooners.
  Robert Griffin's skills are not limited to the football field. In 
addition to being an All-American in the 400-meter hurdles, Griffin is 
also a model student. He completed his undergraduate work in 3 years 
with a 3.67 GPA, earning a bachelor's degree in political science, and 
is currently working on a master's degree in communications. Griffin 
also plans to earn a law degree. I applaud his commitment to excellence 
in both academics and athletics.
  Today, I join with my colleagues, and Robert's friends and family, 
including his parents, Robert Jr. and Jacqueline Griffin, in 
celebrating this fine achievement. Robert Griffin joins a special class 
of Texas athletes who are also Heisman Trophy winners: TCU's Davey 
O'Brien, SMU's Doak Walker, Texas A&M's John David Crow, the University 
of Houston's Andre Ware, and the University of Texas's Earl Campbell 
and Ricky Williams.

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