[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21296]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR PLAYING 
                       THE NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2011

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2011 St. 
Xavier University Cougars football team, who will compete in the 
school's first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 
championship game on December 17, 2011. The Cougars, who call my 
district home, will compete for the title in Rome, Georgia, against 
Carroll College of Montana.
  St. Xavier defeated Marian University on December 3rd to go 13-1 for 
the season and earn a trip to the title game. Marian was the only 
school to defeat St. Xavier this year, and the Cougars avenged their 
loss in exciting fashion to earn their title birth. With SXU leading by 
three points in the final moments of the game, Marian was threatening 
to score with a first-and-goal situation. On third down, SXU freshman 
Clayton Fejedelem intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal the 
victory.
  The Cougars' potent spread offense was on full display in the second 
half of the contest with three touchdowns through the air. St. Xavier's 
offense leads the NAIA in scoring offense with 45.9 points per game. 
Just as impressive was the defense as it held Marian's star running 
back to just 26 yards on 16 carries.
  SXU had come close in the past, making it to the NAIA semifinals 
three times before, but this year the fourth time was the charm. When 
the Cougars face Carroll College tomorrow, I am confident they will be 
ready to take on the Fighting Saints. Please join me in honoring the 
St. Xavier University Cougars football team and their head coach, Mike 
Feminis, on competing in the NAIA National Championship and sealing 
their place as a perennial football powerhouse. May they perform like 
champions and bring back a national championship trophy.

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