[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16953]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING JOHNNY MANZIEL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Flores) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, this is the second consecutive year that I 
have had the privilege to congratulate a Heisman Trophy winner from one 
of the two universities in the 17th Congressional District of Texas.
  Today, I want to congratulate Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M University 
in College Station, Texas, as the 2012 recipient of the 78th annual 
Heisman Memorial Trophy.
  On Saturdays, ``Johnny Football,'' as he is now known, wowed 
audiences across the Nation with his steady poise and his remarkable 
playmaking ability. As a freshman, he personifies the fighting Texas 
Aggie spirit, and he proves that the impossible is never out of reach.
  Leading the Aggies in their inaugural season in the Southeastern 
Athletic Conference, Johnny threw for 3,419 yards and ran for 1,181 
yards, and he garnered 43 touchdowns. He broke a multitude of A&M, SEC, 
and NCAA records along the way.
  Johnny is the first freshman, and only the fifth player, in FBS 
history to have at least 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in 
a season. He holds FBS freshman records for both rushing yards by a 
quarterback and all-purpose yards by an individual.
  He is the SEC record-holder for total yards in a season, at 4,600, 
breaking the previous record in two fewer games than the prior record-
holder. He also achieved an SEC record for total yards in a single 
game, at 557 yards, only to break that record 2 weeks later with a 576-
yard game.
  Johnny has logged nine straight games with 300 or more yards and 
generated five or more touchdowns in six different games. He tied an 
85-year-old A&M record with 19 rushing touchdowns in a season. And, oh, 
by the way, he still has one more game to play this season.
  Johnny has many firsts among the awards and accolades he has garnered 
in 2012. He was the first player in the history of the SEC to win the 
Freshman of the Year and the Player of the Year in the same season. He 
is also the first freshman in FBS history to win the Davey O'Brien 
National Quarterback Award. Most notably, he is the first freshman in 
college football history to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy, awarded to 
the most outstanding player in college football each year.
  Johnny not only shined on the field, but off it as well. 
Academically, he has successfully completed enough credit hours to be 
classified as a junior, even though he's just a redshirt freshman.
  When he first addressed the media at the end of the regular season, 
Johnny remained humble and gave credit to his teammates, to his 
coaches, and to the Aggie 12th man, which is the greatest tradition in 
all sports. When he addressed the Nation after receiving the Heisman 
Trophy, he named his offensive line individually, and honored the 1-
year anniversary of the passing of a beloved teammate.
  Johnny knows where his talents and blessings come from; and he gave 
glory to God, most importantly.
  What makes this year so special is how Johnny and the Aggie football 
team excelled in their first year playing in the SEC. Not too many 
people from outside their locker room gave them a fighting chance in 
their inaugural SEC season, but they believed in themselves.
  I want to congratulate Texas A&M University and football coach Kevin 
Sumlin on a terrific 10-2 regular season. He and his coaching staff are 
doing extraordinary work down in Aggieland during their first year. 
Keep up the great work.
  As Johnny said, leadership, respect and putting others first are what 
being an Aggie is all about. Aggies all across the world stand 
together, not only as fans, but as members of a team. I proudly echo 
Johnny's words when I say to the 12th man, to Texas A&M University and 
to Aggies everywhere, this honor is for you.
  As an Aggie former student, I want to thank Johnny for an incredible 
season, and I look for more exciting seasons in the coming years.
  Before I close, I ask all Americans to pray for our country during 
these difficult times and for our brave military men and women and 
first responders who are protecting us at home and abroad.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to address the House today.
  Gig 'em Aggies, God bless America, and Merry Christmas to all.

                          ____________________