[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1388]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JIM SWEENEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DEVIN NUNES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2013

  Mr. NUNES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today alongside my colleagues, 
Representative Costa and Representative Valadao, to honor the life and 
career of Jim Sweeney, who passed away on February 8, 2013. Mr. Sweeney 
was the legendary coach of the Fresno State football team, leading the 
Bulldogs for nearly two decades and leaving an indelible imprint on his 
team, his school, and his community.
  The son of a hardscrabble miner, Mr. Sweeney worked in the mines 
during his college summers. Afterward, he coached high school football 
for several years in his native Montana and then became an assistant 
coach of the Montana State Bobcats in 1960. Appointed head coach in 
1963, he served five years in that position and eight years as head 
coach of the Washington State Cougars before becoming head coach at 
Fresno State, the position that would define his career.
  During his nineteen years at Fresno State, interrupted by a two-year 
stint on the coaching staffs of the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis 
Cardinals, Mr. Sweeney elevated the Bulldogs to national prominence. A 
charismatic, no-nonsense leader, he brought an infectious enthusiasm to 
the entire community and inspired fierce loyalty in his players. He 
implanted an enduring team spirit with his resounding renditions of 
team fight songs and his inception of the ``Bulldog born, Bulldog 
bred'' chant that players still invoke today. In Fresno, Mr. Sweeney 
won eight conference titles and five bowl games on his way to amassing 
144 victories, the most of any head coach in Bulldog history. Among his 
many well-deserved accolades, the team's football field was renamed in 
his honor.
  Personifying excellence, hard-work, and integrity, Mr. Sweeney was 
well-loved in his community and is a true California icon. His 
trademark wit and unceasing passion will be missed by the legions of 
fans and admirers he has left behind.

                          ____________________