[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 262-263]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY BISON FOOTBALL TEAM

  Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, while I have the floor, if I might, I 
wish to shift gears. I know the Presiding Officer is a sports fan and 
that in her

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State they have many wonderful sports teams--football, basketball, and 
certainly the University of Iowa had an outstanding year this year. I 
certainly wish to commend them, compliment them on their great team. As 
a matter of fact, the team I am going to talk about next is going to 
play that team. I think it is our first or second game of the year next 
year. I am looking forward to it. I know the Presiding Officer is 
looking forward to it very much as well, when the North Dakota State 
University Bison play the University of Iowa. I don't know if the 
Presiding Officer is--I am sure she is a fan of the University of Iowa 
and Iowa State and Northern Iowa. They are all great sports programs. I 
don't know which one is her favorite and may not want to say, but we 
played Iowa State a few years ago. We play Northern Iowa every year. We 
have a great rivalry with Northern Iowa. Northern Iowa has a wonderful 
program--football and basketball. We enjoy playing them every year. 
This year it looks like they have a very good basketball team and are 
to be commended on beating North Carolina, the Tar Heels. We will 
certainly want to mention that to our colleagues. I am sure the 
Presiding Officer probably already has. North Dakota State plays Iowa 
every year and played Iowa State a few years back and we are very much 
looking forward to playing the University of Iowa.
  I wish to take a minute to speak about a resolution I will submit. I 
am going to talk about it now. The resolution is on behalf of the North 
Dakota State University Bison, which won a historic fifth consecutive 
NCAA Division I FCS national football championship on Saturday. Led by 
coach Chris Klieman, quarterback Carson Wentz, and a solid defensive 
effort, the Bison clinched the title 37 to 10 over a very talented team 
from Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks were truly great opponents. They 
played a fine game, and we congratulate them on a tremendous season as 
well.
  With Saturday's win, the Bison became the first football team in the 
modern era of college football to win five consecutive championships--
five titles in a row. The championships aren't won in a single game but 
as a result of years of hard work. The Bison overcame injury and 
adversity to make it back to the title game, and we are tremendously 
proud of our team, our players, the program, and all of their 
accomplishments.
  It was a thrill for my wife Mikey and me to join Bison Nation down in 
Frisco. The game was in Frisco, TX--a wonderful venue for the game. 
Having a dedicated fan base helped make their stadium feel a lot like 
one of our home games at the FARGODOME. It is an amazing experience.
  The game started with a flyover of a B-52 bomber from the Minot North 
Dakota Air Force Base. In addition to the thousands of dedicated NDSU 
fans, Thundar, the Bison mascot, and Corso, an actual bison--an 
unofficial mascot of the team--made the 1,000-mile trek down to Texas. 
The Bison had a loyal crew cheering them on, and it helped make this 
``drive for five'' season very memorable.
  Five championships in a row is unprecedented. I want to congratulate 
the entire Bison community--NDSU's leaders, the coaches, the staff, and 
these tremendous student athletes, as well as Bison Nation, a wonderful 
loyal following wherever the Bison team goes.
  In recognition, I will submit the following resolution in their 
honor:

       Whereas the North Dakota State University (referred to in 
     this preamble as ``NDSU'') Bison won the 2015 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble 
     as the ``NCAA'') Division I Football Championship Subdivision 
     title game in Frisco, Texas, on January 9, 2016, in a 
     decisive victory over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks by a 
     score of 37 to 10;
       Whereas NDSU has won 13 NCAA football championships;
       Whereas NDSU has now won five consecutive NCAA Football 
     Championships since 2011, an extraordinary and record-setting 
     achievement in modern collegiate football history;
       Whereas the NDSU Bison have displayed tremendous resilience 
     and skill over the past 5 seasons, with 71 wins to only 5 
     losses, including a streak of 33 consecutive winning games;
       Whereas thousands of Bison fans attended the championship 
     game, reflecting the tremendous spirit and dedication of 
     Bison Nation that has helped propel the success of the team; 
     and
       Whereas the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship 
     Subdivision title was a victory not only for the NDSU 
     football team, but also for the entire State of North Dakota:
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the North Dakota State University Bison 
     football team as the 2015 champion of the National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Division I Football Championship 
     Subdivision;
       (2) commends the North Dakota State University players, 
     coaches, and staff for their hard work and dedication on a 
     historic season and for fostering a continuing tradition of 
     athletic and academic excellence; and
       (3) recognizes the students, alumni, and the loyal fans who 
     supported the Bison in their quest to capture a fifth 
     consecutive Division I national championship trophy for North 
     Dakota State University.

  With that, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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