Tribute to Ohio College Football Teams

TRIBUTE TO OHIO COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am very proud, as the 108th Congress gets underway today, to pay tribute to the awesome accomplishments of this season's Ohio State University football team—a team that, after what was certainly one of the greatest games in college football history, clinched the 2002 National Collegeiate Football Championship title. This recent distinction represents Ohio State's fifth outright national football title.

It is a great privilege, also, to represent a State that is home to many outstanding schools and numerous past national champions of college football. In Alliance, OH, for example, we have the Mount Union College Purple Raiders. This exceptional football team ended the year with a 14 and 0 record, winning the division III national championship for the sixth time in 7 years.

The team is 109 and 1 in the last 11 regular seasons. Since 1990, the Raiders have won an incredible 162 out of 170 games. So I congratulate these fine young athletes on yet another great championship season.

I want to recognize the Raiders' coach, Larry Kehres, for his dedication and commitment to the school and to the team. He has just been named the AFCA Division III National Coach of the Year, making him the first coach to win 7 national coach of the year awards. Mr. President, this is an unprecedented accomplishment. I congratulate Coach Kehres and his entire coaching staff. I wish him and the Purple Raiders and their fans all the best for next season and for many years to come.

Mr. President, I also congratulate Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, who was named this season's Division 1-A National Coach of the Year. This is the third time Coach Tressel has been recognized as national coach of the year, and deservedly so. He is a man who already has a lifetime coaching record of 142 wins, 62 losses, and 2 ties. He has coached previous teams at Youngstown State University to 4 national championships and has qualified for the Division 1-AA playoffs a remarkable 10 times in the past. He is a native Ohioan who graduated cum laud in 1975 from another fine Ohio institution of higher learning, Baldwin Wallace College. Coach Jim Tressel stresses academics, athletics, and community responsibility. When Jim Tressel took over as head coach of Ohio State, he said this:

The two greatest days in our student-athletes lives should be the day they walk across the stage to receive their diploma and the day they slip a championship ring on their finger.

Because of Coach Tressel's dedication to his athletes, many of the players on Ohio State's football team have and will accomplish both of these great honors.

Mr. President, I am sure many of my colleagues watched last week's Ohio State-University of Miami game. What a great game it was. Both teams played very well, and both schools can be very proud. I know that Senator Reid and Senator McConnell certainly watched the game. They have both already come to the floor to talk about it. I thank them for their remarks on the floor earlier in the week.

I was pleased to join my friend and colleague from Ohio, Senator GEORGE VOINOVICH, in sponsoring a resolution honoring the team's achievement. This resolution commends not only the entire Ohio State athletic department, but also recognizes the support and dedication of the Ohio State marching band, the cheerleaders, the students, the administration, the board of trustees, the faculty, the alumni, the City of Columbus, the entire State of Ohio, and all of the great fans.
Indeed, this season and last week's championship game represent the culmination of a year of hard work and a true team effort.

Mr. President, anyone who watched last week's game will tell you it was an unbelievably tense game. Ohio State entered the game at least an 11½-point underdog. The team's defense was certainly key in putting Ohio State into a position where they could win the game. During the first overtime, the game was tied 17 to 17. Then facing what could have been the end of the game—fourth down and 14 yards to go—Ohio State completed a 17-yard pass to stay alive.

I know Ohio State fans, whether they were in Tempee, AZ, or whether they were, as I was, watching TV in Cedarville, OH, just could not believe what happened. Ohio State's quarterback faded back and made that unbelievable pass on fourth down and 14. After a few more plays, the Buckeyes scored from the 1-yard line to go into that second overtime.

Then in the second overtime, Ohio State scored on a rushing attempt, and this proved to be the last score of the game. Miami got the ball, of course, and then on the last play of the game, fourth and goal at the 1-yard line, the Buckeyes blitzed and forced Miami's quarterback to rush his pass in desperation, allowing the Buckeye defensive linebacker to bat it down to the ground. This moment secured Ohio State as the 2002 national champions and gave the team a place in history. Without a doubt, both teams played well; both teams are great champions.

Many sports writers already have made the case that Ohio State's 31-to-24 double overtime victory in this year's Fiesta Bowl was the greatest championship game in the history of college football. This sort of fantastic finish was the same type of dramatic conclusion to many of the Buckeyes's wins this season.

The truth is Ohio State was underestimated the entire season, but because the players worked together as a team to overcome huge obstacles, they were able to reach their ultimate goal. The unselfish attitude of the players and coaches resulted in win after win for their team.

The Ohio State University football team defied history and odds to win 14 games in one season, overcoming all barriers along the way to persevere in the end.
I wish to conclude with the words of former Ohio State national champion coach, Ohio legend, the late Woodrow Wayne
Hayes—Woody Hayes. I quote Woody Hayes:

Anytime you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.

It is with great respect today that I say congratulations and go Bucks.