I 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 761 

To commend the University of Florida Gators for their historic win in the 

2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball 

Tournament. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 4, 2006 

Mr. STEARNS (for himself, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

of Florida, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. MACK, Mr. 

CRENSHAW, Mr. BOYD, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. 

HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 

Mr. FOLEY, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Ms. ROSLEHTINEN, Mr. SHAW, Mr. MICA, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. YOUNG

of Florida, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. KELLER, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, and Ms. HARRIS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

To commend the University of Florida Gators for their historic win in the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. 

Whereas on April 3, 2006, the University of Florida Gators 

defeated the UCLA Bruins 73–57 in the finals of the 

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana; 

Whereas the Gators are the first team in the State of Florida 

to win a men’s basketball national championship; 


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•HRES 761 IH 

Whereas the Gators’ head coach Billy Donovan is one of only 

three people to both play in a Final Four and coach a 

team to a NCAA men’s basketball championship; 

Whereas Billy Donovan is the second youngest coach to win 

a national championship, behind Bobby Knight who won 

his first national title at age 35; 

Whereas Joakim Noah was named Most Outstanding Player 

of the Final Four, with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 

and a title game-record 6 blocked shots; 

Whereas Joakim Noah set records for most blocks in a Final 

Four (10) and in an NCAA Tournament (29); 

Whereas the Gators finished their season an impressive 33– 

6, including a 17 game winning streak, despite entering 

the season unranked; 

Whereas the Gators had 5 starters—4 sophomores and a junior—with double-figure scoring averages; 

Whereas the Gators held the Bruins to 22 of 61 shots (36.1 

percent) and 3 of 17 three pointers (17.6 percent); 

Whereas the Gators contributed Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, 

Taurean Green, and Lee Humphrey to the All Tournament team, to join Jordan Farmar of UCLA; 

Whereas the Gators’ 16-point average margin of victory was 

the highest by a champion in 5 years; 

Whereas the Gators showed tremendous selflessness and 

teamwork, with each player maintaining a positive assist 

to turnover ratio; 

Whereas the Gators defeated the George Mason Patriots to 

earn the Championship Game appearance, 73–58; 

Whereas each player, coach, trainer, manager, and staff 

member dedicated this season and their efforts to ensure 


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•HRES 761 IH 

that the Florida Gators reached the pinnacle of college 

basketball; and 

Whereas residents of Florida and Gator Nation fans worldwide are to be commended for their longstanding support, 

perseverance, and pride in the team: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends the Florida Gators for their his3 toric win in the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic 

4 Association Division I Men’s Basketball Tour5 nament; 

6 (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, 

7 coaches, students, and support staff who were in8 strumental in helping the University of Florida 

9 Gators win the tournament; and 

10 (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Represent11 atives to transmit a copy of this resolution to Uni12 versity of Florida President J. Bernard Machen and 

13 head coach Billy Donovan for appropriate display. 

Æ 


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