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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 761 Introduced in House (IH)]

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. Ros-Lehtinen, 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;
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 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Florida Gators for their historic win in 
        the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I 
        Men's Basketball Tournament;
            (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
        students, and support staff who were instrumental in helping 
        the University of Florida Gators win the tournament; and
            (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
        transmit a copy of this resolution to University of Florida 
        President J. Bernard Machen and head coach Billy Donovan for 
        appropriate display.
                                 <all>
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