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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 66 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 66

Commending the University of Florida football team for winning the 1996 
         Division I collegiate football national championship.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 1997

     Mr. Mack (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Commending the University of Florida football team for winning the 1996 
         Division I collegiate football national championship.

Whereas the University of Florida can trace its beginnings to 1853 but was 
        formally established by the State of Florida when Florida Agricultural 
        College merged with East Florida Seminary, South Florida Military 
        College, and St. Petersburg Normal and Industrial School in 1905;
Whereas the University of Florida adopted the colors of orange and blue for its 
        athletic team in 1905 and the alligator as the school's mascot in 1908;
Whereas the origins of intercollegiate football at the University of Florida can 
        be traced back to 1901, when Dr. T.H. Taliaferro, president of the 
        Florida State Agricultural College, enthusiastically endorsed the new 
        sport of football and by that deed ensured that the University of 
        Florida Fightin' Gator football team exists today;
Whereas the University of Florida is a founding member of the Southeastern 
        Conference, considered by many to be the toughest conference in college 
        football;
Whereas the students, alumni, and friends of the University of Florida are to be 
        commended for the dedication, enthusiasm, and admiration they share for 
        the Fightin' Gator football team;
Whereas in 1990, Stephen Orr Spurrier, the most fabled football player in the 
        history of the University of Florida and winner of the Heisman Trophy in 
        1966, was hired to be the head football coach to lead the team to the 
        ever elusive ``Year of the Gator'';
Whereas in 1992, Coach Spurrier and his assistant coaches recruited a group of 
        talented athletes who went on to form the nucleus of the 1996 football 
        team;
Whereas the 1996 Fightin' Gator football team compiled a record of 12 wins and 1 
        loss and outscored their opponents by a margin of 611 points to 221 
        points, and for this achievement the Fightin' Gator football team was 
        recognized by the Associated Press and the Division I college football 
        coaches as college football's 1996 Division I national champions;
Whereas the 1996 Fightin' Gators football team and coaches are to be commended 
        for winning the school's first Division I collegiate football national 
        championship;
Whereas the 1996 Fightin' Gator football team broke several school, Southeastern 
        Conference, and Division I football during the 1996 football season;
Whereas the 1996 senior class of the Fightin' Gator football team should be 
        commended for their leadership and their ``team first'' approach that 
        helped win the 1996 Division I collegiate football national 
        championship, 4 consecutive Southeastern Conference football 
        championships, and the most victories for a senior class in school 
        history;
Whereas Danny Wuerffel, the team's quarterback, field leader, and spiritual 
        leader should be commended for winning numerous awards and accolades for 
        his performance during the 1996 football season including the Heisman 
        Trophy, which is presented yearly to college football's most outstanding 
        player, and the Draddy Scholarship Trophy, which is presented annually 
        to the Nation's premier football scholar athlete;
Whereas Lawrence Wright, the team's strong safety, should be commended for 
        winning the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented yearly to 
        college football's most outstanding defensive back;
Whereas Reidel Anthony, one of the team's clutch wide receivers, should be 
        commended for being selected by both the Football Writers Association 
        and the Associated Press to their respective college football All-
        American teams;
Whereas Ike Hilliard, another of the team's deep threats at wide receiver, 
        should be commended for being selected by the Walter Camp Football 
        Foundation as a member of its college football All-American team;
Whereas all the loyal sons and daughters of the University of Florida join 
        together in honoring Coach Spurrier and the 1996 Florida Fightin' Gators 
        for winning the 1996 NCAA Division I football championship; and
Whereas the 1996 season will be known forever in the hearts and minds of the 
        University of Florida faithful as the ``Year of the Gator'': Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the University of Florida for winning the 1996 
        Division I collegiate national football championship;
            (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, 
        coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in helping the 
        University of Florida win the 1996 Division I collegiate 
        football national championship and invites them to the Capitol 
        to be honored in an appropriate manner to be determined;
            (3) requests that the President recognize the 
        accomplishments and achievements of the 1996 University of 
        Florida Fightin' Gator football team and invite the team to 
        Washington, D.C. for the traditional White House ceremony held 
        for national championship teams; and
            (4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to make available 
        enrolled copies of this resolution to the University of Florida 
        for appropriate display and to transmit an enrolled copy to 
        each member of the 1996 University of Florida Division I 
        collegiate national championship football team.
                                 <all>
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