IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 598 

Congratulating the University of Mount Union football team for winning 

the 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Football 

Championship. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 2, 2016 

Mr. RYAN of Ohio submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the University of Mount Union football team 

for winning the 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Football Championship. 

Whereas, on December 18, 2015, the University of Mount 

Union Purple Raiders football team (referred to in this 

preamble as the ‘‘Purple Raiders’’) won the 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this 

preamble as the ‘‘NCAA’’) Division III Football Championship with a 49 to 35 victory over the University of 

St. Thomas Tommies; 

Whereas the head coach of the Purple Raiders led the team 

to a national championship win in his third year as the 

head coach of the Purple Raiders; 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 598 IH 

Whereas the University of Mount Union has won 12 national 

championships in NCAA Division III football; 

Whereas the victory of the Purple Raiders broke the record 

held by the University of Mount Union for the most national titles in football held by a program in any division; 

Whereas the Purple Raiders defeated the 2014 national 

champion, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 

Warhawks, in the semifinal of the 2015 season, 36 to 6, 

to advance to the national championship game; 

Whereas, in the 2015 national championship game— 

(1) the running back of the Purple Raiders, number 

34, rushed for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries; 

(2) the quarterback of the Purple Raiders, number 

11, threw for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns with zero 

interceptions; 

(3) the wide receiver of the Purple Raiders, number 

3, caught 5 passes for 127 yards, including a 63-yard 

catch; and 

(4) the freshman defensive back of the Purple Raiders, number 21, recorded the only interception by any 

player in the game; 

Whereas, in the 2015 football season, the Purple Raiders— 

(1) finished with a record of 14 wins and zero losses; 

(2) continued a 103-game regular season winning 

streak, which began in 2005; and 

(3) won the Ohio Athletic Conference championship, 

which was— 

(A) the 24th consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference title won by the Purple Raiders; and 

(B) the 27th conference title won by the Purple 

Raiders; 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 598 IH 

Whereas, in the 2015 football season— 

(1) the junior offensive lineman of the Purple Raiders, number 52, was named the winner of the Division 

III Rimington Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division III football; 

(2) the senior defensive lineman of the Purple Raiders, number 90, was named to the American Football 

Coaches Association Division III Coaches’ All-America 

team; 

(3) the senior linebacker of the Purple Raiders, 

number 4, a 3-time team captain, was named— 

(A) a winner of the NCAA ELITE 90 award 

for the third straight year; and 

(B) the Academic All-American of the Year for 

Division III football by the College Sports Information Directors of America; and 

(4) the senior safety of the Purple Raiders, number 

31, was named 1 of the 10 finalists for the Gagliardi 

Trophy, which is awarded to the top all-around player in 

NCAA Division III football; 

Whereas the President and the director of athletics of the 

University of Mount Union have fostered a continuing 

tradition of athletic and academic excellence at the University of Mount Union; 

Whereas the University of Mount Union has proven to be a 

perennial championship contender in NCAA Division III 

football; and 

Whereas the marching band, cheerleaders, students, faculty, 

alumni, and fans of the University of Mount Union have 

supported the Purple Raiders through a season filled 

with triumph: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 598 IH 

1 (1) congratulates the University of Mount 

2 Union Purple Raiders football team for winning the 

3 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association Divi4 sion III Football Championship; 

5 (2) recognizes the players, coaches, staff, and 

6 fans of the University of Mount Union Purple Raid7 ers football team, whose hard work led to the team 

8 winning the 2015 National Collegiate Athletic Asso9 ciation Division III Football Championship; and 

10 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

11 the Senate prepare an official copy of this resolution 

12 for presentation to— 

13 (A) the President of the University of 

14 Mount Union; 

15 (B) the director of athletics of the Univer16 sity of Mount Union; and 

17 (C) the head coach of the University of 

18 Mount Union football team. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS