Commending the Clemson University Tigers men's golf team for winning the 2003 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Golf Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of this resolution, and I commend and congratulate the gentlemen from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett), (Mr. Spratt), (Mr. Clyburn), (Mr. DeMint), (Mr. Brown), and my friend (Mr. Wilson) for their authorship and sponsorship of this resolution. I can understand why the South Carolina delegation is so justifiably proud of the young men who have achieved so much on the links.

Among the very most important classrooms, teaching places in our system of our higher education, is the field of athletic competition. There is a reason why we want to encourage colleges and universities around our country to continue educating young men

and women on playing fields; and the achievements of the young men of the Clemson University men's golf team are an example of that principle.

I must say parenthetically one of the issues that I am proud of is my alma mater, which did not win the NCAA golf tournament, Bucknell University, was recently noted for graduating 100 percent of its student athletes who participate in NCAA sports, and that is an aspiration that I know is shared around the country.

These young men of Clemson and these young Tigers had an extraordinary year amidst extraordinarily difficult competition. I am told that they finished the season with a record of 128 wins, eight losses and three draws, or three ties, against opponents ranked in the top 25 teams in the country. So when they took on the very finest competition there was, they won 93 percent of the matches, which is really an astonishingly good record. I wish that I was right 93 percent of the time in the things that I do here in doing my job.

We also want to commend the Oklahoma State University Cowboys who were in second place in the tournament. My understanding is that the tournament took place on their home course, and I think that adds special luster to the achievement of the young men from Clemson because when one is playing against competition that is used to playing on that course day in and day out, it is an advantage for the home team that the Clemson team was able to overcome.

It is my understanding that each of the Tigers players who participated in the NCAA championship are native-born South Carolinians. That must be a source of great pride for the schools and the coaches and families of the State of South Carolina for which we congratulate those schools and coaches and families.

Finally, it is my understanding that players D.J. Trahan, Jack Ferguson, and Matt Hendrix were all honored as All-Americans in the 2002-2003 season. To have three All-Americans on one team in any sport is quite an achievement; and I know that Head Coach Larry Penley, who himself was honored as the Golf Coaches Association of America's Dave Williams Award winner as Coach of the Year, should be justifiably proud.

This morning, as we speak, there are young Americans who are in science labs and lecture halls and technology centers and study areas, all in campuses all around our country, and we commend them for that; but we also recognize that one of the most important places to learn about life and about the principles of life is on the field of battle and athletic competitions. It is obvious Clemson University should be very proud of these young men.

I also add one thing parenthetically now to inject a controversial topic for those of us, and I mean those of us on both sides of the aisle who so strongly support title IX and support equal athletic opportunities for young men and women. This is one example of how we do not have to choose between broader opportunities for all athletes and broader opportunities for some. One of the concerns about title IX is that nonrevenue-producing sports on the men's side, like golf, which really does not produce revenue, would be jeopardized if we have a strong and robust title IX. Well, we have a strong and robust title IX. We are pleased we are going to keep this, and I think this is one more example of how we can have men and women excel in the field of athletic competition.

So I congratulate Clemson University, and all of their alumni and students and followers must be very, very proud of these young men who have won such an esteemed championship.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, we appreciate that very much. We like to keep the smart ones in the State, but we let a few of them go to South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to simply congratulate our colleagues from South Carolina and to urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 266) commending the Clemson University Tigers men's golf team for winning the 2003 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Golf Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 266.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 266. I would like to thank my hardworking colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett), for bringing this resolution forward.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the achievement of the Clemson University men's golf team, the Tigers, for their NCAA Division I national collegiate championship. Clemson became the first school in NCAA history to win its conference championship, gain the NCAA regional title and the national championship all in 1 year.

The national championship Tigers deserve recognition for winning the title by just two shots over host school Oklahoma State University after starting the day just one stroke apart. Clemson finished with a 72-hole team total of 1,191, 39 strikes over par. The championship Tigers will enter the 2003-2004 season with a streak of 18 consecutive top three finishes, a Clemson record. In addition to inspiring the team victory, three players distinguished themselves from the field by being named to the All-America teams at the conclusion of the season.

Coach Larry Penley was named National Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association and was the first Clemson coach in any sport to win a National Coach of the Year in over 10 years.

The distinction earned by these individuals and the remarkable repeat victories of the team reflect the dedication of each player, the leadership of Coach Larry Penley, and the support of family, friends, and fans.

I extend my congratulations to each of the hardworking players on this successful Tiger team, to Coach Penley, President Jim Barker, and to student body president Fletcher Anderson and all the students of Clemson University. I am happy to join my colleagues in honoring the accomplishments of this team and to wish them continued success.

I would like to pause briefly now to relay the news I learned this morning of the death of a real institution in South Carolina. According to the Associated Press, Jim Phillips, whose voice carried the dreams and disappointments of Clemson fans for 36 years, died yesterday at age 69. Jim Phillips, the voice of the Tigers, did the play-by-play for Clemson baseball, football, and men and women's basketball. He will be missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, and I particularly am happy to be presenting this today in that my family has association with Clemson University. My son is a senior, Julian, who has been an intern here in Congress. I am very proud of his association, following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, Julian Dusenbury, who was a Clemson graduate.

I am also pleased that the communications director of the second district congressional office, Wesley Denton, is a Clemson graduate and also the health care legislative assistant, Micki Howard.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to first thank the gentleman from New Jersey. It is very ironic, as the gentleman mentioned, that the persons who are on this team were native born, in the public institutions of South Carolina, but the State which provides the highest percentage of out-of-state students is New Jersey, and so we have a very strong relationship with our sister State to the north that people would not really recognize, but we have really benefited--

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, we do enjoy that. Many choose to stay, but the bottom line is we do have the warm relationship with the State of New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to thank and congratulate the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett) for his leadership on this issue and his promotion of a great university.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for yielding me the time, and I am excited and proud to be here today, growing up in the shadow of Clemson University.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 266, which honors and congratulates the Clemson University men's golf team for winning the 2003 NCAA National Championship. First, I would like to thank the entire South Carolina delegation for cosponsoring this resolution and the chairman of the subcommittee of the Committee on Education and the Workforce for their diligent work in bringing this resolution to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, Clemson University was founded in 1889 as a small agricultural school, but over the past 100 years the Tiger community has grown to over 16,000 students, studying not only agriculture but also engineering, economics, genetics, and architecture.

Over the years, Clemson's high standards have been set outside the classroom as well as in athletic venues throughout the campus. The Tigers men's soccer team won two national championships in 1984 and 1987. The football team won a national championship in 1981; and most recently, the men's golf team won the 2003 national championship.

The list of accomplishments achieved by the 2003 golf team is much like their tee shots, Mr. Speaker, long and intimidating. The 2003 Tiger golf team was the first team in NCAA history to win its conference title, NCAA regional title, and the national championship in the same year. The Tigers began the season as the top-ranked team in the country and finished the year ranked number one after defeating an excellent Oklahoma Cowboy State squad by two strokes, despite playing on the home course of OSU.

Mr. Speaker, the Clemson Tiger golf team finished the year with an impressive record of 128-8 and three; and as my friend, my colleague from New Jersey, said, 93 percent of the time they went out, they won. That was against the top 25 opponents, the best in Clemson history.

An equally astonishing fact, and one I am extremely proud of, Mr. Speaker, is that the team is comprised entirely of South Carolinians. The Tiger golf team has brought honor and pride to the university, the Third Congressional District, and the entire State. Throughout their outstanding play during the 2003 season, the team demonstrated to all of us that with dedication and hard work comes great reward.

I would like to extend my personal congratulations to each player: D.J. Trahan, Ben Duncan, Matt Hendrix, Greg Jones, Michael Sims, Jack Ferguson, Brian Duncan, Martin Catalioto, and Nick Biershenk, as well as Coach Larry Penley, who was awarded the Dave Williams Award as the National Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches of America.

Mr. Speaker, I want to again extend my sincerest congratulations to the entire Clemson family on this great day commemorating the first national championship for the Clemson University Men's golf team, and I hope there will be many more days like this in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of the 2002-2003 Clemson University Golf Team. The Tigers, who started and ended the year as the number-one ranked team in the Nation, clinched the school's first NCAA Division I golf title in May in Stillwater, OK and became the first school in NCAA history to win its conference championship, NCAA regional title and National Championship in the same year. The national title victory was the sixth tournament win of the year for the Tigers, a single season record, and the team finished the season with a remarkable 124-8-3 record against top 25 opposition, an incredible 93 percent winning percentage--by far the best in the Nation and in Clemson history.

The 2003 National Champions were led by team number one, D.J. Trahan, the 2002 National Player of the Year and the 2000 USGA Public Links Champion. D.J. is a member of the ACC's 50-Year Anniversary team and has represented the United States as a member of the 2001 Walker Cup team and the 2002 Palmer Cup and World Amateur teams. He was awarded the Ben Hogan Award as top colleague golfer and named the top collegiate golfer by Golf World in 2002. D.J., whose career GPA is a 3.2, was also elected to the Verizon Academic All-America third-team for 2002 becoming the first Clemson athlete to be named a National Player of the Year and Academic All-American in the same year. I am proud to have Mr. Trahan, a resident of Mount Pleasant, as a constituent in South Carolina's First District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable achievement. In May of this year, the Clemson Tigers men's golf team from my great State of South Carolina won the NCAA Division I golf championship in dramatic fashion, edging out the Oklahoma State Cowboys by two strokes on their own course.

The team was led by Senior D.J. Trahan, the number one ranked college golfer for much of this year, and Sophomore Jack Ferguson, who was ranked in the top 25 for most of the year. Trahan finished 22nd with a four round 299 to become the only Clemson player ever with four top 25 finishes, and Ferguson finished 19th with a team best four round 298. Also anchoring the team were Junior Matt Hendrix, Junior Gregg Jones, and Senior Ben Duncan, who finished tied for 35th, 35th, and 52nd respectively.

My hat goes off to Coach Larry Penley and the entire squad for their remarkable 124-8-3 record this year, and for bringing Clemson their first ever national golf championship. They have made your State very proud. It gives me greater pride to see that every member of the Clemson team makes their home in South Carolina. If this keeps up, we may start to see athletes drinking sweet tea instead of Gatorade.

On top of their golf achievements, I am proud that each of these young men will leave with a Clemson academic degree. With that background, I am sure they will be as successful in life as they have been in golf.