Honoring the Rice University Owls baseball team for winning the NCAA baseball championship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to honor the Rice University Owls, the 2003 NCAA baseball national champions. It is a study in persistence. Before this victory, the Owls made three trips to the College World Series in 1997, 1999, and 2002, but won just one of seven games during those three trips.

The Owls' convincing win over Stanford in the College World Series championship game this year brought home the school's first national championship in any team sport.

Rice University is a tremendous source of pride for my 25th Congressional District in Texas. As one of the Nation's most highly regarded universities, Rice has always been well known for its academic excellence. The school now has the added distinction of being a baseball powerhouse. Winning a national title in a major Division I sport is a remarkable accomplishment for a school as small as Rice with only 2,700 undergraduates.

Additionally, Rice athletes are held to the same high academic standards as all of the other students, signifying the incredible well- roundedness of these ball players.

Since starting at Rice 12 years ago, coaching legend Wayne Graham has catapulted the team into baseball history. Coach Graham's leadership took Rice to the NCAA tournament in 1995 and to the College World Series in 1997, 1999 and 2002. Previously, Coach Graham won five national junior college titles at San Jacinto College.

The Owls had an unforgettable season, winning 58 of their 70 games. Early in the season, the team broke a school record by winning 30 games in a row. In the College World Series, Rice beat Southwest Missouri State and last year's champion University of Texas team twice, before meeting Stanford in the championship round. Rice beat Stanford 4-3 in the first game, lost 8-3 in the second, and won the championship, 14-2, the largest margin of victory in the history of the College World Series championship games.

Mr. Speaker, with wholehearted enthusiasm, I congratulate Coach Graham and the entire Rice Owl College World Series championship team, including Philip Umber, Jeff Niemann, Wade Townsend, Vincent Sinisi, Enrique Cruz, Craig Stansberry, Paul Janish, Chris Kolkhorst, Austin Davis, Dan Bubela, Justin Ruchti, David Aardsma, Joseph Baker, Jeff Blackinton, Matthew Cavanaugh, Lyndon Duplessis, Matthew Emerson, Jonathan Gillespie, Steven Herce, Sean Hirsch, Jeff Jorgensen, Colin Matheny, Matthew Moake, and Lance Pendleton.

These players' success, both in the classroom and on the baseball field, make them stand out as the very best college sports has to offer. They played with honor and sportsmanship and raised the bar for the expectations of college athletes everywhere. Well done, Owls. You have made Houston, Texas very proud.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 379) honoring the Rice University Owls baseball team for winning the NCAA baseball 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. 379.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 379. This resolution honors the Rice University Owls baseball team for their victory in the 2003 NCAA baseball championship. With their 14 to 2 victory over Stanford, the Rice Owls scored the largest margin of victory in a College World Series championship game and earned their first, their first, NCAA baseball championship ever. The Owls won five of six games in their fourth College World Series appearance to complete a remarkable season in which they won 58 of their 70 games. The Owls' victory at the College World Series was Rice University's first national championship in any team sport. The distinction earned by these players and the remarkable repeat victories of the team reflect the dedication of each player, the leadership of Coach Wayne Graham, and the support of family, friends, and fans.

I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell) for introducing this resolution and extend my congratulations to Coach Graham, Rice University, and each of the hardworking players on the successful Owls team. As the only Member of Congress to claim Rice University as my alma mater, I am especially proud and happy to join my colleagues and am very thankful to have the opportunity to join my colleagues in honoring the accomplishment of this team and wishing them continued success. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank, again, the gentlewoman from California for her kind remarks and the other speakers today, and certainly the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell) for authoring this resolution. I will dare to speak on behalf of all Rice alumni and say to Coach Graham and to the team, congratulations and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The first-ever NCAA championship is a big thing to the alumni community and Rice University.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 379. This resolution honors the Rice University Owls baseball team for winning the NCAA baseball championship. This summer the Rice University Owls captured the national championship in their fourth trip to the College World Series in the past 7 years. College fans, student athletes, and the general public were treated to an exciting 14 to 2 win in the final game of the year's College World Series. I want to extend my hearty congratulations to the Owls' head coach, Wayne Graham. His leadership over the past 12 years has taken baseball at Rice University from obscurity to national prominence. Rice University's student athletes also deserve our congratulations. We are on the floor today because of their hard work, their determination, and their winning ways.

I would be remiss if I did not also recognize the outstanding play by Stanford University's student athletes in the College World Series. Both teams are to be congratulated for their excellent play.

Winning a championship has brought national acclaim to Rice University. I hope the Owls fans and their community treasure this moment for many years to come. And in closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell), the author of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

(Mr. GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to place in the Record a statement in offering my congratulations to the Rice University baseball team for winning the College World Series.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to the Rice University Baseball team. An exemplary group of young men, the Rice team won its first baseball national championship this year and showed the true grit needed to win the College World Series.

The Owls have been no stranger to the College World Series, appearing with the best of college baseball for 4 out of the last 7 years. The championship eluded them, however, until this year when they finished the regular season with an impressive 58-12 record. Thirty of those wins came during a remarkable winning streak.

And being a University of Houston graduate, it pains me to admit that the Owls' streak began with a 3-0 win over my beloved Cougars. However, if we had to lose to a cross-town rival, I'm glad that it was one who went on to win the national championship.

The national championship was even sweeter for Houstonians considering that the Owls crushed a Stanford team that had made its third trip to the finals in the past 4 years. And in winning the final game 14-2, the Rice team secured the largest margin of victory in any College World Series final game. Without a doubt, Rice's national championship is a well-deserved honor for a first-rate team.

My congratulations go out to the Owls, along with my best wishes for a successful 2004 season in defense of their title.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell) for authoring this legislation in honoring the National Champion Rice University baseball team. I commend the hard work of the players and their coaches. Their years of training and preparation, combined with their ability to work together as a team, led to an outstanding and overwhelming victory.

It is also important to recognize the unwavering dedication of the Rice supporters who cheered the team to victory. All Texans are proud of Rice University. Rice University, its alumni, the city of Houston, the Houston Astros and others have honored the Rice baseball team, and now the Congress is joining the local community and the State to show our support for their achievement.

I have the great honor of being a father of a Rice Owl. My daughter Xochil

attends Rice University, and I am proud that she has chosen to be a part of this outstanding academic institution. Not only is Rice University one of the Nation's top-ranking schools, Rice University students have distinguished themselves by creating a unique academic atmosphere that provides a well-rounded educational experience.

The win at this year's College World Series marks the first national championship for a Rice University sports team, but with the hard work and the discipline shown by the group of student athletes, I have no doubt that this is only the first of many accomplishments and championships. Congratulations, Rice University.