[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 438 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
November 17, 2003.
Whereas John Gagliardi began his coaching career in 1943 at the age of 16 when
his high school football coach was drafted and John Gagliardi asked to
take over his position;
Whereas John Gagliardi won four conference titles during the six years he
coached high school football;
Whereas John Gagliardi graduated from Colorado College in 1949 and began
coaching football, basketball, and baseball at Carroll College in
Helena, Montana, winning titles in all three sports;
Whereas John Gagliardi took over the football program at St. John's University
in Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1953 and the football team won the
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in his first year as
coach;
Whereas by the end of the 2002 season, John Gagliardi had won three national
championships, coached 25 conference title teams, appeared in 45 post-
season games and compiled a 400-114-11 record during his 50 years at St.
John's University;
Whereas under the leadership of John Gagliardi, St. John's University has been
nationally ranked 37 times in the past 39 years, and the university set
a record with a 61.5 points per game average in 1993;
Whereas over 150 students participate in the St. John's University football
program each year and every player dresses for home games;
Whereas John Gagliardi's coaching methods follow the ``Winning with No's''
theory: no blocking sleds or dummies, no whistles, no tackling in
practices, no athletic scholarships, and no long practices;
Whereas John Gagliardi has coached over 5,000 players during his 50 years at St.
John's University, and no player has failed to graduate and most have
graduated in four years;
Whereas, in 1993, the John Gagliardi trophy was unveiled, and it is given each
year to the most outstanding Division III football player;
Whereas on November 1, 2003, John Gagliardi tied Grambling University coach
Eddie Robinson's record of 408 wins with a 15 to 12 victory over the
University of St. Thomas;
Whereas on November 8, 2003, John Gagliardi broke Eddie Robinson's record with a
29 to 26 victory over Bethel College;
Whereas John Gagliardi is admired by his players, as well as by the students,
faculty, and fans of St. John's University for his ability to motivate
and inspire;
Whereas students who take his course, Theory of Football, credit John Gagliardi
for teaching them more about life than about football;
Whereas those closest to John Gagliardi will tell you that football is only part
of his life--he values the time he spends with Peg, his wife of 47
years, and their four children; and
Whereas the on- and off-the-field accomplishments of John Gagliardi have placed
him in an elite club that includes the best coaches in history: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates John Gagliardi,
football coach of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, on becoming
the all-time winningest coach in collegiate football history.
Attest:
Clerk.