A resolution commending the Carroll College Fighting Saints football team for winning the 2003 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national football championship game.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Carroll College Fighting Saints and to congratulate them on their second consecutive NAIA National Championship.

The Fighting Saints won their second straight NAIA National Championship by defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers. And what was the score? 41 to 28.

We were very worried what kind of game this was going to be, and I was just elated when we broke the game open early and just kept the feet to the fire of the other team and we won by a large margin.

To the Senator from Oklahoma, I am sure this is a very sensitive topic for him and I would be glad to yield to the Senator.

Saints.

Saints generally prevail.

I appreciate that. It is the Carroll College Fighting Saints. I might say the University of Montana has won AA national championships a couple of times in the last several years, too. We love football in Montana. I think--I know as much as people in Oklahoma love football, with the Sooners and the great history Oklahoma has had in football.

I might say, too, although the game was magical--it is always magical when you win--magic really did not play a large part in the Fighting Saints' victory. It was just good old-fashioned hard work and teamwork. Coach Van Diest is one very special guy, a Montanan, a real basic down- to-Earth guy who inspires such teamwork, just working together, hard work, making sure nobody takes credit for anything. This is a team game. We all work together to get this done.

When you meet the coach and see the team practice with him, it is very apparent. They are very humble. That is why we were very worried about this

game with Oklahoma. We don't take anything for granted. I am so proud of the team.

It is hard work on the football field. It is hard work in the weight room. It is hard work in the classroom. These are great guys, led by a group of very honorable young men through a solid season and an incredible string of 12 playoff games. Mike was one of five coaches to receive the American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year award, one of five in the Nation, because he is such an inspirational, hard-working, no-nonsense, wonderful guy, representing the high caliber of the team and of Carroll College. We are extremely proud.

I might say, too, I am proud because this is my hometown. The Saints are from a college in Helena, MT. I thank the Saints, thank Coach Van Diest, thank them all for their hard work.

We may give Oklahoma a few points the next time we play them. We wish them well, too.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 303, submitted by Senators Burns and Baucus earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Will the Senator yield?

We have been in mourning over the terrible upset at the hands of--is it the Montana Rangers?

Montana Saints. Is that an acronym?

Mr. President, I did not usually put Montana and saints in the same sentence, but I understand the Montana Saints prevailed and I wish to congratulate the Senator from Montana.