A resolution congratulating the Florida State University football team for winning the 2014 Bowl Championship Series national championship.

Mr. President, I am going to take advantage of the fact that the Senator from Alabama is here, because we are bringing forth today a resolution which will pass by unanimous consent, if the Senators from Alabama will so agree. The fact is that it was a marvelous national championship game. Whichever won, it was obvious that one was going to be No. 1 and the other one, as it turned out, was going to be No. 2, as it should have been, in the entire national collegiate football program.

I want to tell the Senator how much I admire his university, Auburn University, and that it is my privilege to speak on behalf of Florida State University, and there is no question, I knew that whoever ended up with the score by the end of the game, they were the national championship team and, lo and behold, did that score go back and forth. With a little over a minute left, Florida State, led by their Heisman Trophy winning-quarterback, took it down the entire length of the

field. It was a sight to behold. I just wanted to say those words while the Senator from Alabama was here.

I concede that.

This Senator is wearing a garnet and gold tie. I noticed the Senator from Alabama is wearing a crimson tie, but certainly his allegiance is orange and blue, I take it?

Mr. President, this resolution awaits unanimous consent by the Senate, which I assume will occur today. We tried it for last Thursday night before the Senate adjourned, but I think everything has been cleared now. The resolution will commemorate the fact that Florida State is now the BCS champion. Senator Rubio and I have submitted the resolution. It commends the university for the 34-to-31 championship game, which the Senator from Alabama and I have just talked about. It caps a remarkable season of 14 and 0 for the Seminoles, led by head coach Jimbo Fisher and his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston.

This Senator will concede to the Senator from Alabama that he is originally from Hueytown, AL--which is not too far north of the Florida line. So, for all the players, the coaches, the students, the staff and indeed the fans--all of those of Florida State have made the university and the entire State of Florida very proud by winning this game in such an exciting, hard-fought and well-fought game.

I am grateful to our Senate colleagues for helping to agree to this resolution today.

Mr. President, I think it is a remarkable achievement. Some people think our young people are not willing to work, not willing to discipline themselves, but those two teams played their hearts out. They did not get there working at it a few weeks ago. They worked all year in the weight rooms and studying, preparing themselves to reach this high level of excellence that delivered a thrilling game for us all. Florida State is a terrific team. I think everybody knew Auburn was going to have to be really up to speed to be able to compete--and they were able to. The Senator is right, and I am pleased to note that our Heisman Trophy winner this year is a native of Hueytown, AL. We will claim credit for that too.

Auburn drove down the field on that last drive, having to score to win the game, and just pounded away and Tre Mason ran down there and ran over somebody and scored the touchdown. But you are a Heisman Trophy-winning team, and all of you pulled together and came back and won with a few seconds to spare. It was spectacular. You well deserve the right to recognize them by resolution. I certainly will not object.

I will add one more thing. Had Auburn won, it would have been the fifth consecutive year Auburn or Alabama had won the national championship. We would have liked to have seen that happen, but congratulations go to Florida State. They deserved to win, and they played well enough to win and did win.

Orange and blue. I celebrate them. I did have my Auburn tie on the day of the game. But I love Alabama; it is a fabulous program. I spent 3 years there and remain a big fan. I am maybe one of the few people in the State who really, truly had a divided allegiance about whom to be for. Those are super universities.

I would say to Senator Nelson, as I shared with him, I am really impressed with the University of Florida where my grandson had some great surgery done by the finest doctor in the world, I believe, for the condition he had. He has done so well. I know both of us are proud of the great institutions in our State.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 331.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.