Chuck Grassley: “we often hear about some of the things that are wrong with intercollegiate athletics and how they sometimes detract from…”

“we often hear about some of the things that are wrong with intercollegiate athletics and how they sometimes detract from the top priority of our colleges and universities, which is educating students. Let me point to an example of how excellence in undergraduate education and excellence in intercollegiate athletics can go hand-in-hand, and it's from my home state of Iowa. Iowa State University is experiencing one of its most successful years ever in intercollegiate athletics. This year, Iowa State made history by being the first university in the Big 12 Conference or its predecessor conferences--the Big 8 and the Southwest Conferences--to win four basketball trophies in one season--both men's and women's regular season and conference tournament championships. Both teams earned ISU record-high seedings in the NCAA Tournament, the men took a second seed and the women took a third and both did well in the tournament. The men advanced to the 'Elite Eight' and the women to the 'Sweet Sixteen' after an 'Elite Eight' appearance last year. Marcus Fizer became the schools' first-ever consensus first-team All-American, and Stacy Frese and Angie Welle of the women's team were also All-America selections. Stacy Frese drew this honor for the second year in a row. The Cyclone wrestling team--led by two-time NCAA champion and tournament MVP Cael Sanderson--finished second in the nation. The women's gymnastics team won its first-ever Big 12 Conference Championship.”