Andre Carson: “I rise to pay tribute to Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, President Bobby Fong, Coach Todd Lickliter, and the…”

“I rise to pay tribute to Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, President Bobby Fong, Coach Todd Lickliter, and the outstanding basketball team, affectionately named the Butler Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, despite previous rejection from previous participation in the championship games, won last Saturday over Louisville by 79 to 71, to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Coach Todd Lickliter, son of a coach, led the Bulldogs to an outstanding season record of 27 to 5 overall. As winners of the Horizon League's regular season crown, Coach Lickliter and his team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. I commend the Bulldog players whose outstanding teamwork has led them to the Sweet 16: Brandon Miller, Joel Cornette, Duane Lightfoot, Darnell Archey, Mike Monserez, Avery Sheets, Lewis Curry, Bruce Horan, Ben Grunst, Jeff James, Mike Moore, Andy Grunst, Nick Gardner, Rob Walls and Ryan Reynolds. The Bulldogs face Oklahoma, No. 1 seed of the East, in the NCAA East Regional semifinals this Friday in Albany, New York. Not only do I want to commend Butler University for their athletic achievements, but I also want to make note of their high academic standards by acknowledging them as having the highest graduation rate, 86 percent, of all schools remaining in the tournament. It has been an exceptional season for the Bulldogs who have defied all odds and truly excelled as a team.”