Dennis Moore: “it's my great privilege today to honor the 2008 NCAA men's Division I basketball champions, the University of Kansas…”

“it's my great privilege today to honor the 2008 NCAA men's Division I basketball champions, the University of Kansas Jayhawks, and to encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1096. The University of Kansas men's basketball team began their season by winning 20 straight games on their way to a final regular season record of 28-3, a share of the Big 12 regular season title and the Big 12 Conference tournament title. Upon being selected a number one seed in the NCAA tournament, the Jayhawks defeated their first three opponents by 24 points, 19 points and 15 points, respectively. When challenged by Davidson in the regional final and the University of North Carolina in the national semifinal game, Kansas won these competitive, emotionally charged games by emphasizing teamwork, persistence, and focus, three qualities they displayed all season long. And finally, the Jayhawks won the national title by besting a skilled Memphis team in one of the most dramatic games in Final Four history, 20 years after another Kansas team lead by Danny Manning also won the national championship in dramatic fashion. As a proud alum of the University of Kansas, I was proud that through the entire season the students, athletes, coaches and everyone associated with the University of Kansas men's basketball team represented the university and the State of Kansas in great fashion by demonstrating sportsmanship, skill, and the ability to overcome adversity.”