MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Hall, Gordon, Dearing, Smith, Horhn, Frazier, Farris, Bean, Johnson (19th), Lee

Senate Concurrent Resolution 587

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND SAMMY WINDER, DURABLE STAR RUNNING BACK FOR THE USM GOLDEN EAGLES AND DENVER BRONCOS, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME. 

WHEREAS, Sammy Winder, durable star running back for the USM Golden Eagles and Denver Broncos, hails from Madison and attended Madison-Ridgeland High School from 1974-1977, where he was an All Conference running back and Honorable Mention All State; and

WHEREAS, he lettered four years in track and was the 100-yard dash conference champion; and

WHEREAS, Sammy was voted Outstanding Athlete at his high school; and

WHEREAS, he was a determined, tough and talented runner with heart, pride and character who elevated the USM Golden Eagle football team into the national spotlight in his college career from 1978-1981; and

WHEREAS, though a broken foot initially kept him on the sidelines and on redshirt status, his debut in 1978 made an immediate impact on the Golden Eagles' football program when he burst onto the scene in the fourth game at home against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, rallying the team to a 22-17 come-from-behind win that propelled USM to a 7-4 winning record; and

WHEREAS, in 1979, Sammy led USM in rushing with 173 carries for 749 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Golden Eagles had a 6-4-1 record; and

WHEREAS, Winder led the nation in scoring in 1980 as he scored 20 touchdowns and fell just short of 1,000 yards rushing, with 237 carries for 996 yards; the Golden Eagles finished 8-3 and defeated McNeese State in the Independence Bowl, the first-ever bowl win in USM history; and

WHEREAS, his most spectacular college play occurred on October 4, 1980, in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, when he scored the winning touchdown against Ole Miss in the 28-22 Eagle victory, soaring over a Rebel defensive back from the five yard line and landing two yards deep in the end zone; and

WHEREAS, in his senior year, USM had one of its finest seasons: the team went 9-1-1, were ranked as high as number 8 in the country, advanced to the Tangerine Bowl; and

WHEREAS, Sammy's numbers as team captain for his last year at USM were 228 rushes for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns, completing his career at Southern Miss as the second all-time leading rusher with 3,114 yards on a school record 736 attempts, with his 39 rushing touchdowns still holding the school record; and

WHEREAS, following his final season at USM, Sammy played in the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl, and was a fifth round selection of the Denver Broncos in the 1982 draft, launching an eight-year career from 1982-1988; and

WHEREAS, he started slowly with Denver, playing in only eight games his rookie season; sidelined with a sprained ankle in his second year, he nevertheless became a starter, starting in 77 of 88 regular season games; he played in 128 games for Denver and started in 97 regular season contests total; and

WHEREAS, his final career rushing statistics place him second on the all-time Broncos' list with 1,493 rushes for 5,428 yards and 39 touchdowns; and

WHEREAS, he topped the 100-yard mark in games seven times, with his best season being 1984 when he ran 296 times for 1,153 yards, plus 44 catches for 288 yards; and

WHEREAS, Winder was chosen as Co-Offensive MVP of the Broncos following the 1988 season, sharing the honor with John Elway; and

WHEREAS, he is second on the all-time Denver list with 48 scores, and his 14 touchdowns in 1986 is a single season franchise record; and

WHEREAS, a tough competitor, Sammy had a knee injury against San Diego in one game, underwent arthroscopic surgery the next day, and started against Pittsburgh just 13 days later during the 1985 season; and

WHEREAS, he was the leading scorer in the AFC in 1987; and

WHEREAS, Winder played in three Super Bowls with the Broncos in 1986, 1987, and 1989, and saw action in 11 post season games; and

WHEREAS, he played in two Pro Bowls in 1984 and 1986, and was second team UPI All NFL in 1984; and

WHEREAS, Sammy, now operating his own construction company in the Jackson area, is always available for local charities' fund raising efforts, and remains active in the Southern Miss Eagle Club; he was an instrumental part in the school's "Sell-Out '95" campaign that produced the first football sellout at M.M. Roberts Stadium since 1989; and

WHEREAS, he was inducted into the USM Sports Hall of Fame in 1989; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the accomplishments of the citizens of this state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Sammy Winder for his sporting achievements and for his willingness to continue to give back to his community and this state, and congratulate him upon the occasion of his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Sammy Winder.