House Concurrent Resolution 118

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING OLE MISS REBELS HEAD BASKETBALL COACH ANDY KENNEDY, UPON BEING SELECTED AS THE 2007 SEC COACH OF THE YEAR BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

WHEREAS, in his debut season at Ole Miss, Andy Kennedy, recently named the Associated Press 2007 SEC Coach of the Year, made a big difference, transforming the Rebels from plodding defensive stoppers to a fast-paced team that loves to run on offense and shut down opponents with traps and presses; and

WHEREAS, Kennedy guided Ole Miss, a preseason last-place pick in the SEC West, to its first division title with the most wins since 2001 and recorded the most victories ever by a Rebels coach in his first season at the helm, with 21; and

WHEREAS, Kennedy's style of "pressure basketball" ignited the Rebel offense, sending a resounding shockwave of wins, knocking off 18th ranked Alabama, for its top-25 victory since 2004 and defeated Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi State; and

WHEREAS, Coach Kennedy also returned Ole Miss to postseason play for the first time since 2002 and the 13th time in the program's history, as the Rebels charged into its first SEC Tournament semifinal appearance in six years and to the second round of the NIT; and

WHEREAS, in his first season, Kennedy raised the team's scoring average eight points to 73.1 per game, scoring 80 points in four consecutive SEC games this year, and for only the second time since 2001, reached the century mark in points with its 100-80 victory over Nicholls; and

WHEREAS, the Ole Miss Rebels tied for first in the SEC West with state rival Mississippi State, beating out more touted teams such as Alabama and LSU; and

WHEREAS, a Mississippi native, Kennedy served as interim head coach at Cincinnati last season, where he led the Bearcats to a 21-13 record and the NIT quarterfinals; and

WHEREAS, Kennedy was introduced as the 20th head men's basketball coach in the history of the University of Mississippi on March 24, 2006; and

WHEREAS, in addition to being named 2007 SEC Coach of the Year, Kennedy also has been touted as the 2006 Big East Coach of the Year by CBS Sportsline and the New York Post, among Athlon's national top 10 assistant coaches and listed among the nation's top 20 college basketball recruiters by Rivals.com; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of such a great American and Mississippian as Coach Kennedy, who has proven himself to be a dynamic powerhouse in coaching, an astute strategist and a top-notch recruiter in more than a decade of coaching in the college ranks:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Coach Andy Kennedy upon his selection as the Associated Press 2007 SEC Coach of the Year and extend best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Kennedy, the University of Mississippi and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.