MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2007 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Michel, Albritton, Brown, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Chaney, Chassaniol, Clarke, Dawkins, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Hewes, Horhn, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jordan, Kirby, Lee (35th), Little, Mettetal, Morgan, Nunnelee, Posey, Ross, Simmons, Thomas, Tollison, Turner, Walley, White, Wilemon

Senate Concurrent Resolution 609

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING ALL-WORLD WIDE RECEIVER JERRY LEE RICE FROM CRAWFORD, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS HALL OF FAME, CLASS OF 2007.

     WHEREAS, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has unveiled the Class of 2007, which features Jerry Lee Rice from Crawford, Mississippi, All-SWAC wide receiver from Mississippi Valley State University and All-Pro Star Wide Receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos; and

     WHEREAS, Jerry's nickname is "World" as in "All World" which he picked up during his college days at Mississippi Valley State University.  The nickname was coined in part by the MVSU P.A. announcer and also described Jerry's catching abilities as he could "catch anything in the world."  He was one-half of the famed "Satellite Express" along with Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member Willie Totten, who was the Delta Devil Quarterback nicknamed "Satellite"; and

     WHEREAS, Jerry Rice performed in front of the largest crowd in the history of Mississippi collegiate football as Mississippi Valley State University took on Alcorn State University in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 27, 1984.  A jammed-pack Memorial Stadium featured over 64,000 fans witnessed Alcorn Braves defeat Jerry's Delta Devils 42-28, despite the game's availability on free local television; and

     WHEREAS, Jerry Rice's football highlights include the following:

     ·  Inducted College Football Hall of Fame, August 12, 2006;

     ·  Inducted into SWAC Athletic Hall of Fame, December, 2005,

        Named to the SBN Sports Network Black College Football

        All-Time team;

     ·  Magnolia Stadium at Mississippi Valley State University

        name changed to "Rice-Totten" Stadium in honor of Rice

        and Quarterback Willie Totten, 1999;

              NFL CAREER TOTALS (1985-2005):

     ·  Played in 303 games (started 284);

     ·  Retired with 38 career NFL records (16 regular season, 9

        postseason, 11 Super Bowl, 2 Pro Bowl)

     ·  13-time All-Pro;

     ·  1st in career receptions with 1,549;

     ·  1st in receiving yards with 22,895;

     ·  1st in receiving TDs with 197;

     ·  1st in NFL in total TDs scored with 208;

     ·  Recorded more yards from scrimmage (23,540) and combined

        yards (23,546) than any player in NFL history;

     ·  Denver Broncos, 2005, announced retirement from the NFL

        after 20-year career;

     ·  Seattle Seahawks, 2004, played 6 games for Oakland and 11

        for Seattle in 2004, one of only four players since 1933

        to play 17 games in a single season;

     ·  Oakland Raiders, 2001 to 2004, played in one Super Bowl

        (2003) in three seasons (2001-2003);

     ·  San Francisco 49ers, 1985 to 2000, three Super Bowl

        Championships (1985-1990), retired as all-time receiving

        record holder for franchise in every category:

          ▶  Set NFL single-season receiving yardage record in

             1995 with 1,848 yards;

          ▶  Set NFL single-season record with 22 TD catches in

             1987;

          ▶  Caught a pass in NFL-record 274 consecutive games

             from his rookie year in 1985 through September, 2004;

          ▶  Recorded 100 or more yards receiving in NFL-record 76

             regular season games in addition to owning

             league-best 8 postseason 100-yard receiving games;

          ▶  Owns NFL records with fourteen 1,000-yard receiving

             seasons and four 100 catch seasons (three

             consecutively 1994-1996);

          ▶  First round pick (#16) in 1985 NFL Draft; only first

             round NFL pick in MVSU history through 2005;

          ▶  Played in Blue-Gray game, 1984, Montgomery, AL, MVP;

          ▶  Played in Freedom Bowl All-Star game;

     ·  Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, 1981-1984, helped

        Mississippi Valley compile a record of 21-9-1, including

        school best mark of 9-2 in 1984;

     Set many NCAA 1-AA, SWAC and MVSU records that still stand:

     still ranks in top 5 categories in NCAA receiving records and

     still holds numerous NCAA records, among them:

          ▶  Most catches in single game (24);

          ▶  Most receptions in season (103);

          ▶  Most career receiving yards (4,693);

          ▶  Most points in a career (310);

          ▶  Most TDs in a game (5);

          ▶  Most TD receptions in a season (27); and

     Three-time All-SWAC receiver; 1,000 + yards of receptions for three consecutive years; and

     WHEREAS, Jerry played high school football at B.L. Moore (East Oktibbeha) High School, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, 1977 to 1981; and

     WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this football icon from Mississippi who has brought great honor to his community, university and to the State of Mississippi:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate All-World Wide Receiver Jerry Lee Rice from Crawford, Mississippi, upon his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2007, and wish him and his family continued success in all their future endeavors.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Jerry Rice at induction ceremonies on July 27-28, 2007, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.