MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Ward, Gordon, Montgomery, Lee (35th), Moffatt, Dickerson, Browning, Clarke, Carmichael, Brown, Burton, Jackson (15th), Butler (38th), Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Hewes, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Kirby, McDaniel, Michel, Simmons, Turner, Watson, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY "BULLDOGS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACH DAN MULLEN FOR THEIR IMPRESSIVE VICTORY IN THE PROGRESSIVE GATOR BOWL ON JANUARY 1, 2011.
HAIL DEAR 'OLE STATE !!!
WHEREAS, the Mississippi State University "Bulldogs" Football team, led by Coach Dan Mullen and MVP Chris Relf, conducted an offensive clinic from start to finish, as the Bulldogs manufactured 485 total yards en route to a dominating 52-14 victory against the University of Michigan on Saturday, January 1, 2011, in the 66th Annual Gator Bowl in EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida; and
WHEREAS, the 2011 Progressive Gator Bowl was MSU's fourth-consecutive bowl win dating back to the 1999 Peach Bowl and first-ever victory against Michigan as the Bulldogs conclude the 2010 campaign with a 9-4 ledger. Mississippi State, now 7-7 all-time in bowl games and 3-6-2 versus Big 10 foes, also set several school bowl records with points scored (52) and margin of victory (38). In addition, Vic Ballard tied Dontae Walker's record of 18 points scored he set against Texas A&M in the 2000 Independence Bowl, while the 485 total yards of offense were second only to the 499 gained against North Carolina in the 1974 Sun Bowl. As prolific as MSU's offense was, so too was the defense. The Bulldogs held the Wolverines (7-6) to 342 yards, with 153 coming in the opening quarter. Michigan did enjoy a 14-10 lead after the first frame, but failed to score another point in the remainder of the game; and
WHEREAS, quarterback Chris Relf, who was named the game's MVP, completed 18 of his 23 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. The 281 passing yards were the second most in MSU bowl history, behind the 287 thrown by Greg Plump versus North Carolina in the 1993 Peach Bowl. They are also the only two quarterbacks to throw for more than 200 yards in a bowl game. Relf, a junior from Montgomery, Alabama, also scored on the ground from 1-yard out and finished with 311 total yards; and
WHEREAS, "that was fantastic," second-year MSU coach Dan Mullen said. "What terrific fan support we had. I'm so happy and so proud for the seniors and for what they've accomplished the two years I've been here. To send them off as champions is fantastic. I've been involved in a lot of games and this is easily as big to any of them because to our kids it's such an accomplishment. I'm sure coming in this season there's a lot of people that wouldn't have believed we'd win nine games and a New Year's Day Bowl game. I'm really proud of everything they've accomplished"; and
WHEREAS, team statistics for the Gator Bowl Victory:
· Mississippi State captains were K.J. Wright, Pernell McPhee, Chris White and Derek Sherrod;
· Mississippi State scored 52 points, the most a Mississippi State team has scored in 14 bowl appearances;
· Mississippi State's 52 point scored set a Gator Bowl record, passing Oklahoma's 48 points in 1991;
· Chris Relf became only the second MSU quarterback to throw for over 200 yards in a bowl game. Greg Plump threw for 287 in the 1993 Peach Bowl;
· The Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-4 record. Its first 9-win season since 1999 when State finished 10-2;
· Michigan's first-possession touchdown drive was just the third Mississippi State has given up this season. Auburn and Houston scored on their first possessions;
· Mississippi State capped its first offensive possession with a Chris Relf to Arceto Clark 4-yard touchdown connection. It was the fourth time this season State has scored on its opening offensive drive;
· With 10 first-quarter points, Mississippi State has now outscored opponents 105-60 in the first quarter this season;
· Mississippi State scored 31 first-half points, the third time this season the Bulldogs have eclipsed the 30-point barrier prior to halftime;
· Chris Relf's third-quarter 81 yard pass was the longest play this season for Mississippi State. The 81-yard pass play was the longest pass play since Omarr Conner connected with Ty Freeman for an 84-yard gain against Ole Miss in 2004;
· Mississippi State's 52 points was a season high;
· Mississippi State improved to 3-6-2 overall against Big Ten teams;
· The Mississippi State defense held Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson to a season-low 59 rushing yards;
· Mississippi State junior quarterback Chris Relf wore #36 in memory of Nick Bell. Relf completed 18 of 23 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns;
· Arceto Clark finished the contest with three receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown. Clark finished the season with 25 receptions for 362 yards and three touchdowns;
· Charles Mitchell led the Bulldogs defense with seven stops on the afternoon;
· Junior running back Vick Ballard finished the game with 19 rushes for 74 yards and three touchdowns. Ballard has 19 rushing touchdowns this season and 20 total touchdowns, both single-season records at Mississippi State;
· Marvin Bure's first-quarter blocked punt was the first of his career;
· Junior kicker Derek DePasquale connected on a first-quarter 42-yard field goal. DePasquale is now 10-12 on the year and has hit 10 of his last 11;
· Ricco Sanders recorded his first-career reception in the second quarter. Two plays later, Sanders caught his first touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Chris Relf;
· Wade Bonner had a forced fumble in the second quarter, his third this season. Corey Broomfield recovered the fumble, the first of his career;
· Chris Smith led all MSU receivers in receptions with four. Smith finished with 46 yards receiving;
· Freshman Michael Carr recorded his first-career touchdown in the fourth-quarter on a 31-yard strike from Chris Relf. Carr finished with a career-best three receptions for 65 yards; and
WHEREAS, the 2010 Bulldog roster is: Chad Bumphis, Robert Elliott, Brandon Heavens, Charles Mitchell, Nickoe Whitley, Dylan Favre, Wade Bonner, Chris Smith, Leon Berry, Cameron Lawrence, Ricco Sanders, Dennis Thames, Johnthan Banks, Chris Relf, Maurice Langston, Brantley Adams, Jameon Lewis, Tyler Russell, Brandon Hill, Arceto Clark, Louis Watson, Matthew Wells, Sylvester Hemphill, Jamerson Love, Corey Broomfield, Damein Anderson, LaDarius Perkins, Vick Ballard, Nick Griffin, Jay Hughes, Sam Williams, Marcus Green, Jamie Jones, K.J. Wright, Patrick Hanrahan, Dexter Shelton, Nick Bell, Sean Brauchle, Heath Hutchins, Dane Leake, Baker Swedenburg, William Berg, Derek DePasquale, Marvin Bure, Zach Smith, Asian Ruff, William Shumpert, Christian Holmes, Ivan Muniz, Michael Hunt, Adrian Marcus, Aaron Feld, Chris Cameron, Jonathan Phillips, Emmanuel Gatling, Randy Moulds, Chris Hughes, Krisjon Wilkerson, Chris White, Deontae Skinner, Ferlando Bohanna, Trevor Stigers, Quentin Saulsberry, Corvell Harrison-Gay, Brandon Wilson, Archie Muniz, Devin Jones, Gabe Jackson, Addison Lawrence, Dillon Day, Eric Lawson, Mark Lynn, Ben Beckwith, Joshua Jackson, D.J. Looney, Tobias Smith, Templeton Hardy, Reggie Odom, J.C. Brignone, Sam Watts, John McMillian, Paul Thompson, Mark Melichar, Blaine Clausell, Phillip Freeman, Sam Latham, Damien Robinson, Derek Sherrod, Malcolm Johnson, Robert Johnson, Thomas Webb, Charles Bailey, Reed Gordon, Brandon Henderson, Michael Carr, Kenneth Baldridge, Kendrick Cook, Allen Tolbert, Pernell McPhee, Rodney Prince, Kaleb Eulls, Jeffrey Howie, Fletcher Cox, James Carmon, Shane McCardell, Josh Boyd, Curtis Virges, Sean Ferguson; and
WHEREAS, the nation witnessed a Mississippi university defeat a program with great national tradition, and it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes, their parents and coaches, who have brought honor to their university, their community 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 the Mississippi State University "Bulldogs" Football Team and second-year Head Coach Dan Mullen for their impressive victory against the University of Michigan in the Progressive Gator Bowl on January 1, 2011, and for their outstanding 2010 Regular season, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches and administration on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the MSU "Bulldogs" Football Team and Coach Dan Mullen, forwarded to MSU President Mark E. Keenum and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.