MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (15th), Ward, Clarke, Parker, Jones, Gollott, Brown, Doty, Hale, Parks, Moran, Harkins, Kirby, Browning, Massey, Butler (38th), Jackson (11th), Montgomery, Longwitz, Burton
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY "BULLDOGS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH DAN MULLEN FOR ITS RECORD-SETTING VICTORY IN THE 2013 AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi State University "Bulldogs" Football Team ended its 2013 season with a fitting celebration December 31, 2013, ousting the Rice Owls 44-7 to claim victory in the 55th AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The margin of victory was the largest in any Bowl game played in 2013; and
WHEREAS, with the win, the Bulldogs secured their fourth-straight winning season and Dan Mullen earned the record for most Bowl wins by any MSU Coach ever, now 3-1 in four Bowl appearances in his five seasons as the Bulldog mentor; and
WHEREAS, State dominated the game on both sides of the ball, with the defense holding Rice's Top-15 National rushing attack to only 61 yards on the ground in the game while the Bulldog offense racked up 533 total yards on the other side of the ball. After the Owls took an early 7-0 lead, the Bulldogs went on to score 44 unanswered points in the convincing win. Five different State players scored touchdowns in the contest; and
WHEREAS, the Bulldogs set school and Liberty Bowl records in the game. Sophomore quarterback Dak Prescott accounted for five touchdowns, which was a Liberty Bowl record, while throwing for 283 yards and three scores and rushing for two others. Junior receiver Jameon Lewis set the all-time MSU record for receiving yards in any game (regular or postseason) with 220 yards on nine catches. Lewis set Liberty Bowl and Mississippi State single-game records with 220 receiving yards to help the Bulldogs crush Rice 44-7. He was named Mississippi State's Offensive Player of the Game for his record performance. MSU ended 2013 on a flurry, winning consecutive overtime games at Arkansas and against arch rival Ole Miss at home to become Bowl eligible and vault itself into the New Year's Eve Contest in Memphis; and
WHEREAS, the MSU "Bulldogs" Football Roster is as follows: Nickoe Whitley, DB; Will Redmond, DB; Jay Hughes, DB; Jameon Lewis, WR; Jamerson Love, DB; Malcolm Johnson; TE; Nick Griffin, RB; Fred Ross, WR; Justin Cox, DB; Sam Cowart, ATH; Brandon Holloway, ATH; Deontae Skinner, LB; Robert Johnson, WR; Joshua Hand, QB; Cedric Jiles, DB; Zach Jackson, LB; Damian Williams, QB; Dak Prescott, QB; Joe Morrow, WR; Tyler Russell, QB; Brandon Hill, TE; Gus Walley, TE; Bennie Braswell, RB; Tyrell Miller, DB; Josh Creekmore, RB; Matthew Wells, LB; Taveze Calhoun, DB; Deontay Evans, DB; Jahmere Irvin-Sills, DB; Kendrick Market, DB; LaDarius Perkins, RB; Derrick Milton, RB; Quadry Antoine, DB; Taylor Henry, WR; Brandon Wells, ATH; Tolando Cleveland, DB; Kareem Vance, WR; Ashton Shumpert, RB; Kivon Coman, DB; Brandon Davis, DB; Josh Robinson, RB; Gabe Myles, ATH; James Baldwin, DB; Javous Nicks, WR; Dee Arrington, DB; Richie Brown, LB; Devon Bell, K; Taylor Earhart, K; Rishunn McCaleb, DB; Baker Swedenburg, P; Beniquez Brown, LB; Ivan Muniz, LB; DeAndre Ward, LB; Christian Holmes, TE; Dezmond Harris, LB; A.J. Jefferson, DL; Ryan Brown, DL; Torrey Dale, DL; Benardrick McKinney, LB; Kelan Chairs, LB; Ferlando Bohanna, LB; Mannie Lowery, LB; Quay Evans, DL; Dylan Holley, OL; Corvell-Gay Harrison, DL; Bailey West, SN; Justin Senior, OL; Archie Muniz, OL; Jamaal Clayborn, OL; Gabe Jackson, OL; Devon Desper, OL; Dillon Day, OL; Evan Sobiesk, K; Mike Mordecai, P; Ben Beckwith, OL; Rodney Lacy, DL; Tobias Smith, OL; Andre Barber, OL; Justin Malone, OL; Cole Carter, OL; Winston Chapman, SN; Paul Thompson, OL; Kent Flowers, OL; Blaine Clausell, OL; Jake Thomas, OL; Charles Siddoway, OL; Damien Robinson, OL; Hunter Cunningham, OL; Shelby Christy, WR; De'Runnya Wilson, WR; Rufus Warren, TE; Michael Hodges, WR; Jeremey Chappelle, WR; Artimas Samuel, TE; Fred Brown, WR; B.J. Hammond, WR; Hunter Bradley, TE; Nick James, DL; Denico Autry, DL; Preston Smith, DL; Kaleb Eulls, DL; P.J. Jones, DL; Nelson Adams, DL; Jordan Washington, DL; Chris Jones, DL; Trent Simpson, DL; Curtis Virges, DL; and John Harris, DL; Head Coach Dan Mullen; Assistant Head Coach Tony Hughes; Assistant AD/Football Operations Jon Clark; Head Strength Coach Matt Balis; Assistant Coaches: Geoff Collins, John Hevesy, Greg Knox, Scott Sallach, David Turner, Billy Gonzales, Les Koenning and Deshea Townsend; and Rockey Felker, Director of Player Personnel/High School Relations; and
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 fourth-year Head Coach Dan Mullen for their impressive victory against the Rice "Owls" in the Liberty Bowl on December 31, 2013, and for their outstanding 2013 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 "wrapped up in Maroon and White" and 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.