MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2018 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Younger, Jackson (32nd), Jackson (15th), Barnett, Burton, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Dearing, Fillingane, Norwood, Simmons (12th), Turner-Ford

Senate Concurrent Resolution 526

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING THE EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE "LIONS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND "COACH OF THE YEAR" BUDDY STEPHENS FOR WINNING A RECORD-SETTING FOURTH NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND NUMBER-ONE RANKING IN THE FINAL NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION POLL.

     WHEREAS, East Mississippi Community College achieved a Magnolia State first at the 2013 Mississippi Bowl.  It won the first National Championship on Mississippi soil; and

     WHEREAS, the Lions achieved another landmark at the 2017 Mississippi Bowl.  With cameras aimed at his East Mississippi Community College Lions, Coach Buddy Stephens held up "Four!  Four Championship fingers!"  The celebration came minutes after Number One East Mississippi secured a 31-28 victory over Number Two Arizona Western in Mississippi Bowl X.  The victory at A.L. May Memorial Stadium tied EMCC (2011, 2013, 2014) with host Gulf Coast (1948, 1971, 1984, 2007) for four National Championships, tops among Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) members; and

     WHEREAS, Coach Stephens said nobody in Mississippi has ever won four National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) titles.  It means a lot after the 2015 and 2016 teams didn't get to play; and

     WHEREAS, East Mississippi (11-1) started off fast when former LSU Quarterback Lindsey Scott, Jr., connected with Dontario Drummond for a 13-yard touchdown.  Ty Williams picked off Arizona Western Quarterback Bryce Perkins on the very next possession and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown to put the Lions ahead 14-0.  The Matadors responded midway through the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown connection.  Clinging to a 28-21 lead, Vancleave's Taylor Crabtree easily converted a 34-yard field goal with 14:54 remaining that ended up being the difference as it pushed EMCC ahead 31-21.  Not done, Perkins led the Matadors down the field one last time, converting a crucial fourth down in Lions' territory to set up a three-yard touchdown pass to Anderson with 1:54 remaining.  The Matadors came up empty on the ensuing onside kick and the Lions ran out the clock to claim their fifth Mississippi Bowl victory in front of a record crowd of 3,148.  Scott was named the EMCC Lions Offensive MVP and the Mississippi Bowl Player of the Year after throwing for 170 yards and two scores and rushing for 40 more yards; and

     WHEREAS, "So many of our guys had big games or made big plays that all contributed to the win in the end," East Mississippi Community College Head Coach Buddy Stephens said.  "I could not be prouder of the way our young men played and for all they accomplished.  Our administration had a vision to make our athletics successful and let the school build off that success, and they have given us everything we needed to be successful"; and

     WHEREAS, the 2017 East Mississippi Community College Championship Team Football Roster is:  Daniel Crowell, Jr., WR; Ti'Morrius Conner, QB; Kirk Merritt, WR; Dorrean McLaurin, WR; Dontario Drummond, WR; Ty Williams, DB; Ja'Mori Mark, WR/RB; Tyrell Price, RB; JaQuez Akins, DB; Quin Jones, LB; Jacob Anderson, DB; Brandon Rodgers, WR; Calvin Keys, Jr., WR; Mike Williams, WR; Keilos Swinney, DB; Travion Jones, WR; Joseph Anderson, DB; Lindsey Scott, Jr., QB; Adrian Miller, WR; Reginald Hunter, Jr., RB; D.J. Clayton, WR; Duke Upshaw, DB; Braden Boykin, WR; Dwayne Pickett, Jr., DB; Grayson Pontius, P; C.J. Gholar, WR; Taylor Crabtree, PK; Untareo Johnson, LB; Ty'Ree Evans, LB; Emanuel Bridges, LB; Kaleb Gentry, LB; Justin Connor, RB; Nicholas Patterson, LB; Cole Baker, DL; Denzel Bonner, DB; Rasheed Jackson, DL; Raleigh Wood IV, LS; Eriq Kitchen, DL; Jakoby Jones, OL; Connor Reinike, OL; Matt Toles, OL; D'Anthony Page, OL; Kornelius Rogers, OL; LaQuinston Sharp, OL; Stuart Coggins, OL; Walter Barnes, OL; Cordell Birge, OL; Jauan Collins, DL; Lorenzo Dantzler, DL; Maleke Bell, DL; Aarron Boatright, DL; Kane Taylor, DL; Everitt Cunningham, DL; Marquise Griffin, DL; Tyone Clemons, DL; Head Coach Buddy Stephens; and Assistant Coaches:  David Boykin, Cliff Collins, Davern Williams, Justin Sanders, Bo Wallace and Courtland Hays; and

     WHEREAS, this fourth National Championship was a fitting way to remember legendary Coach Bull Sullivan, whose strict disciplinary coaching methods and success were the topic of a famous Sports Illustrated article "The Toughest Coach There Ever Was"; and it is with great pride that we note this fourth National Championship by a team which has brought honor to its college, its 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 recognize and salute the East Mississippi Community College "Lions" Football Team and "Coach of the Year" Buddy Stephens for winning a record-setting fourth NJCAA National Championship and Number-One ranking in the Final National Junior College Athletic Association Poll, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors on this honor.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Stephens and East Mississippi Community College President Dr. Thomas Huebner, the Board of Trustees of East Mississippi Community College and the Mississippi Community College Board, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.