MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Harkins, Browning, Massey, Jolly, Doty, Clarke, Moran, Jackson (15th), Burton, Younger, Blackwell, Dearing, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), Kirby, McDaniel, Michel, Seymour, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY "LADY BULLDOGS" BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH VIC SCHAEFER FOR ITS FIRST-EVER SEC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP AND FOR ITS 30-0 PERFECT REGULAR SEASON.
WHEREAS, with less than two minutes remaining, another Humphrey Coliseum crowd broke out the "S-E-C, S-E-C" chant. On February 18, 2018, No. 2 Mississippi State completed its climb to the top of the nation's best conference in women's basketball with a 76-55 win against No. 17/18 Texas A&M before a third-straight sellout crowd of 9,933; and
WHEREAS, when the game was over and Mississippi State defeated Texas A&M 76-55, Vic Schaefer took a microphone and told the crowd this was the best team he has coached in 33 years. Mississippi State (28-0, 14-0 SEC) captured the SEC Regular Season Championship. It is the first time in school history that any women's program has accomplished that; and
WHEREAS, after Coach Schaefer addressed the crowd, Victoria Vivians fittingly stood on the court while holding a large circular sign of the SEC logo over her head; and
WHEREAS, No. 2 Mississippi State completed an undefeated Regular Season in women's basketball with an 85-63 Southeastern Conference win over Kentucky on February 25, 2018, at Memorial Coliseum. The Bulldogs improved to 30-0 overall and finished league play at 16.0. MSU is the first team since Tennessee in 1997-1998 to finish the Regular Season undefeated. The 30-straight wins mark the second-longest win streak in SEC history. Teaira McCowan led the Bulldogs with 20 points, 20 rebounds and five blocked shots. Victoria Vivians also had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Roshunda Johnson had 15 points, while Blair Schaefer had 12 points and Chloe Bibby had 10 points; and
WHEREAS, this has been a Regular Season unlike any other for the Bulldogs because Victoria Vivians was producing at a new level and making a difference on the court in a variety of ways that have elevated her game. Vivians scored a team-high 26 points, grabbed a team-high rebounds, and her growth was on full display against Texas A&M. State immediately zoomed from 13th to third in Vivians' freshman season. They were second the next year and second last year. Victoria Vivians has been First Team ALL-SEC for the past two years and will be again this season. "She is the best player I have ever coached in 30 years of coaching," Coach Schaefer said; and
WHEREAS, the 2018 Mississippi State University Lady Bulldog Championship Team Roster is: Blair Schaefer, G; Morgan William, G; Myah Taylor, G; Jazzmun Holmes, G; Roshunda Johnson, G; Jacaira Allen, G; Teaira McCowan, C; Nyah Tate, G; Jonika Garvin, F; Bre'Amber Scott, G; Jordan Danberry, G; Zion Campbell, C; Victoria Vivians, G; and Chloe Bibby, F; Head Coach Vic Schaefer, Assistant Head Coach Johnnie Harris; Assistant Coaches, Dionnah Jackson-Durrett and Carly Thibault-DuDonis; Director of Operations Maryann Baker; Director of Scouting/Video Coordinator Skylar Collins; and Student Assistant Coach Dominique Dillingham; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi State's remarkable basketball women have joined elite company: Margaret Wade's Delta State women's teams of the mid-1970s, who won three straight national Championships; Davey Whitney's 1978-1979 Alcorn State Braves, who finished the regular season 27-0 and finished 28-1 overall; and John Vaught's 1959-1963 Ole Miss football teams, who lost only four times in five seasons and played in five straight New Year's Day bowl games; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join Bulldog nation in recognizing the SEC Champs who have brought honor and excitement 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 "Lady Bulldogs" Basketball Team and Coach Vic Schaefer for its first-ever SEC Regular Season Championship and for its 30-0 perfect Regular Season, and extend our best wishes for success in postseason tournament play.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Schaefer for the team, forwarded to MSU President Mark Keenum and the Board of Trustees of IHL, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.