Senate Concurrent Resolution 545

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LEGENDARY OLE MISS LINEBACKER PATRICK WILLIS UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.

WHEREAS, we join the students, faculty, administration, athletes and alumni of The University of Mississippi in honoring an Ole Miss football legend who has achieved immortality; and

WHEREAS, one of the most decorated defensive players in SEC history, former Ole Miss Linebacker Patrick Willis, was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 10, 2018. A four-year letterman at Ole Miss from 2003-2006, Willis was a two-time First-Team All-American player who twice won the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, Willis was the winner of both the Butkus Award and the Lambert Award, both given to the nation's top linebacker; and

WHEREAS, as a junior in 2005, Willis led the Rebels' defense with 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception. He improved upon those numbers as a senior in 2006, recording 137 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and seven pass breakups on the way to being named to 13 different All-American teams, an Ole Miss record. Off the back of that 2006 season, Willis was invited to play in the Senior Bowl, where he won Defensive MVP honors; and

WHEREAS, the San Francisco 49ers selected Willis with the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, after which Willis put together one of the strongest careers of any NFL linebacker this century. In eight seasons with the 49ers, Willis was voted to seven Pro Bowls, was named a First-Team All-Pro five times and led the NFL in tackles twice. In 2012, Willis helped lead the 49ers' No. 2 scoring defense to a Super Bowl appearance; and

WHEREAS, Willis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 10, 2018, in New York City. He was inducted alongside fellow college football legends Terrell Buckley (Florida State), Rickey Dixon (Oklahoma), London Fletcher (John Carroll), Jacob Grey (Texas A&M), Raghib Ismail (Notre Dame), Darren McFadden (Arkansas), Jake Plummer (Arizona State), Joe Thomas (Wisconsin), Lorenzo White (Michigan State) and Vince Young (Texas); and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the legacy of a Mississippi sports hero who has brought honor to his 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 recognize legendary Ole Miss Linebacker Patrick Willis upon his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and extend our best wishes to Patrick and his family for future successes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Patrick Willis, forwarded to the Athletic Director and Chancellor of The University of Mississippi and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.