MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Moffatt, Tollison, Robertson, Michel, Carmichael, Burton, Chamberlin, Scoper, Harvey, Kirby, Farris, Dearing

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE THREE MISSISSIPPI DIVISION I-A FOOTBALL TEAMS FOR BEING RANKED IN THE FINAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLLS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.

WHEREAS, 1999 was surely the best collegiate football season in Mississippi history, with the three Division I-A football teams being ranked in the Top 25 in the Final College Football Polls for the first time ever; and

WHEREAS, Peach Bowl champion Mississippi State, 10-2, led the way with the second highest rankings in school history, 13th in The Associated Press poll, 12th in the USA Today/ESPN poll; and

WHEREAS, Liberty Bowl champion Southern Mississippi, 9-3, achieved the highest rankings in school history, 14th in the AP poll and 13th in the USA Today/ESPN poll; and

WHEREAS, Independence Bowl champion Ole Miss, 8-4 and 22nd in both polls, made the final AP rankings for the 20th time, more than any other Mississippi team; and

WHEREAS, the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference led the nation by placing seven teams in the AP Top 25, selected by a nationwide panel of 70 sports writers and broadcasters, and the Southeastern Conference also placed seven teams in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll; and

WHEREAS, the numbers, where the state's three Division I-A schools are concerned, tell a most impressive story: 27 victories against only 9 defeats; a .750 winning percentage; three bowl victories for the first time ever; three Top 25 teams for the first time ever; one conference championship (Southern Mississippi in Conference USA); the nation's No. 1 defense, Mississippi State; and

WHEREAS, as the 1999 season progressed, the question was asked by national sports commentators, "How does such a small state, with so many schools, produce such quality teams?", and the answer is that football is important in Mississippi, a state which has produced Archie Manning, Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Shorty McWilliams and so many more; and

WHEREAS, as we anxiously await the football seasons which lie ahead in the 21st Century, we recognize with pride the great accomplishments of these student athletes who have brought such honor to their universities, their communities 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 three Mississippi Division I-A university football squads upon being ranked in the Top 25 of the Final College Football Polls for the first time in history, and wish all of these teams continued success in their future athletic, scholastic and life endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Coaches of all three Mississippi Division I-A football teams on behalf of the team members, and be forwarded to the athletic directors and president/chancellor of each university, and to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.