MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Little, Gordon, Minor, Robertson, Burton, Smith, Huggins, Hamilton, Moffatt, Harvey, Dearing, Posey, Chaney, Browning, Johnson (19th), Carmichael, Scoper, Thames, Canon, Nunnelee
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JACK CRISTIL UPON HIS 49TH SEASON BEHIND THE MICROPHONE AS THE "VOICE OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS."
WHEREAS, from the opening whistle to the final horn, the color and excitement of Mississippi State football fills the airwaves across the South this fall thanks to interviews, play-by-play and commentary by the legendary broadcaster Jack Cristil of Tupelo, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, anchoring the MSU broadcasts and returning for his 49th season behind the microphone, the personable "Voice of the Bulldogs" is a veteran of more than an estimated 1,550 MSU athletic broadcasts; and
WHEREAS, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, Cristil is one of the South's most-distinguished and most-honored sports broadcasters. In 1997, Cristil received perhaps the crown jewel of sports broadcasting honors, the Chris Schenkel Award. He was the second winner of the award, selected by the National Football Foundation, after its namesake, the veteran ABC Sports commentator; and
WHEREAS, he has been honored by his peers in the broadcasting industry as the "Outstanding Broadcaster in Mississippi" (in conjunction with the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Awards) 21 times during his illustrious career. In 1988, he was selected by his SEC broadcasting colleagues as the league's top play-by-play announcer. In 1992, he was awarded two honors--the inaugural Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters, and election into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. He became the first nonathlete, nonathletic administrator ever to be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, since being hired in the summer of 1953 by the late C.R. "Dudy" Noble, Cristil has described the action of over 500 Mississippi State football games. He has handled play-by-play of MSU basketball since the 1957-1958 season. Though perhaps most widely recognized for his play-by-play expertise in football and basketball, Cristil's early work in sportscasting came in baseball, where he did play-by-play for minor league teams in three states; and
WHEREAS, for many MSU fans, Cristil has offered incredible consistency through the years, by keeping analysis to a minimum and giving fans basic information which tells it "like it is"; and
WHEREAS, there is no more pleasing sound to the ear of MSU fans than the resonating voice of Jack Cristil giving his signature summation of a bulldog victory: "You can wrap this one in maroon and white"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the career of Jack Cristil, whose nationally known style has brought excitement, honor and recognition to Mississippi State 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 commend and congratulate Jack Cristil upon his 49th season behind the microphone as the "Voice of the Mississippi State Bulldogs" and wish him many more years as our connection to Mississippi State.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Jack Cristil and his family, and be forwarded to the President of Mississippi State University and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.