MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Tollison, Chamberlin, Jackson (11th), Lee (35th), Mettetal, Morgan, Hewes, Walls, Dawkins, Jackson (15th), King, Albritton, Brown, Little, Clarke, Burton, Thomas, Browning, Thames, Wilemon, Pickering, White, Walley, Kirby, Williamson
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING ELISHA (ELI) MANNING FOR HIS NO. 1 SELECTION IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT AND FOR HIS ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS QUARTERBACK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI REBELS FOOTBALL TEAM.
WHEREAS, Eli was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2004 National Football League draft, being chosen by the San Diego Chargers and then traded to the New York Giants, the highest selection ever for any Ole Miss player; and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss football has a tradition of sending players to the New York Giants, highlighted by the career of legendary Ole Miss and Giant Quarterback Charlie Connerly; and
WHEREAS, the son of former Ole Miss famed quarterback, Archie Manning, and brother of the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, Eli has continued the long-standing family tradition of athletic excellence; and
WHEREAS, in the 2004 SBC Cotton Bowl Classic, Eli was selected Offensive Player of the Game, and Eli also earned first team All-American honors as well as being named to first team All-SEC; and
WHEREAS, Quarterback Eli Manning received the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top senior quarterback and the Conerly Trophy as Mississippi's Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Heisman trophy, finishing third, was selected as Mississippi's Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Jackson Touchdown Club, was chosen as the 2003 Sports Person of the Year in Mississippi by The Clarion-Ledger, and received the Colonel Earl (Red) Blaik Leadership Award from the All-America Football Foundation. Eli was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club's SEC Most Valuable Back and the Touchdown Club of Atlanta Southeast's Top Offensive Back. Eli was named one of the NCAA's Today's Top VIII student-athletes, the highest honor the NCAA presents to student-athletes, and also received the 2003 Sporting News Radio Socrates Award, which recognizes a collegiate student-athlete who demonstrates excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship, and was named to the Southeastern Conference Good Works Team; and
WHEREAS, Quarterback Eli Manning led the Southeastern Conference in passing average per game (276.9) and total offense (274.8). Quarterback Eli Manning, who set 47 Ole Miss single-game, season and career records became the fifth quarterback in SEC history to throw for 10,000 yards in a career as he finished with 10,119 passing yards, ranking fifth on the SEC's all-time list; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the outstanding talents of this truly remarkable athlete and scholar, whose skills and execution has brought great honor and pride to his family, his university and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Eli Manning for his No. 1 selection in the National Football League draft and for his outstanding athletic accomplishments as quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels Football Team and extend our heartiest wishes for continued success in all his future athletic and professional endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Eli Manning, forwarded to the University of Mississippi and be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.