MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Moffatt, Thames, Tollison, Doxey, Horhn, Dearing, Cuevas, Lee (47th), Lee (35th), Clarke, Davis, Morgan, Simmons, Chaney, King, Harden, Thomas, Jordan, Walls, Jackson (11th), Pickering, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), Jackson (15th), Brown, Albritton, Williamson, Wilemon, Little, Flowers, Dawkins, Ross, Hyde-Smith, Mettetal, White
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING ED ORGERON, THE 35TH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE OLE MISS REBELS, AND CONGRATULATING HIM FOR HIS SUCCESS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS, 2004 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
WHEREAS, Ed Orgeron, regarded as one of college football's premier defensive line coaches, was named the 35th Head Football Coach in the history of The University of Mississippi on December 16, 2004; and
WHEREAS, Orgeron came to Ole Miss after serving the previous seven seasons as the Defensive Line Coach at the University of Southern California; and
WHEREAS, he took on the added responsibility of Recruiting Coordinator for the Trojans, who defeated Oklahoma 55 to 19 for the National Championship in the 2005 FedEx Orange Bowl on January 4, 2005. He was named Assistant Head Coach in 2003 and joined the USC staff in January 1998. USC's 2002, 2003 and 2004 recruiting classes were ranked among the nation's Top 5 (the 2003 and 2004 groups were listed by many as No. 1). He was named the 2004 National Recruiter of the Year by The Sporting News and Rivals.com; and
WHEREAS, under Coach Orgeron's guidance, the University of Southern California Trojans Football Team won 13 games during the 2004 season for the first time in the history of the school and became the first team since the University of Nebraska in 1994-1995 to repeat as Associated Press National Champions and the second team to start and finish the season at No. 1 in the Associated Press poll. The University of Southern California Trojans Football Team has won 22 consecutive games, is ranked in the Top 10 in every defensive category, and has set a school record by scoring at least 20 points in its last 38 games. The University of Southern California Trojans Football Team has won 27 bowl games, only two games fewer than the University of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, Orgeron guided USC's highly-regarded "Wild Bunch II" defensive line as the Trojans led the nation in rushing defense; and
WHEREAS, Coach Orgeron, 43, has 19 years of coaching experience. He was Syracuse's Defensive Line Coach for three seasons (1995-1997) and the Orangemen played in a bowl game each year (1996 Gator, 1996 Liberty and 1997 Fiesta). He came to Syracuse from Nicholls State, where he was the Linebacker's Coach in 1994. Before that, he was the Defensive Line Coach at Miami for four seasons (1989-1992), where he coached eight All-Americans, including NFL first rounders Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp. In 1988, he was a Graduate Assistant at Miami, working with the defensive line. During his tenure, the Hurricanes won the national championship twice (1989 and 1991), finished second in the AP poll once (1988) and third twice (1990 and 1992) while appearing in five New Year's Day Bowls (1989 Orange, 1990 Sugar, 1991 Cotton, 1992 Orange and 1993 Sugar); and
WHEREAS, Orgeron also was a Graduate Assistant at Northwestern (Louisiana) State, his Alma Mater, in 1984 and McNeese State in 1985, working with the defensive line at both schools, then was an Assistant Strength Coach at Arkansas for two years (1986-1987). The Razorbacks were in the 1987 Orange Bowl and 1987 Liberty Bowl. He was a four-year Starting Defensive Lineman at Northwestern State, where he was Captain of the Demons as a Senior. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Northwestern State University in 1984; and
WHEREAS, he starred in football, basketball and track at South Lafourche High School in Galliano, Louisiana. He and his wife, Kelly, have three sons: Tyler, 11, and five-year-old twins, Parker and Cody; and
WHEREAS, Coach "O" and his family are a wonderful addition to the university, which is a leader in the South and the nation in academics, student life and athletics; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we welcome this respected coach and athlete to his new university and adopted state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Ed Orgeron for his selection as the 35th Head Football Coach in the history of the Ole Miss Rebels, congratulate him for his success as Assistant Coach with the University of Southern California Trojans in their 2004 Bowl Championship Series National Championship season, and extend to him and his family the best wishes of the Legislature for a successful tenure at his new university and adopted state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach "O" and forwarded to Chancellor Robert Khayat and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.