Senate Concurrent Resolution 513

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE OLE MISS "REBELS" BASEBALL TEAM AND COACH MIKE BIANCO FOR THEIR RECORD-SETTING 2005 SEASON.

WHEREAS, in the 2005 season, the Ole Miss "Rebels" Baseball Team, led by Coach Mike Bianco (198-110-1), has set school records for overall wins (48), home victories (30), conference record (18-12) and home attendance (182,957); and

WHEREAS, in addition to those feats, the Rebels also won a share of the Southeastern Conference West Title and advanced to the SEC Tournament Title game; and

WHEREAS, in addition to those feats, the Rebels also advanced to the NCAA post-season for a third straight season for the first time in school history; and

WHEREAS, in addition to those feats, the Rebels earned a national seed (No. 5), hosted a regional for the second straight year, won that regional in three games and then hosted a super regional for the first time in school history, losing to eventual National Champion Texas in the third game of the Oxford Super Regional. Prior to the College World Series, Ole Miss out-hit Texas in each super regional game, including a 32-27 total for the series; but Ole Miss left 30 runners on base, showing how close they were to advancing to Omaha; and

WHEREAS, in addition to those feats, the fan atmosphere at Swayze Field reached record proportions, with fan attendance ranking third of all the 16 NCAA Regionals and ranking first in attendance of all the Super Regionals. The school is also planning a $3-5 Million expansion to the Oxford-University Stadium due to the increased attendance. People from all over the country attending the regional games have commented about the unbelievable environment created at Ole Miss baseball games; and

WHEREAS, in addition to those feats, Junior outfielder Brian Pettway was a first team selection to the 15th annual National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-America Team and first team honors from Collegiate Baseball newspaper, while Junior Stephen Head garnered second team honors as a utility player. Pettway was drafted in the third round of Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays while Head was selected in the second round by the Cleveland Indians; and

WHEREAS, in addition to those feats, the Rebels produced three pitchers (Holliman, Maloney, Fowler) who each posted 100-plus strikeouts in the same season; and

WHEREAS, in addition to those feats, the Rebels set school records for hits (759), RBIs (462) and runs scored (501) in a season; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes who have brought honor to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi and have made Oxford-University Stadium one of the best venues for college baseball:

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 Ole Miss "Rebels" Baseball Team and Coach Mike Bianco for the record-setting 2005 season and extend to them the best wishes of the Legislature for success next season.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Ole Miss Baseball Team and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.