House Concurrent Resolution 47

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE SOUTH PANOLA HIGH SCHOOL TIGERS FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH RICKY WOODS FOR BREAKING THE MISSISSIPPI RECORD OF 52 CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES BY SETTING A NEW STATE RECORD OF 60.

WHEREAS, in the 2006 football season, the South Panola High School Tigers Football Team has continued its quest to produce the best high school football team and players in Mississippi through its tradition of hard work and hard hitting; and

WHEREAS, the Tigers defeated Columbus 42-0 on Friday, October 6, 2006, before an estimated crowd of 4,000 in Batesville's Tiger Stadium, for a Mississippi record of 52 consecutive victories; and WHEREAS, South Panola's dynamic feat surpasses the record set by Hamilton in the years 1979-1983; and

WHEREAS, what this represents for Coach Ricky Woods is the success associated with hard work contributed by the team; and

WHEREAS, classed in the 5A division, the state's largest high school classification, the Tigers have not lost a game since December 4, 2002, when Wayne County beat them 21-14 for the State Championship, having won 14 straight games before that upset; and

WHEREAS, Woods, in his fifth year at South Panola, has won a remarkable 66 of 67 games, an achievement he modestly credits to his players, his assistant coaches and to a community that has thrown full-fledged support behind the mighty Tigers; and

WHEREAS, South Panola's victory streak includes the following highlights: No. 1: August 28, 2003, beat Clarksdale 43-0; No. 15: December 5, 2003, beat Oak Grove 33-14 to win the Class 5A State Championship and school's third state title and first since 1998; No. 9: in final USA Today rankings; No. 30: December 3, 2004, beat Ocean Springs 39-21 to win the second straight Class 5A State Title and broke the record for the longest winning streak by a 5A school; No. 7: in final USA Today rankings; No. 45: December 9, 2005, beat Meridian 51-14 to become the first team to win three straight Class 5A State Championships; No. 6: in final USA Today rankings; No. 51: September 29, 2006, beat Olive Branch 12-7 in Batesville to establish a new state record; No. 60: December 1, 2006, beat Meridian 28-21 in the Class 5A State Championship; and

WHEREAS, this team's state-record winning streak has now reached 60 games with its fourth consecutive 15-0 season ("four-closure") by beating Meridian 28-21 in the Class 5A Championship game in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium before a crowd of 14,000 on Friday, December 1, 2006; and

WHEREAS, this latest chapter in the Tiger dynasty is probably the most satisfying of all for the incredibly successful coach and team which is a credit to the community itself, and which has produced young men who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend excellence especially when evidenced by the outstanding young people of our state who are its future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the South Panola High School Tigers Football Team and Head Coach Ricky Woods for breaking the Mississippi statewide record of 52 consecutive victories and setting a new state record of 60 straight wins, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of their future academic and athletic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coach Ricky Woods, the Superintendent of South Panola High School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.