MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2008 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Frazier, Harden, Horhn, Michel, Yancey, Walls, Blount, Burton, Butler, Dearing, Jackson (11th), Simmons
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY "TIGERS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACH RICK COMEGY FOR WINNING ITS 16TH SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SWAC) CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, after suffering through some down years, the Jackson State University "Tigers" Football Team under second-year Coach Rick Comegy and behind the play of quarterback Jimmy Oliver, won its 16th Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship (its first since 1996) defeating Grambling State University 42-31 in the title game on December 15, 2007, avenging a regular season loss; and
WHEREAS, the game which was televised on ESPN Classic, was the second most attended game under the SWAC's current championship game format. 43,246 spectator's witnessed JSU Head Coach Rick Comegy win his first SWAC title. Previously Jackson State was also involved in a record attendance game when the Tigers faced Southern University in the inaugural SWAC Championship game in 1999 (the attendance was 47,621); and
WHEREAS, in this championship game, Jackson State scored 14 points in the first, second and fourth quarters to outlast the G-Men. JSU's Jimmy Oliver led all signal callers, completing 16-31 pass attempts for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Oliver completed at least one pass to eight different receivers. Jackson State's Lavarus Giles finished with a game-high 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Cornelius Walker finished with 41 rushing yards, Jaymar Johnson led JSU with three receptions for 57 yards. Giles and Chris Johnson both caught three passes for 29 yards. Chris Johnson also hauled in a touchdown. Cedric Dixon also caught a pass for a touchdown. Jimmy Oliver received the game's Most Outstanding Offensive Player and Domonique Johnson was named the game's Most Outstanding Defensive Player; and
WHEREAS, the Jackson State Tigers were among the statistical category leaders in the SWAC in 2007. The Tigers are second in scoring offense (28.0ppg), fourth in scoring defense (21.5 pts/g), second in passing offense (237.0 yds/g), fifth in pass defense (197.3 yds/g), first in kick off returns (21.5 yds/g), fourth in punting (32.6 yds/p) and fifth in turnover margin (0.09/g). JSU is fifth in rushing offense (136.7 yds/g), first in rushing defense (80.9/g), third in total offense (373.7 yds/g), first in total defense (278.2 yds/g), fourth in pass defense efficiency (107.1), second in sacks (33 total) and third in red zone offense (76.1%); and
WHEREAS, the 2007 Jackson State University roster is as follows:
90 Abdur-Rashied, Idrees Alexander, Johnny
48 Armstrong, Jerry D 55 Atkins, Anthony
Austin, Brandon 22 Baptiste, Bryson
23 Baylor, Justin 80 Benard, Marcus
36 Bennett, Brett 15 Brack, William
62 Breland, Lorenzo 52 Brocks, Ernest
2 Brooks, Daniel 5 Camp, Keith
98 Carson, Desmond 97 Clark, Corey
22 Clark, Timothy 92 Coit, Dennis
59 Colston, Antonio 54 Davis, Ben
75 Davis, William 82 Dixon, Cedric
20 Evans, Antonio 33 Foney, LaMarquis
8 Frost, Marcel 51 Gentry, Robert
29 Giles, Lavarius Gilleylen, Olandress
72 Gladney, Rodrick 31 Glover, LeBrandon
23 Graddy, David 17 Gray, Rodney
Gray, III, Roosevelt 95 Griffith, Corey
Hammond, Robert 46 Hampton, Earnest
57 Harness, Michael 76 Harshaw, Mikael
3 Haw, Erik 16 Hawkins, Joseph
21 Hedgemon, Labrose Hepburn, Nate
47 Herring, Zarian 25 Hoskins, Kerry
28 Hull, Cody 86 James, Roy
19 Jamison, Marcus 18 Johnson, Chris
6 Johnson, Domonique 83 Johnson, Jaymar
60 Jones, Eric 87 Jones, Terance
49 Lee, Edward 71 Manigat, Wilson
44 Manogin, Christopher 99 McCoy, Brandon
10 McLaurin, Kethonne 32 McNeil, Oliver
96 Muhammad, Emmanuel 37 Murriel, Kevin
70 Odister, Michael 9 Oliver, Jimmy
81 Ott-Terrell, Antoine 93 Owens, Jamile
26 Palmer, Malcolm 39 Perri, Eric
12 Pierce, Jeremy 91 Pogue II, Neal
40 Rich, Ryan 48 Richardson, Desmond
Robertson, Justin 94 Robinson, Mario
7 Rutland, Quintraveous 78 Silas, Johnathan
4 Simpson, Carlos 85 Sims, Jermaine
73 Smith, Brian 38 Smith, Darnodo
30 Smith, Marcus 77 Smith, Michael
56 Speaks, Marcellus 13 Tanis, Renal
Taylor, Jr. Carl 1 Thomas, Jermaine
88 Tiller, Joshua Thompson, John
50 Washington, Samuel 14 Webster, Ricky
63 White, Kristopher 79 Williams, Terrael
27 Williams, Willie III
WHEREAS, the 2007 Jackson State University coaches are as follows:
Rick Comegy - Head Coach;
Darrin Hayes - Defense Coordinator;
James Woody - Offensive Coordinator;
Bruce Johnson - Offensive Line/Special Teams Coach;
Antonio Knight - Defensive Backs Coach;
Jerry Mack - Wide Receivers Coach;
Gregory Ruffin - Running Backs Coach;
John Thompson - Defensive Line Coach;
Rickey Taylor - Graduate Assistant Coach;
Marcus Wright - Linebackers Coach;
Jack Bush - Director of Football Operations; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes who have returned its university football team to its past glory and who have brought pride to its community 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 the Jackson State University "Tigers" Football Team and Head Coach Rick Comegy for winning its 16th Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship and extend to them our best wishes for future athletic and academic success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the 2007 Jackson State University Tigers and Coach Comegy and the President of Jackson State University, be forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.