MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Robinson, Buck (5th), Bailey, Johnson, Perkins, Hines, Buck (72nd), Smith (27th), Blackmon, Gardner, Broomfield, Burnett, Calhoun, Clark, Clarke, Coleman (65th), Dickson, DuVall, Espy, Evans (70th), Flaggs, Fredericks, Harrison, Holloway, Huddleston (30th), Jones (82nd), Staples, Straughter, Thomas, Watson, Wooten
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING ALL-WORLD WIDE RECEIVER JERRY LEE RICE FROM CRAWFORD, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME, CLASS OF 2010.
WHEREAS, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has inducted the Class of 2010, which features Jerry Lee Rice from Crawford, Mississippi, whose honors include being named All-SWAC wide receiver from Mississippi Valley State University and All-Pro star wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos; and
WHEREAS, Jerry played high school football at B.L. Moore (East Oktibbeha) High School, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, before attending Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) on a scholarship from 1980-1984; and
WHEREAS, Jerry's nickname is "World," which he picked up during his college days at MVSU, and having been coined in part by the MVSU sports announcer, who described Jerry's catching abilities as he could "catch anything in the world"; and
WHEREAS, during his college career, Jerry's talent was complimented by his teammate and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame member, Willie Totten, and Jerry was one-half of the famed "Satellite Express," along with Willie, who was the Delta Devil Quarterback nicknamed "Satellite"; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Rice performed in front of the largest crowd in the history of Mississippi collegiate football when MVSU took on Alcorn State University in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 27, 1984, in Memorial Stadium featuring a full-capacity crowd of over 64,000 fans; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Rice's football highlights include the following: inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, 2007; inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, August 12, 2006; inducted into the SWAC Athletic Hall of Fame, December 2005; named to the SBN Sports Network Black College Football All-Time Team; honored by having the name of Magnolia Stadium at MVSU changed to "Rice-Totten" Stadium in honor of Rice and Quarterback Willie Totten, 1999; played in 303 NFL games (started 284); retired with 38 career NFL records (16 regular season, 9 postseason, 11 Super Bowl, 2 Pro Bowl); received numerous pro honors, including being named All-Pro 13 times, first in the NFL in career receptions with 1,549, first in the NFL in receiving yards with 22,895, first in the NFL in receiving TDs with 197, and first in the NFL in total TDs scored with 208; recorded more yards from scrimmage (23,540) and combined yards (23,546) than any player in NFL history; played in one Super Bowl (2003) with the Oakland Raiders; won three Super Bowl Championships with the San Francisco 49ers, retiring as the all-time receiving record holder for that franchise in every category; set the NFL single-season receiving yardage record in 1995 with 1,848 yards; set the NFL single-season record with 22 TD catches in 1987; caught a pass in an NFL-record 274 consecutive games from his rookie year in 1985 through September 2004; recorded 100 or more yards receiving in an NFL-record 76 regular season games in addition to owning league-best eight postseason 100-yard receiving games; owns NFL records with fourteen 1,000-yard receiving seasons and four 100 catch seasons (three consecutively 1994-1996); drafted in the first round (#16) in 1985 NFL Draft; and set many NCAA 1-AA, SWAC and MVSU records that still stand; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this football icon from Mississippi who has brought great honor to his community, university and to the State of Mississippi:
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 All-World Wide Receiver Jerry Lee Rice from Crawford, Mississippi, upon his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2010, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Jerry Rice and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.