MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Brown, Jackson (32nd), Turner, Ward, Butler, Carmichael, Davis, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE "LIONS" FOOTBALL TEAM, COACH OF THE YEAR BUDDY STEPHENS AND QUARTERBACK RANDALL MACKEY FOR THEIR FIRST MACJC STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND VICTORY IN THE SECOND ANNUAL MISSISSIPPI BOWL.
WHEREAS, in a contest featuring 146 total points and 1,219 yards of combined total offense, the East Mississippi Community College "Lions" Football Team dethroned two-time defending State Champion and third-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast in a wild 75-71 shoot-out on November 7, 2009, to claim the 2009 Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges State Football Championship at East Mississippi Community College's jam-packed Sullivan-Windham Field in Scooba, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, in claiming the school's first-ever state football title, Head Coach Buddy Stephens' EMCC squad tied an all-time school standard with its 10th victory of the season. (Hall of Fame Coach Bob "Bull" Sullivan's 1963 EMJC Club went 10-1-1, including an 18-14 victory over Tyler (Texas) Junior College in the Hospitality Bowl played in Gulfport, Mississippi.) Now 19-3 in Stephens' two years as the East Mississippi helm, the Lions moved to 10-1 on the regular season and avenged their one loss of the year - a 43-26 home setback, coming at the hands of the same visiting Bulldogs from Perkinston; and
WHEREAS, quarterback Randall Mackey, EMCC's preseason NJCAA All-American, ended the championship game 31-of-42 through the air for 477 passing yards and 7 touchdowns along with 125 rushing yards on 18 carries. The Louisiana native had 29 touchdown passes on the year and 53 for his two-year career; and
WHEREAS, the fifth-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College capped the most successful football season in school history by holding on for a 27-24 victory over No. 6 Arizona Western College November 15, 2009, in the 2009 Mississippi Bowl played at Biloxi Indian Stadium. With the victory in Biloxi's second annual bowl event, head Coach Buddy Stephens' 11-1 EMCC Lions established a new all-time school standard for most wins in a season; and
WHEREAS, East Mississippi's first bowl appearance in 46 years began in spectacular fashion for the designated home team, as sophomore wide receiver Derrick Steele of Utica returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score. Randall Mackey, a two-time NJCAA Region 23 Offensive MVP, was also presented a post-game honor by the Mississippi Bowl Committee as the MVP of EMCC's 2009 State Championship Team after completing 26-of-34 passes for 226 yards and 3 touchdowns against Arizona Western; and
WHEREAS, quarterback Randall Mackey was named to the 2009 NJCAA Football All-American First Team. Mackey also ended the 2009 campaign ranked second nationally with 32 touchdown passes and 336.5 yards of total offense per outing. The recipient of the Mississippi Bowl Committee's 2009 Player of the Year honor, Mackey passed for a national-best 3,122 yards this past season despite missing one game due to injury. In helping lead the EMCC Lions to a two-year composite record of 19-3, Mackey completed his 21-game career in Scooba having thrown for 5,940 yards and 556 touchdowns on 425-of-654 passing (65%). While rushing for 1,065 career yards and 9 touchdowns on 187 attempts, Mackey accounted for 7,005 career yards of total offense and 65 touchdowns in quarterbacking East Mississippi to a perfect 12-0 composite mark in MACJC North Division play; and
WHEREAS, the roster for the EMCC Lions is: Randall Mackey (QB), Marcus McQuarley (WR); Cedrick Blanks (WR/RB); Lance Lewis (WR); Derrick Steele (WR); Bill Franks (WR); Alvin Ellis (LB); Izauea Lanier (DB); Claude Davis (DL); Brad Henderson (QB); British Footman (RB/WR); Mitchell McCurry (WR); Jimmy Roby (LB); Dujuan Brown (LB); T.J. Ballou (WR); Termarcus Conner (QB); Anthony Hines (DB); Brett Spencer (PK); Phillip Dimino (P/PK); Kevin Roberts (DB); Chris McFarland (DB); Floyd Graves (RB); Stephon Johnson (WR); Maurice Owens (LB); Kenny Roby (LB); Pat Shed (RB); Johnny Cockrell (DB); Isaac Beard (WR); DeAngelo White (DB); Gabe Poe (LB); Fred Tate (DB); Trayshun King (RB); Lakendrick Carter (DB); Trumaine Norwood (DB); Chris Bertucci (LB); Jermayne Lett (DL); Brandon Lewis (DL); Avis Shelton (OL); Trevor Wallace (OL); Quartney Cox (OL); Diavalo Simpson (OL); Billy Autrey (OL); Travis Guffey (OL); Holden Coggins (DS); Jeremiah McDonald (OL); Johnny Timmons (OL); DeJay Watkins (OL); Odie Rush (OL); John Rice (DL); Cleveland Shelton (DL); Devin Hawkins (DL); Derek Johnson (DL); C.J. Jenkins (DL); Luther Chambers (DL) and Quinton Dial (DL); Head Coach, Buddy Stephens; Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, William Jones; Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Mike Volarvich; Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs, Clifton Collins; Assistant Coach/Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator, Ed Holly; Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers, Marcus Wood; and Assistant Coach/Running Backs/Coordinator of Football Operations, Tommy Ferrill; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this first-time achievement by a group of student athletes who have brought honor to their college, their 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 East Mississippi Community College "Lions" Football Team, NJCAA Coach of the Year Buddy Stephens and MVP Quarterback Randall Mackey for their first Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Championship and victory in the second annual Mississippi Bowl, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Stephens, Randall Mackey and EMCC President Dr. Rick Young for the team, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of East Mississippi Community College and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.