MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 2nd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Hopson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Ward, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI "REBELS" SPORTS PROGRAM FOR ITS 2009-2010 HIGH RANKING IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE (SEC) ALL-SPORTS TROPHY.
WHEREAS, the University of Mississippi Rebels finished with high marks across all sports during the 2009-2010 SEC schedule; and
WHEREAS, in men's sports, the Rebels ranked first among SEC Western Division teams and second overall in the annual SEC All-Sports rankings conducted by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group, which includes 14 papers throughout the Southeast. Points are awarded to schools based on their teams' regular-season finishes, and each university's point total is divided by the number of sports it fields. The New York Times Regional Media Group awards trophies to the league school which captures each of those three all-sports titles. A first-place SEC finish is worth 12 points, second is given 11 points, and so on; and
WHEREAS, among all sports, the University of Mississippi finished sixth in the trophy standings, ranking third among SEC West schools; and
WHEREAS, every Rebel men's team finished in the top half of the conference standings this year, including a second-place overall finish by the golf team and a fourth-place finish by the football and basketball teams. Andy Kennedy's basketball squad and Billy Chadwick's tennis team claimed SEC West titles in 2010; and
WHEREAS, on the women's side, Ole Miss had strong years in both tennis and soccer, which finished second and third overall in the conference, respectively. Mark Beyers' tennis team was crowned SEC West Champion for the first time since 2005. The Florida Gators claimed the SEC All-Sports Trophy, while Georgia, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn rounded out the top five. After Ole Miss, the order went: Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Mississippi State; and
WHEREAS, the University of Mississippi also racked up a number of postseason berths, individual champions and academic accolades in 2009-2010, with still more to come as the baseball and track-and-field teams compete in postseason play; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the achievement of this Mississippi public university which is much smaller in enrollment than its larger SEC competitors, and which has brought honor to its sports faculty, 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 recognize and salute the University of Mississippi "Rebels" Sports program for its 2009-2010 high ranking in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Sports Trophy category, and extend our best wishes to the various athletic programs for their continued success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to Athletic Director Pete Boone and Chancellor Dan Jones, Commissioner of Higher Education Hank Bounds, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.