MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Brown, Jackson (32nd), Burton, Butler (38th), Carmichael, Clarke, Frazier, Jackson (15th), Jolly, Lee, Simmons (12th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING THE EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE "LIONS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACH OF THE YEAR BUDDY STEPHENS FOR WINNING THEIR SECOND NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THREE YEARS AND NUMBER ONE RANKING IN THE FINAL NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION POLL.
WHEREAS, East Mississippi Community College achieved a Magnolia State first at the 2013 Mississippi Bowl. It won the first National Championship on Mississippi soil; and
WHEREAS, a heavy running attack and a strong second half performance powered No. 2 East Mississippi to a 52-32 win over No. 1 Georgia Military at Biloxi Indian Stadium on Sunday, December 8, 2013. The victory clinched East Mississippi's second National Junior College Athletic Association title in the last three years; and
WHEREAS, East Mississippi (12-0) Coach Buddy Stephens has coached some great teams during his six-year tenure, but this year's squad could be his best yet. The Lions overwhelmed their opponents all season long — they outscored teams 747-119 in 12 victories — through a potent combo of dominant defense and powerful offense. Knocking off the No. 1 team in the country by 20 points just adds to the legacy; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges State Champion East Mississippi Community College, which finished 12-0, also won the 2011 NJCAA National Championship with a victory in the El Toro Bowl in Yuma, Arizona; and
WHEREAS, the Lions rode big offense performances from Lakenderic Thomas, Antoinne Adkins and Dontreal Pruitt to a National Title victory. Adkins was chosen East Mississippi Community College's Most Valuable Offensive Player in the contest after hauling in several acrobatic catches and finishing with six receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Pruitt, who threw for 340 yards and three scores, was chosen the Mississippi Bowl Committee's Player of the Year. Thomas, meanwhile, bulldozed his way through the Georgia Military defense, carrying tacklers on his way to a punishing 234-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance; and
WHEREAS, "So many of our guys had big games or made big plays that all contributed to the win in the end," East Mississippi Community College Head Coach Buddy Stephens said. "I could not be prouder of the way our young men played and for all they accomplished. Our guys were looking forward to this from the very first day of summer. They were focused and showed tremendous leadership. Our administration had a vision to make our athletics successful and let the school build off that success and they have given us everything we needed to be successful"; and
WHEREAS, defensive lineman Jimmie Gipson III was chosen as his team's Most Valuable Defensive Player after being in on four sacks in the Championship Game; and
WHEREAS, East Mississippi Community College brought its team, coaches, cheerleaders and staffers to Ocean Springs on the eve of the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship game. The Lions pulled into the sports complex with a police escort and an entourage, much to the delight of the already-assembled Dream Program, a successful, volunteer-oriented program founded in April 2006 to enhance the leisure lifestyle of people with disabilities on the Coast and surrounding areas; and
WHEREAS, the 2013 East Mississippi Community College Football Roster is: Dontreal Pruitt, QB; A.J. Stamps, DB; Kameron Myers, WR; Earnest Robinson, WR; Brandon Acker, WR; Justin Mack, WR; Ken Breland, DB; J.T. Tolbert, WR; Allen Sentimore, DB; C.J. Bates, WR; Antoinne Adkins, WR; Todd Mays, QB/RB; Brett Thompson, QB; Brandon Bell, WR; Fenest Armstrong, DB; Isaac Johnson, WR; Terrence Barron, WR; Jorrell Thurmon, WR; Christian Russell, LB; Demetrius Cain, LB; Preston Baker, RB; Laderrick Roberts, LB; Lakenderic Thomas, RB; Deshadrick Truly, DB; Quan Latham, DB; Jessie Gill, DB; Byerson Cockrell, DB; William Lloyd, LB; Defond Bester, LB; C.J. Shepherd, LB; Morgan Rhodes, PK; Jimmie Gipson III, DL; Benny McCall, LB; Justin Lucas, LB; JaQarius Scott, DL; Blake Sharp, OL; Chris Berry, OL; Wiley Maddox, OL; Evan Grimes, DS; Jacob Feeley, OL; Avery Gennesy, OL; Kenney Averhart, OL; Jamal Danley, OL; Brandon Hodges, OL; David Mahaffey, OL; Jamaal White, OL; Drew White, PK/P; D.J. Pettway, DL; Jarran Reed, DL; Marco Montgomery, DL; Zavia Forshee, DL; D.J. Jones, DL; Wesley Ragin, DL; Austin Roberts, DL; Jamison Goins, DL; Head Coach Buddy Stephens; Assistant Coaches: Marcus Wood (OC/WRs), Jordan Lesley (DC/ILBs), Clifton Collins (DBs), Scott Gasper (QBs), DeCarlos Holmes (DL), D.J. Looney (OL), and Webb Hamilton (OLBs); Graduate Assistant Coach Derrick Steele; and Student Assistant Coach Daniel Lott; and
WHEREAS, this second National Championship was a fitting way to remember legendary Coach Bull Sullivan whose strict disciplinary coaching methods and success were the topic of a famous Sports Illustrated article "The Toughest Coach There Ever Was"; and it is with great pride that we note this second National Championship by a team which has brought honor to its college, 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 recognize and salute the East Mississippi Community College "Lions" Football Team and Head Coach Buddy Stephens for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship, its second title in three years, and its Number 1 Ranking in the Final National Junior College Athletic Association Poll, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors on this honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Stephens and East Mississippi Community College President Dr. Rick Young, the Board of Trustees of East Mississippi Community College and the State Board for Community Colleges, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.