House Concurrent Resolution 70

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH DAN MULLEN FOR ITS OUTSTANDING AND SUCCESSFUL 2014 SEASON.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi State University (MSU) Bulldogs Football Team had one of its most successful seasons in Mississippi State's 110-year football history, ultimately finishing with an outstanding regular season record of 10-2, their second 10-win regular season in school history; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of their outstanding season, the Bulldogs were selected to face off against Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl on December 31, 2014, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida; and

WHEREAS, the Bulldogs started out the season with an impressive nine game winning streak, toppling some of the Southeastern Conference's great teams such as LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Kentucky and Arkansas; and

WHEREAS, after defeating major football powers LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn, the Bulldogs catapulted into first place in the AP Poll for the first time in the program's history, and maintained that first place ranking all the way through the first three weeks of the rankings for the newly created College Football Playoff Poll, having the distinct honor of being ranked number one for the first ever College Football Playoff Poll rankings; and

WHEREAS, the Bulldogs were dominate on both defense and offense, outscoring opponents 480-282, being led on the path to sweet victory by their Heisman candidate quarterback Dak Prescott, and although there were several remarkable individual performers on the team, their success was made possible by working together as a team and building each other up; and

WHEREAS, the Bulldogs' success was forged on the practice field and executed on game day, with a work ethic that was unmatched, grinding it out and never quitting; and

WHEREAS, the Bulldogs Football Roster is as follows: De'Runnya Wilson, WR; Will Redmond, DB; Jay Hughes, DB; Gerri Green, LB; Jameon Lewis, WR; Fred Brown, WR; Jamerson Love, DB; Malcolm Johnson, TE; Nick Griffin, RB; Fred Ross, WR; Brandon Holloway, RB; Josiah Phillips, QB; Kivon Coman, DB; Damian Williams, QB; Robert Johnson, WR; Cedric Jiles, DB; Josh Robinson, RB; Zach Jackson, LB; Elijah Stanley, QB; Dak Prescott, QB; Joe Morrow, WR; Deontay Evans, DB; Nick Fitzgerald, QB; Brandon Hill, TE; Tyrell Miller, DB; Zak Neary, ATH; Gus Walley, TE; Brandon Bryant, DB; Matthew Wells, LB; Taveze Calhoun, DB; Chris Rayford, DB; Jahmere Irvin-Sills, DB; Kendrick Market, DB; Aeris Williams, RB; DeAndre Ward, LB; Quadry Antoine, LB; Brandon Wells, ATH; Tolando Cleveland, DB; Brandon Davis, DB; Ashton Shumpert, RB; Dontavian Lee, RB; Boderick Oliver, ATH; Cory Thomas, DL; Westin Graves, K; Gabe Myles, WR; Bennie Braswell III, RB; Winston Chapman, SN; Richie Brown, LB; Devon Bell, K/P; Evan Sobiesk, K; Beniquez Brown, LB; Logan Cooke, K/P; Christian Holmes, LB; J.T. Gray, LB; Dezmond Harris, LB; A.J. Jefferson, DL; Ryan Brown, DL; Torrey Dale, DL; Benardrick McKinney, LB; Kelan Chairs, LB; Hunter Bradley, TE; Lawrence Brown, ATH; Nick Proby, ATH; Will Coleman, DL; Justin Senior, OL; Archie Muniz, OL; Jamaal Clayborn, OL; Deion Calhoun, OL; Devon Desper, OL; Dillon Day, OL; Jocquell Johnson, OL; Ben Beckwith, OL; Rodney Lacy, DL; Justin Malone, OL; Cole Carter, OL; Elgton Jenkins, OL; Kent Flowers, OL; Blaine Clausell, OL; Jake Thomas, OL; Rufus Warren, OL; Damien Robinson, OL; Ronald Cochran, OL; Shelby Christy, WR; Jamoral Graham, WR; Kareem Vance Jr., WR; Darrion Hutcherson, TE; Rashun Dixon, TE; Jesse Jackson, WR; B.J. Hammond, TE; Aaron Hamaker, ATH; Nick James, DL; Grant Harris, DT; Preston Smith, DL; Kaleb Eulls, DL; P.J. Jones, DL; Nelson Adams, DL; Braxton Hoyett, DL; Chris Jones, DL; Curtis Virges, DL; John Harris, DL; Head Coach, Dan Mullen; Assistant Coaches, Manny Diaz, Billy Gonzales, John Hevesy, Tony Hughes, Brian Johnson, Greg Knox, Scott Sallach, Deshea Townsend and David Turner; Assistant AD/Football Operations, Jon Clark; Head Strength Coach, Rick Court; Director of Player Personnel/High School Relations, Rockey Felker; Coordinator of Football Recruiting, Lee Davis; Recruiting Specialist, Sleepy Robinson; Assistant Recruiting Coordinator, Niel Stopczynski; Defensive Quality Control, Albert Poree; Special Teams Quality Control, James Vollono; and Offensive Graduate Assistant, Joey Fitzgerald; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the outstanding achievements of a great football team, such as the MSU Bulldogs, who has brought honor to their school, their community of loyal fans 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 the Mississippi State University Bulldogs Football Team and sixth-year veteran Head Coach Dan Mullen for their impressive 2014 regular season, and extend best wishes to the team, coaches and administration for future athletic success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be "wrapped up in Maroon and White" and furnished to the Bulldogs Football Team and Head Coach Dan Mullen, and that copies of this resolution be furnished to MSU President Mark E. Keenum, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.