House Resolution 106

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING WILLIAM CLANCY DENNY IV FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER AS THE LONG SNAPPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI REBELS FOOTBALL TEAM.

WHEREAS, William Clancy Denny IV served as the long snapper for the University of Mississippi Rebels Football Team during all 51 games of his extremely successful four year career spanning from 2011 through 2014; and

WHEREAS, Will was born on December 1, 1991, to Billy and Debbie Denny and is the grandson of State Representative Bill Denny, who boasts his grandson's magnificent accomplishments daily from the House of Representatives' floor, as he is awfully proud of all of Will's wonderful achievements; and

WHEREAS, with his grandfather's height and his father's athletic prowess, Will was destined to be a great athlete, and as a student at Jackson Academy, he excelled in football under Coach David Sykes and earned first team All-State honors from the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, helped lead Jackson Academy to a 12-1 record as a senior, and was named one of the top 12 performers at the Chris Sailor National Kicking and Snapping competition; and

WHEREAS, following in his father's footsteps, who played tight end for the Ole Miss Rebels from 1977 until 1979, Will joined the Rebels football team in 2010, and to ensure his eligibility and health for five years, he was red shirted for his freshman year; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, Will served as the team's long snapper for all 12 Rebel games, becoming only one of 17 freshmen in the nation to start at long snapper that year, an immensely superb feat; and

WHEREAS, during his freshman season as the Rebel long snapper, Will consistently impressed his coaches with his determination, energy and precision and earned his first letter, and on November 5, 2011, against the Kentucky Wildcats, Will made his first career tackle on special teams, a spectacular moment that he will remember forever; and

WHEREAS, during the Louisiana Tech game, Will recorded one solo tackle on special teams, and to finish the year with a bang, he made one assisted tackle against the LSU Tigers; and

WHEREAS, earning his second letter in 2012, the year proved to be another success for Will's long snapper career as he made a tackle on special teams against Tulane, the number one ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn, and during the Rebels matchup with in-state rival, the 24th ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs, Will assisted on a tackle on special teams, thereby helping his Rebel team silence their cowbell clanging foe, 41-24; and

WHEREAS, Will was originally a nonscholarship player, snapping and tackling for the Rebels because he truly loved the game, but after he displayed copious amounts of grind, fortitude and excellence in 2012, he was awarded a scholarship for his tremendous efforts; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, Will served as the long snapper in every game, earned his third letter and made a tackle on punt coverage against the number nine ranked Texas A&M Aggies; and

WHEREAS, during his senior year, the 2014 season, Will played in and served as a team captain for all 13 games, leading his team to a very impressive 9-4 record, the number one seed ranking for a majority of the season, a strong finish destroying rival Mississippi State, 31-17, and a spot in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, one of the inaugural New Year's Six Bowl Games; and

WHEREAS, Will's senior year with the Rebels was marked by hard hits, game-changing punts and completed field goals, which would not have been possible without his competence and experience as a long snapper, and during games against the Memphis Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers, he collected a tackle on a Rebel punt, and in a very emotional game against the number three ranked Auburn Tigers, Will made one crucial tackle; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his extraordinary feats on the football field, Will was equally remarkable in the classroom, as he made the Chancellor's Honor Roll in the fall of 2010 and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in marketing; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the achievements of outstanding Mississippi athletes such as William Clancy Denny IV, who has brought great pride and honor to his family, his community, the University of Mississippi Rebels, and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate William Clancy Denny IV for his outstanding career as the long snapper for the University of Mississippi Rebels Football Team from 2011 until 2014 and extend best wishes to him for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to William Clancy Denny IV and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.