MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2016 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Tollison, Watson, Burton, Barnett, Blackwell, Blount, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Hopson, Kirby, McMahan, Norwood, Parker, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Stone, Wilemon, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 533

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI OLE MISS "REBELS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH HUGH FREEZE FOR THEIR VICTORY IN THE 2016 ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL.

     WHEREAS, the University of Mississippi Ole Miss "Rebels" Football Team rewrote the record books in 2015; and

     WHEREAS, the season highlights included the Rebels defeating Alabama for the first time ever in consecutive years, the first Egg Bowl victory in Starkville since 2003 and a victory in the Sugar Bowl.  Some notable accomplishments for the Rebels in 2015 are:

     ·  Ole Miss finished the season 10-3, marking its first 10-win season since 2003 and seventh in school history;

     ·  The Rebels won five games over ranked opponents for the first time in program history, finishing the year with a 5-2 mark against ranked teams;

     ·  The offense broke school single-season records in scoring (531), touchdowns (68), total yards (6,731), passing yards (4,351), passing touchdowns (35) and first downs (341);

     ·  The defense tied a school single-season record of four interception touchdowns that was previously set in 1938;

     ·  The Rebels also set school records with four 50+ point games, three 600+ yard games and 66 PATs in a season;

     ·  Hugh Freeze became the first Ole Miss Head Coach since John Vaught to lead the Rebels to four straight bowl games, and he is the only Rebel Coach to accomplish that feat in his first four seasons at the helm;

     ·  Freeze's .654 winning percentage as the Rebels' Head Coach is the second most in the last 100 years of the program;

     ·  The Rebels defeated Alabama in back-to-back seasons for the first time in history and were the first team to take down the Tide in consecutive years since LSU in 2010 and 2011;

     ·  Ole Miss beat Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State in the same season for the first time in school history;

     ·  The Rebels secured a winning SEC record in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1989-1990;

     ·  The Rebels' 48 points and 554 total yards were the most in a bowl game in school history;

     ·  Junior QB Chad Kelly broke Bo Wallace's school record for pass completions in a season with 298 and tied Eli Manning's record for passing TDs in a season (31);

     ·  The Buffalo (N.Y.) native's season total of 4,542 total yards is third-best in SEC history behind Johnny Manziel's 2012 (5,116) and 2013 (4,873) seasons;

     ·  Kelly's season total of 4,042 passing yards is third-best in SEC history behind Tim Couch (4,275 in 1998) and Manziel (4,114 in 2013).  He is the third SEC QB to ever throw for more than 4,000 yards;

     ·  Both Kelly's total offense and passing yards are school records in a season;

     ·  Kelly's four touchdown passes tied the Sugar Bowl record and were the most ever by an Ole Miss player in a bowl game;

     ·  Junior WR Laquon Treadwell established school records for catches in a season (82) and career (202) and receiving yards in a season (1,153);

     ·  Treadwell surpassed Donte Moncrief and Chris Collins for a school-record 11 touchdowns this season;

     ·  Treadwell's three touchdown catches also tied the Sugar Bowl record;

     ·  Junior Evan Engram broke Jim Poole's school record for career receptions by a tight end with 97 catches; and

     WHEREAS, on September 19, 2015, Ole Miss executed the most unbelievable but memorable play of the 2015 college football season.  After a bad snap, Ole Miss QB Chad Kelley threw an ill-advised pass, which, after being, tipped, bounced off an Alabama defender's helmet and into the hands of Rebel's receiver Quincy Adeboyejo, who ran for a 66-yard touchdown.  This helped Ole Miss give Alabama its only loss of the season; and

     WHEREAS, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is in the midst of a major facelift that will see the north end of the facility bowled in and transformed into an exciting new "front door" in 2016, complete with a plaza and bell tower.  As part of the Forward Together capital campaign, the south end zone was renovated to add 30 luxury suites and 770 club level seats prior to the 2015 season, while the west suites were all refinished; and

     WHEREAS, the 2015 Ole Miss Rebels Football Team Roster is:  Tony Bridges, DB; Laquon Treadwell, WR; DeVante Kincade, QB; C.J. Hampton, DB; Damore'ea Stringfellow, WR; Quintavius Burdette, WR; Denzel Nkemdiche, LB; Robert Nkemdiche, DT; Fadol Brown, DE; Jaylen Walton, RB; Trae Elston, DB; Damarkus Lodge, WR; Jason Pellerin, QB; Quincy Adeboyejo, WR; Chief Brown, DB; Ryan Buchanan, QB; Breeland Speaks, DT; C.J. Johnson, LB; Chad Kelly, QB; Will Easter, WR; Markell Pack, WR; Channing Ward, DE; Tony Conner, DB; Van Jefferson, WR; Eugene Brazley, RB; Kailo Moore, DB; Victor Evans, DE; Jeremy Liggins, TE/OL; Kendarius Webster, DB; Drew Davis, QB; Jalen Julius, DB; Collins Moore, WR; Evan Engram, TE; Derrick Jones, WR; Christian Russell, LB; Terry Caldwell, LB; Akeem Judd, RB; Ray Ray Smith, LB; Jordan Wilkins, RB; Carlos Davis, DB; Tayler Polk, LB; Johnathan Rattliffe, DB; Eric Swinney, RB; Montrell Custis, DB; C.J. Moore, DB; Marquis Haynes, DE; Cale Luke, WR; Cam Ordway, DB; Brandon Bell, WR; Armani Linton, DB; A.J. Moore, DB; Justin Anderson, DB; DeMarquis Gates, LB; Temario Strong, LB; John-Patrick Sherling, LB; Nathan Vanderburg, RB; Shawn Curtis, LB; D.K. Buford, RB; Josh Johnson, DB; Zedrick Woods, DB; Luke Davis, LB; Mike Hilton, DB; Martin Johnson, RB; Antwain Smith, DB; Garrald McDowell, DL; Ty Quick, TE; John Youngblood, DE; Jack Raborn, LB; Sean Rawlings, OL; Michael Howard, OL; Austrian Robinson, DL; Will Few, LS; Sam Johnson, OL; Tyler Putman, OL; Woodrow Hamilton, DT; Chadwick Lamar, LS; Michael Taylor, LS; Jacob Feeley, C; Ben Still, C; Alex Givens, OL; Justin Bell, OL; Jordan Sims, OL; Christian Morris, OL; Aaron Morris, OL; Rod Taylor, OL; Fahn Cooper, OL; Robert Conyers, OL; Daronte Bouldin, OL; Talbot Buys, OL; Laremy Tunsil, OL; Javon Patterson, OL; Willie Hibbler, TE; Elliot Markuson, LB; Trey Bledsoe, WR; Dylan Dyer, TE; Dillon Barrett, TE; Hunter Thurley, TE; Dawson Knox, TE; Alex Weber, WR; Jordan Gallegos, WR; Matt Brown, TE; Cody Core, WR; Taz Zettergren, TE; Ross Donelly, DT; Nathan Noble, K; Andy Pappanastos, K; Tyler Jackson, K; D.J. Jones, DT; Will Gleeson, P; Issac Gross DT; Gary Wunderlich K/P; Grant Warren, P; Herbert Moore, DT; Ole Miss Coaches:  Head Coach Hugh Freeze; Dave Wommack, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers; Dan Werner, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks; Matt Luke, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line; Jason Jones, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks; Chris Kiffin, Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator For Defense; Maurice Harris, Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator For Offense; Corey Batoon, Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties; Derrick Nix, Running Backs; Grant Heard, Wide Receivers; Barney Farrar, Assistant A.D./High School and Junior College Relations; Paul Jackson, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach; Tom Luke, Assistant A.D./Player Development; John Miller, Assistant A.D./Football Operations; Chris Rippon, Assistant A.D./Recruiting Operations; Ben Algamaua, Intern; Chris Buttgen, Director of Football Media; Ken Crain, Equipment Manager; Pat Jernigan, Head Athletic Trainer; Bruce Johnson, Coordinator of Recruiting Development; Emmanuel McCray, Graduate Assistant, Offense; Davis Merritt, Graduate Assistant, Defense; Sean Patterson, Associate Director of Recruiting Operations; Robert Ratliff, Graduate Assistant, Offense; Will Reid, Assistant Coordinator of Video Services; Christian Robinson, Graduate Assistant, Defense; and Branden Wenzel, Assistant Recruiting Director; and

     WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a record-setting Mississippi University football team which has brought joy and athletic excellence to its university, 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 commend and congratulate the University of Mississippi Ole Miss "Rebels" Football Team and Head Coach Hugh Freeze for their victory in the 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl, and extend our best wishes to the team and coaches for future success.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Hugh Freeze, Athletic Director Ross Byork and the Ole Miss Football Team, forwarded to Chancellor Jeffrey S. Vitter and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.