MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Harkins, Jolly, Kirby, Simmons (13th), Blackmon, Jackson (15th), Clarke, Turner-Ford, Massey, Moran, Browning, Tindell, Watson, Barnett, Blackwell, Carmichael, Caughman, Dearing, DeBar, Frazier, Jackson (11th), McMahan, Parker, Simmons (12th), Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE FORMER MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY AND STARTING DALLAS "COWBOYS" QUARTERBACK DAK PRESCOTT FOR BEING NAMED NFL OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FOR 2016-2017.
WHEREAS, in the span of less than one year, former Mississippi State University Quarterback Dak Prescott has gone from the 135th pick to the first in his class. On February 4, 2017, at the NFL Awards Ceremony, the Cowboys' Pro Bowl quarterback was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, capping off a rookie season unlike anything the League has ever seen; and
WHEREAS, Prescott accepted the award standing next to Ezekiel Elliott, which should surprise no one. The duo took the League by storm last fall, racking up an absurd number of wins and accolades. The NFL did not even bother with the pretense that the award would go to anyone but a Cowboy, as Prescott and Elliott were the only players mentioned as nominees. "I wish I had a knife so we could cut it in half," said a bemused Prescott from the stage at the Wortham Theater Center. Prescott ended up receiving 28 of the 50 votes, while Elliott got 21; and
WHEREAS, in August when Dallas starting quarterback Tony Romo went down with a broken bone in his back, Prescott never waivered. Showing the calm of a veteran from his opening snap, the rookie dazzled viewers during a pristine preseason. Many expected that to change when the real action began, but Prescott was just warming up. Starting all 16 games, the former Mississippi State star guided Dallas to a 13-3 record and the NFC's top playoff seed. Along the way, he threw for 23 touchdowns and just four picks, while completing 67.8 percent of his throws at a generous eight yards per attempt; and
WHEREAS, by the end of his debut season, Prescott had earned a Pro Bowl nod with 3,667 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and a mere four interceptions. He posted a passer rating of 104.9 and rushed for six touchdowns while leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record. "It was a fun season, a great season, a great Year I for me. I tried to make the most of it," Prescott said. "To win 13 games, to make the run to give ourselves a chance like we did in that last game of the season, it was a fun ride. I have high expectations for myself. It is just hard work paying off"; and
WHEREAS, Dak Prescott was also named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, Pepsi and the NFL announced on February 3, 2017. Prescott was recognized for his contributions to the Dallas Cowboys' franchise record-tying 13-win season. The Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year has been around since 2002, and is voted on by fans. It is the official Rookie of the Year trophy recognized by the NFL; and
WHEREAS, former Mississippi State University fifth-year Senior Quarterback Dak Prescott was named the winner of the 20th Annual C Spire Conerly Trophy by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on December 1, 2015. Dak Prescott is the first player in history to win the award in back-to-back seasons and Mississippi State was the first university to have a player win the award seven times. Given annually to the best college football player in Mississippi, Prescott earned the honor after being the only player in the Southeastern Conference to lead his team in both passing yards (3,413) and rushing yards (541) in the regular season. The Haughton, Louisiana, native broke his own single-season school records for completion percentage; and
WHEREAS, for an unheralded prospect out of Louisiana, Dak Prescott has added one more reason why he is one of the best to ever play in Mississippi. "It's become home," Prescott said. "People and the hospitality make it home"; and it is with great pride that we commend the continuing professional stellar football career of an outstanding football player who has added another line to his Mississippi State legacy and has brought honor to his university, his 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 former Mississippi State University Quarterback Dak Prescott and commend his stellar football career, and extend our best wishes to Dak and his family on this auspicious honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dak Prescott, forwarded to Mississippi State University Football Coach Dan Mullen, Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.