MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Kirby, Blount, Chassaniol, Boyd, Sparks, McCaughn, Hopson, Suber, Parks, DeLano, Blackwell, Fillingane, Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING COACH LANE KIFFIN AND THE OLE MISS "REBELS" FOOTBALL TEAM FOR THEIR IMPRESSIVE VICTORY OVER THE INDIANA "HOOSIERS" ON JANUARY 2, 2021, IN THE OUTBACK BOWL IN TAMPA AND FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING 2020 REGULAR SEASON UNDER ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WHEREAS, Ole Miss' football future looks as bright as the Florida sun at the Outback Bowl. In a season filled with uncertainty, fireworks, heartbreak and adversity, the Ole Miss Rebels restored their rich tradition of postseason football, earning their first bowl bid in five years. Coach Lane Kiffin's squad made the most of it, putting together a valiant effort in Raymond James Stadium to defeat the No. 7 ranked Indiana Hoosiers 26-20 in the 2021 Outback Bowl, concluding the 2020 football season with their first bowl win since the 2016 Sugar Bowl; and
WHEREAS, down four key playmakers on offense, it was back-ups and third string skill position players with key roles in the victory as the Rebels (5-5, 4-5) gained 493 yards of total offense against one of the nation's top defenses. Matt Corral completed 30 of 44 passes for 342 yards and two scores through the air. He became the fifth in school history to eclipse the 3,000-yard mark and tied Eli Manning for third in school history with 29 touchdown passes in a single season; and
WHEREAS, on the receiving end, Dontario Drummond had a season-high six catches for 110 yards and a score. In his first action at receiver, John Rhys Plumlee had five catches for 73 yards, two of which led to the go-ahead score with minutes left to play. Casey Kelly added 49 yards on six catches and a score—all career-highs. On the ground, Henry Parrish, Jr., and Snoop Conner combined for 106 yards on 33 carries and a score coming from Conner; and
WHEREAS, as strong as the Rebels were offensively, it was the defense that sealed the deal in the end. Ole Miss claimed the lead on a Corral-to-Drummond touchdown connection with 4:12 left in the game. The Rebel defense locked down as a key tackle-for-loss by Keidron Smith and a sack by freshman Cedric Johnson put Indiana behind the sticks on their final drive, ultimately leading to a game-sealing fourth-down stop. Defensively, Jacquez Jones led the Rebels with 13 tackles, followed by nine tackles each from Otis Reese and A.J. Finley. As a unit, the defense gave up a season-low 20 points to go along with a season-low 201 yards through the air. The Hoosiers went 7-for-17 on third down, and failed on fourth down in the game-winning stop, capping off year one of the Lane Kiffin era with an Outback Bowl Championship; and
WHEREAS, Outback Bowl notes include the following:
• The Rebels' .648 winning percentage in bowl games ranks first nationally among teams with at least 25 appearances;
• This game marked the first meeting all-time between Ole Miss and Indiana;
• The Rebels faced a current Big Ten opponent for the third time in their bowl history;
• The 2021 Outback Bowl appearance marked Ole Miss' 37th all-time bowl appearance, which is 25th on the all-time NCAA Division I list. It was the Rebels' first-ever time playing
in the Outback Bowl;
• Ole Miss is 24-13 in bowl games, with the 24 wins ranked tied for 14th-most in history;
• Ole Miss is 12-2 on the field in its last 14 bowl games dating back to a 13-0 win over Air Force in the 1992 Liberty Bowl;
• The Rebels' 18 play touchdown drive in the second quarter was the longest scoring drive of the season;
• Matt Corral tallied 379 yards of total offense, passing Chad Kelly (375 vs. Oklahoma State, 2016 Sugar Bowl) for the most-ever by an Ole Miss player in a bowl game;
• Matt Corral became the fifth Rebel ever to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season, joining Eli Manning (2002 and 2003), Bo Wallace (2012 and 2014), Chad Kelly (2015) and Jordan Ta'amu (2018). He finished the season with 3,337 yards, No. 6 on Ole Miss' single-season chart;
• Corral also moved into the top 10 in passing at Ole Miss with 4,938 career yards, surpassing Archie Manning (4,753, 1968-70) for 10th all-time; and
• Corral's 29 touchdown passes this season are tied with Eli Manning (2003) for the third-most touchdowns thrown in a single season; and
WHEREAS, with the Rebels making their first bowl appearance in five seasons, Ole Miss has agreed on a new contract for Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin, as announced by Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter. Kiffin's first season in Oxford produced offensive fireworks while Ole Miss earned four Southeastern Conference wins and a berth in the Outback Bowl. Under Kiffin's leadership, the Rebel offense immediately rewrote the record book, shattering the Southeastern Conference record for total offense in conference games (562.4 ypg). The Rebels rank top 20 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 10 separate categories, including total offense, scoring offense (40.7), rushing offense (217.7), passing offense (344.8), passing yards per completion (14.99), team passing efficiency (183.5), completion percentage (.714), first downs (249), third down conversions (.504) and kick return defense (17.1); and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Football Roster: Lakia Henry, LB; Jonathan Mingo, WR; Matt Corral, QB; Jalen Jordan, DB; Tylan Knight, DB; Jon Haynes, DB; Dannis Jackson, WR; Miles Battle, DB; LeDarrius Cox, DL; Jerrion Ealy, RB; Brandon Mack, OLB; John Rhys Plumlee, QB; Dontario Drummond, WR; Austin Keys, LB; Jakivuan Brown, LB; Kinkead Dent, QB; Braylon Sanders, WR; Sam Williams, OLB; Daylen Gill, LB; Derek Bermudez, DB; Sellers Shy, WR; Jordan Jernigan, WR; Luke Knox, OLB; Demon Clowney, OLB; Jadon Jackson, WR; Brice Johnson, WR; Jamar Richardson, DB; Keidron Smith, DB; A.J. Finley, DB; Kentrel Bullock, RB; Tariqious Tisdale, DL; Jakorey Hawkins, DB; Nevin Wells, WR; Snoop Conner, RB; Deane Leonard, DB; Henry Parrish, Jr., RB; Tavario Standifer, DB; Otis Reese, DB; Isaiah Woullard, RB; Marc Britt, II, Ath; Brandon Pierre, LB; D'Vaughn Pennamon, TE; Jay Stanley, DB; Campbell Klein, RB; Zikerrion Baker, LB; Seth Hunter, DB; Jacquez Jones, LB; Cedric Johnson, OLB; Zavier Miller, DB; Jakwaize Walker, DB; Mark Robinson, LB; Urriah Shephard, RB; Ashanti Cistrunk, LB; DJ Beckum, DB; Jaylon Jones, DB; Jake Springer, DB; Jalen Denton, DB; C.J. Terrell, DB; Brooks Brock, DB; Daniel Newman, DB; Payton Rogers, OLB; Amani Johnson, DL; MoMo Sanogo, LB; TY Rocconi, DB; Andrew Griffith, LB; Jared Lawrence, LS; Jalen Cunningham, OL; Patrick Lucas, Jr., DT; Luke Shouse, OL; Carter Craig, LB; Caleb Warren, OL; Ben Brown, OL; KD Hill, DT; Reece McIntyre, OL; John Bergeron, LS; Sam Plash, OL; Nick Broeker, OL; Peyton Cox, OL; Carter Colquitt, OL; Tobias Braun, OL; Royce Newman, OL; Eli Acker, OL; Bryce Ramsey, OL; Cedric Melton, OL; Hamilton Hall, OL; Jeremy James, OL; Jonathan Hess, TE; Josh Ricketts, WR; Casey Hall, TE; Jared Farlow, WR; Damarcus Thomas, TE; Chase Rogers, TE; Owen Stayer, TE; Jack White, WR; Drake Beck, WR; Sam Murphey, TE; Jack Propst, LS; Ryder Anderson, DL; Jacob Carter, WR; Casey Griffith, K; Hal Northern, DT; Luke Logan, K; Sincere David, DT; Cale Nation, K; Quentin Bivens, DL; Walker Thompson, P; Tavius Robinson, OLB; Mac Brown, P; Land Gebhart, K; Clayton Ladd, DL; and Desanto Rollins, DL; and
WHEREAS, the Football Coaching Staff: Lane Kiffin, Head Coach; Terrell Buckley, Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks; Randy Clements, Assistant Coach/Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line; D.J. Durkin, Assistant Coach/Co-Defense Coordinator/Linebackers; Joe Jon Finley, Assistant Coach/Passing Game Coordinator/Tight Ends; Blake Gideon, Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator; Jeff Lebby, Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks; Derrick Nix, Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers; Chris Patridge, Assistant Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties; Kevin Smith, Assistant Coach/Running Backs; Alec Abeln, Graduate Assistant - Offense; Jarred Gray, Graduate Assistant - Defense; Matt Holecek, Graduate Assistant - Offense; and Marquise Watson, Graduate Assistant - Defense; and
WHEREAS, it is a tribute to Coach Kiffin and the University of Mississippi Athletic Department that they were able to implement a successful 2020 football season in the face of COVID-19 restrictions with minimum health concerns for players and fans, and we compliment the administration and staff of the University for bringing pride to their campus, their 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 Coach Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss "Rebels" Football Team for their impressive victory over the Indiana "Hoosiers" on January 2, 2021, in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, and for their outstanding 2020 regular season under adverse circumstances.
be it further resolved, that this resolution be presented to Head Coach Lane Kiffin for the team, forwarded to Chancellor Glenn Boyce and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.