Bill Text: MS HC11 | 2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: USM Football Team; commend and congratulate on outstanding 2011 season.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 14-2)
Status: (Passed) 2012-02-09 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HC11 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-HC11-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Barker, Baria, Byrd, DeBar, Haney, Lott, McLeod, Morgan, Pigott, Watson, Woods, Arnold, Mettetal, Horne, Shirley, Weathersby
House Concurrent Resolution 11
(As Adopted by House and Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI GOLDEN EAGLES FOOTBALL TEAM ON THEIR OUTSTANDING 2011 SEASON, FINISHING WITH A 12-2 OVERALL RECORD AND RANKED NO. 21 IN THE BCS STANDINGS.
WHEREAS, on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas, the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Football Team won the Conference USA Championship by defeating the University of Houston Cougars Football Team in a victory of 49-28; and
WHEREAS, for the Golden Eagles, the win marked the fifth Conference USA Championship title, the first victory in a Conference USA Championship game, and the first time in the football program's history that the team has won 11 games in a season, ending their regular season at 11-2; and
WHEREAS, the Golden Eagles, ranked 24th in the Bowl Championship Series, ruined a perfect winning season for the Cougars and destroyed Houston's chance at appearing in a BCS bowl game which would have been the opportunity to show a national audience that the Cougars had risen to the top in their state after decades of playing in the shadow of Texas' larger football programs at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas; and
WHEREAS, the Golden Eagles defense displayed impressive play, particularly defensive back, Furious Bradley, who blocked a Cougars punt and ran the ball back 11 yards for a touchdown, and linebacker, Ronnie Thornton, who intercepted a Cougars pass with 2:41 left in the ball game; and
WHEREAS, quarterback for the Golden Eagles, Austin Davis, could not be contained by the Cougars defense, rushing for 279 yards and throwing four touchdown passes; and
WHEREAS, the Golden Eagles allowed their opponent only 28 points in the game and the Golden Eagles never trailed the Cougars in the match-up; and
WHEREAS, the championship win over Houston propelled the Golden Eagles into a nationally-televised bowl game, set to face the University of Nevada Wolf Pack in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl; and
WHEREAS, on December 24, 2011, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Golden Eagles toppled the Wolf Pack in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl with a final score of 24-17, closing out the Golden Eagles' season with an overall 12-2 record; and
WHEREAS, finishing their season with an impressive 12-2 overall record, the Golden Eagles defeated Louisiana Tech University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Virginia, Rice University, the United States Naval Academy, Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at El Paso, East Carolina University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Memphis, the University of Houston and the University of Nevada; and
WHEREAS, the Conference USA Championship victory over Houston and the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl victory over Nevada gives USM a final ranking of No. 21 in the BCS poll, No. 20 in the Associated Press poll and No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches' poll; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Fedora and the Golden Eagles have brought additional honor to themselves and to the University of Southern Mississippi with this Conference USA Championship, proving that the University of Southern Mississippi is the place to go in Mississippi to win championships; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend such a superb group of student athletes and their coaches, all of whom have brought honor to their school, their community 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 University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Football Team and Head Coach Larry Fedora for their outstanding 2011 season, their victories in the Conference USA Championship and Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and extend best wishes for continued success in all of their future academic and athletic endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the University of Southern Mississippi, Head Coach Larry Fedora and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
