Bill Text: MS SC516 | 2016 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Commend Mississippi State University "Bulldogs" Football Team for Belk Bowl Victory.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2016-02-26 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC516 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-SC516-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (15th)
Senate Concurrent Resolution 516
(As Adopted by Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY "BULLDOGS" FOOTBALL TEAM, COACH DAN MULLEN AND STAR QUARTERBACK DAK PRESCOTT FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL 2015 REGULAR SEASON AND BELK BOWL VICTORY.
WHEREAS, to close out the 2015 season, Mississippi State University (9-4) defeated North Carolina State (7-6) 51-28 to win the Belk Bowl on December 30, 2015, in Charlotte, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Quarterback Dak Prescott concluded his stellar Mississippi State University career on a high note, completing 27-of-42 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns. The latter two numbers were Belk Bowl records and he was named Most Valuable Player of the game as well. He broke his own records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a single season in Mississippi State University history; and
WHEREAS, the Bulldogs started the game quickly on a 21-0 run, earning a lead they never lost for the rest of the game. "It was huge," Head Coach Dan Mullen said on the initial scoring. "Especially in a bowl game, you want to start fast"; and
WHEREAS, with Prescott delivering the passes, junior receiver Fred Ross also extended his own single-season school record with 88 catches this season, a mark that puts him in the Top 10 of SEC single-season highs. Overall, Prescott completed 25-of-42 passes for 380 yards and 4 touchdowns, setting the Belk Bowl record for both passing yards and total offense, while Ross caught 7 passes for 74 yards and one touchdown, becoming only the second player in Mississippi State University history to top 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Defensively, Mississippi State University put pressure on the North Carolina State offense for the majority of the game, starting with an interception by freshman linebacker Gerri Green on the first play of the game as North Carolina State University quarterback was under duress. Junior linebacker Beniquez Brown led Mississippi State University with nine tackles, including two sacks of the North Carolina State University quarterback. Overall, MSU's front seven had eight quarterback hurries and six sacks; and
WHEREAS, with the win, Mississippi State finished with its third nine-win season under Head Coach Dan Mullen, earning back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in school history. State is now 11-8 overall in bowl contest, 4-2 under Mullen's guidance. "In 114 years of Mississippi State football, only six teams have won nine games," Mullen remarked. "This team is one of them"; and
WHEREAS, 2016 Mississippi State University "Bulldog" Football Team Roster: De'Runnya Wilson, WR; Will Redmond, DB; Elijah Staley, QB; Traver Jung, LB; Gerri Green, LB; Fred Brown, WR; Cedric Jiles, DB; Donald Gray, WR; Tolando Cleveland, DB; Nick Fitzgerald, QB; Fred Ross, WR; Jamoral Graham, DB; Nathan Gieb, ATH; Brandon Holloway, RB; Kivon Coman, DB; Damian Williams, QB; Jamal Peters, DB; Zach Jackson, LB; Nick Tiano, QB; Dak Prescott, QB; Elias Cane, ATH; Joe Morrow, WR; Deontay Evans, DB; Deddrick Thomas, WR; Gus Walley, TE; Brandon Bryant, DB; Nick Gibson, RB; Malik Dear, WR; Taveze Calhoun, DB; Keith Mixon, WR; Chris Rayford, DB; Westin Graves, K; Kendrick Market, DB; Alec Murphy, RB; Lee Jackson, ATH; Aeris Williams, RB; DeAndre Ward, LB; Josiah Phillips, ATH; Zak Neary, ATH; Chris Stamps, DB; Hayes Walker, ATH; Maurice Smitherman, DB; Ashton Shumpert, RB; Dontavian Lee, RB; Cory Thomas, DL; Alan Worsham, ATH; Gabe Myles, WR; Bennie Braswell III, RB; Bryce Brown, ATH; Danortis McWilliams, ATH; Winston Chapman, SN; Richie Brown, LB; Devon Bell, P/K; Mark McLaurin, DB; Beniquez Brown, LB; Fletcher Adams, DL; Logan Cooke, K/P; Brandon Davis, DB; Chase Jones, ATH; Leo Lewis, LB; J.T. Gray, LB; Dezmond Harris, LB; A.J. Jefferson, DL; Ryan Brown, DL; Torrey Dale, DL; Tim Washington, LB; Kelan Chairs, LB; Hunter Bradley, SN; Lawrence Brown, ATH; Martinas Rankin, OL; Allen Perkins, ATH; Nick Proby, ATH; Will Coleman, DL; Justin Senior, OL; Nathan Swanson, SN; Jamaal Clayborn, OL; Deion Calhoun, OL; Devon Desper, OL; Jocquell Johnson, OL; Joel Baldwin, SN; Michael Story, OL; Devin Hadley, ATH; Darryl Williams, OL; Justin Malone, OL; Cole Carter, OL; Ronald Cochran, OL; Rodney Lacy, ATH; Elgton Jenkins, OL; Harrison Moon, OL; Jake Thomas, OL; Rufus Warren, OL; Damien Robinson, OL; Evans Wilkerson, ATH; TJ Flinta, ATH; Aaron Hamaker, ATH; Justin Johnson, WR; Farrod Green, TE; Jefferson Teel, ATH; Kareem Vance Jr., WR; Darrion Hutcherson, TE; Jonnas Spivey, WR; Jesse Jackson, WR; Nick James, DL; Javous Nicks, WR; Grant Harris, DL; Anfernee Mullins, DL; Brian Houston, ATH; Kendell Jones, DL; Nelson Adams, DL; Braxton Hoyett, DL; Johnathan Calvin, DL; Chris Jones, DL; and Keith Joseph Jr., DL; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi State University 2015 Coaches: Head Coach Dan Mullen; Assistant Coaches: Manny Diaz, Billy Gonzales, John Hevesy, Tony Hughes, Brian Johnson, Greg Knox, Scott Sallach, Deshea Townsend and David Turner; Director of Player Personnel Rockey Felker; Jon Clark, Assistant to the Head Coach; Lee Davis, Coordinator of Football Recruiting; Sleepy Robinson, Recruiting Specialist; Brian Squeglia, Recruiting Specialist; Niel Stopczynski, Assistant Recruiting Coordinator; Ephraim Banda, Defensive Quality Control; Albert Poree, Special Teams Quality Control; and James Vollono, Offensive Quality Control; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these outstanding athletes who have brought honor to their university, 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 the Mississippi State University "Bulldogs" Football Team, Coach Dan Mullen and Star Quarterback Dak Prescott for their successful 2015 regular season and Belk Bowl Victory, and extend our best wishes to the team and coaches for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Head Coach Dan Mullen and Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum for the team, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
