MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2016

By: Representatives Lamar, Patterson, To: Rules Beckett, Sykes, Rogers (14th), Crawford

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 48

1 A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF 2 MISSISSIPPI REBELS FOOTBALL TEAM AND VETERAN HEAD COACH HUGH 3 FREEZE FOR WINNING THE 2015 ALL STATE SUGAR BOWL AND COMPLETING A 4 TEN-WIN SEASON. 5 WHEREAS, the University of Mississippi Rebels Football Team 6 handed a crushing defeat of 48-20 to the Oklahoma State 7 University-Stillwater Cowboys in the 2015 All State Sugar Bowl

8 played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, , 9 on January 1, 2016, culminating a very impressive season for the 10 Rebels; and 11 WHEREAS, with each season that passes under the auspicious 12 direction and proficient leadership of Senatobia and Tate County, 13 Mississippi, native Head Coach Hugh Freeze, the Rebels get one 14 step closer to achieving perfection, as Ole Miss' Sugar Bowl

15 victory marked the first time the team had won the prestigious 16 bowl game in 46 years, the first time the team had finished the 17 season with 10 victories since 2003 and the first time the team 18 had reigned victorious in a New Year's Six game; and

H. R. No. 48 *HR26/R1076* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 16/HR26/R1076 PAGE 1 (ENK\KW) 19 WHEREAS, the extreme success of the 2015 football season was 20 highlighted with several emotional awe-inspiring games that 21 produced mega-watt smiles and hoarse voices for all of the Ole 22 Miss faithfuls who never miss the opportunity to cheer on the 23 Rebels, who handed the National Championship winning University of 24 Alabama its only loss, a 43-37 victory in Tuscaloosa, clenched a

25 38-17 victory in the Magnolia Bowl against Louisiana State 26 University and silenced the cow bells of in-state rival, 27 Mississippi State University, with a 38-27 triumph in the Egg 28 Bowl; and 29 WHEREAS, the team played with nothing but heart and soul all 30 season, and the very talented and distinguished roster, which 31 ultimately catapulted them to the All State Sugar Bowl, was

32 superbly coached and inspired by Head Coach Hugh Freeze, who has 33 broadened the Rebels' knowledge of the game and refined their 34 skills in execution since beginning his "journey" as the head 35 coach in 2011; and 36 WHEREAS, , the quarterback for the

37 dream team, had a record-breaking bowl game, completing 21 of 33 38 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns and rushing ten times for

39 73 yards, while star receiver, Laquon Treadwell, caught six passes 40 for 71 yards and scored three touchdowns, one of which broke Shay 41 Hodge's single-season record for career receiving yards; and 42 WHEREAS, perhaps the most fan-pleasing touchdown of the Sugar 43 Bowl victory came as time was expiring in the first half, when

H. R. No. 48 *HR26/R1076* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 16/HR26/R1076 PAGE 2 (ENK\KW) 44 Laremy Tunsil, stand-out left tackle, who persevered through 45 issues early in the season to become stronger than ever, rushed 46 for a 2-yard touchdown, causing the crowded Superdome to erupt in 47 applause and merriment as the Rebels ran into the locker room with 48 a 34-6 lead; and 49 WHEREAS, throughout their season of plays, the Rebels faced

50 off with some of the nation's best contenders on the gridiron, and 51 despite the obstacles that riddled the 2015 season for the Ole 52 Miss Rebels, they persevered to make their presence and talent 53 known as gladiators of , competing for national 54 awards and recognition and inducing paralyzing fear in all of 55 their opponents; and 56 WHEREAS, as the temperatures warm and the countdowns for the

57 start of college football begin, the Rebels commence spring 58 training for the upcoming season with the memories of the superb 59 victories, the minute, game-changing mistakes and the 4th and 25 60 conversion undoubtedly remaining at forefront of the minds of 61 every player and coach, serving as an inspiration for them as they

62 hit the weight room harder, run drills faster and more accurately 63 and design new, innovative plays, thereby readying their minds,

64 bodies and hearts for the undeniable reality of contending for the 65 national championship, a feat that the Rebels and Head Coach Hugh 66 Freeze are absolutely capable of achieving; and 67 WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 68 recognize and honor the achievements of college student athletes

H. R. No. 48 *HR26/R1076* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 16/HR26/R1076 PAGE 3 (ENK\KW) 69 such as the University of Mississippi Rebels who have brought 70 honor to their school, their community and to the State of 71 Mississippi with their remarkable season of play: 72 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 73 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 74 commend and congratulate the University of Mississippi Rebels

75 Football Team and veteran Head Coach Hugh Freeze for winning the 76 2015 All State Sugar Bowl and finishing with a 10-win season, and 77 extend best wishes to the team and coaches for continued success 78 in all of their future academic and athletic endeavors. 79 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 80 furnished to Head Coach Hugh Freeze and to the members of the 81 Capitol Press Corps.

H. R. No. 48 *HR26/R1076* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 16/HR26/R1076 ST: Ole Miss Football Team; commend upon PAGE 4 (ENK\KW) winning the 2015 All State Sugar Bowl and completing the 2015 Season with 10 wins.