Filed for intro on 03/17/99

HOUSE RESOLUTION 30 By Ferguson

A RESOLUTION to honor University of Tennessee football player, Jermaine Copeland, on helping lead the Vols to the southeastern Conference and National Championships.

WHEREAS, the Tennessee General Assembly is always proud to specially honor and commend the University of Tennessee football players because our blood is orange; and thus, it is a great honor to recognize players who helped UT win the Southeastern Conference and

National Championships; and

WHEREAS, Jermaine Copeland, who helped the Big Orange reach the Rocky Top summit, is clearly one such exemplary player; and

WHEREAS, Jermaine was born February 19, 1977, in Harriman, Tennessee. Jermaine is the son of Donald and Glenda Copeland, brother of Jerome Kilgo of Knoxville, the grandson of Charles and Lillie Mae Douglas of Harriman and Harvey Rowans of Detroit, Michigan; and

WHEREAS, in such a short time, Jermaine has accomplished so many things; at a very young age, Jermaine set out to achieve life's goal of excelling in everything in which he participate. This goal involved not only sports but relationships and other activities. Jermaine is the type of person that you would automatically like once you encountered his winning personality; and

HOUSE RESOLUTION 30

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-1- WHEREAS, at the age of five, Jermaine began to show his leadership while playing with the Harriman City League Grasscutters. Football was not Jermaine's only sport; he also participated in swimming where he was a top competitor; basketball where points were easy for him to put on the board; and baseball where stealing bases came naturally; and

WHEREAS, in the Roane County community, sports was a major outlet for the youth; so

Jermaine competed in various competitions to continue to show the talent with which he had been blessed. Jermaine received various awards, plaques, and trophies in the city league teams and elementary and middle school teams; and

WHEREAS, as years went by, Jermaine continued to excel in sports; however, he knew no matter how well he played sports, he knew that he had to excel in his academics.

Jermaine's parents stressed the importance of academics and attitude. Both parents, Glenda and Donald, ensured that although sports took up a lot of Jermaine's time, good grades would be his top priority; and

WHEREAS, outside of sports, Jermaine also inherited his mother's singing talent and sang along with his brother, Jerome, at various church functions. In 1984, Jermaine performed as a lead vocalist with the Roane County Community Chorus for a benefit program for his aunt,

Willie Mae Springs; and

WHEREAS, when Jermaine entered high school, he dropped baseball and picked up track as another outlet to exemplify his god-given talent. As a freshman, he started on the varsity teams in football and basketball, something that was rare at any high school level.

Jermaine demonstrated his leadership as he lead the football team to state competition during his senior year, receiving the MVP award in Roane County. Jermaine was All-Regional, All-

Roane County, and MVP during high school. Jermaine holds the scoring record at Harriman

High School in basketball which had been held for sixteen years; and

WHEREAS, when approached by the University of Tennessee for a football scholarship,

Jermaine sought guidance from God and his parents and brother. Jermaine has always known,

- 2 - 00404226 no matter what the situation, that advice coming from people who love him can only help him.

Because the University of Tennessee rarely sought local high school students, it was not a surprise that Coach Fulmer and Coach Cutcliff recognized the great potential talent that was held by this young man; because Jermaine is such a versatile athlete, UT's basketball Coach

Kevin O'Neil approached Jermaine about sharing his talent with the basketball team. However,

Jermaine decided to devote his time to the football field; and

WHEREAS, as a UT freshman, Jermaine had an opportunity to play backup quarterback to Peyton Manning on several series. Jermaine played backup quarterback for two years, however, the coaches realized that such a talented individual should not be standing on the sidelines. So, during his junior year, he was moved to the wide receiver position where he had an outstanding year. Jermaine caught 50 plus passes and number 6 became the man to go to on 3rd downs. As Peyton Manning went to Jermaine on countless occasions it was apparent that he recognized talent and success in Jermaine Copeland; and

WHEREAS, during Jermaine's senior season, he was a key to their success; and

WHEREAS, if you asked Jermaine what phrase would best describe him, he would say,

"hard work makes dreams come true". This phrase tells you that Jermaine does not have any goals he will not set out to achieve; there are no hurdles he will not attempt to jump; there are no friends that he cannot make; there are no situations that he knows that Christ and he can not handle; all he has to do is work hard and his dreams will come true. Jermaine also had some great advice from his mother and that was "a winner never quits and a quitter never wins" and that is why Jermaine is recognized as a winner; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE

HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, That we honor, congratulate and commend Jermaine Copeland and wish him well in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy.

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