Filed for intro on 02/18/99
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 74 By Armstrong
A RESOLUTION to honor and congratulate University of Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin on leading the Tennessee Volunteers to the NCAA/Bowl Championship Series National Championship, his record setting performance against South Carolina and being chosen Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week..
WHEREAS, at the heart of every championship football team is a great quarterback, one who exhibits exceptional leadership, outstanding athletic prowess, tremendous agility, and the ability to overcome setbacks; and
WHEREAS, under the brilliant leadership of quarterback Tee Martin, the excellent
University of Tennessee football team won the consensus 1998-1999 season NCAA/Bowl
Championship Series National Championship, the Southeastern Conference elite and had an undefeated season; and
WHEREAS, in the memorable South Carolina 49-14 victory, Tee rewrote NCAA record books, with new marks for consecutive completions (23), for consecutive completion in two games (24), and for completion percentage (23 of 24 for a 95.8% rating), was named the SEC
Offensive Player of the Week; and
WHEREAS, Tamaurice Nigel Martin was born on July 25, 1978, in Mobile, Alabama, and is a distinguished graduate of Williamson High School; and
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 74
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-1- WHEREAS, used sparingly his freshman and sophomore seasons, Tee started this season having played in the shadow of Peyton Manning; and
WHEREAS, in this, his junior season, he has emerged from that shadow and inscribed his name indelibly in the glorious history of the Big Orange; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the South Carolina victory, during the regular season, Number
17 has led the tenacious Volunteers to victories against Syracuse 34-33, arch-rival Florida 20-
17, Houston 42-7, Auburn 17-9, Georgia 22-4, Alabama 35-16, the University of Alabama at
Birmingham 37-13, Arkansas 28-24, Kentucky 59-21, and Vanderbilt 41-0; and
WHEREAS, in the Southeastern Conference championship game, Tennessee beat
Mississippi State University by an impressive 24-14 margin; and
WHEREAS, in the Fiesta Bowl game, held January 4, 1999, in Tempe, Arizona; the number-one-ranked Volunteers beat number two Florida State University 23-16 to secure the long-awaited undisputed National Championship; and
WHEREAS, in the Fiesta Bowl Martin threw touchdown passes to Shawn Bryson and to
Peerless Price; and
WHEREAS, the Volunteers completed an unblemished 13-0 season and were chosen number one in the Associated Press Final Poll, the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Final Poll, and the ESPN Top 25 Final Fan Poll; and
WHEREAS, this season Tee passed for 2,164 yards, and completed 153 out of 264 pass attempts for a 57.3% completion ratio; and
WHEREAS, he had an excellent 3.2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, hitting on 19 scoring aereals, while throwing only six interceptions; and
WHEREAS, gravitating from Mobile to the top of the football world, Tee serves as an inspiration to young people throughout Tennessee and the nation; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that we pause in our deliberations to honor and commend Tee
Martin; now, therefore,
- 2 - 00206826 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, That we honor and commend Tee Martin and wish him well in his future endeavors. We look forward to next season when the Volunteers, under his guidance defend their national championship and their third straight Southeastern Conference championship.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we salute Tee on his great South Carolina game and selection as SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation to the school and to Tee Martin, with this final clause omitted from such copy.
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