MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2014 By: Representatives Mayo, Brown (20th), To: Rules Aldridge, Bain, Beckett, Brown (66th), Hamilton, Horan, Howell, Kinkade, Lamar, Massengill, Mettetal, Moak, Reynolds, Rogers (14th), Smith (39th), White HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 47 1 A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE 2013 OLE MISS 2 REBELS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON THAT CONCLUDED WITH 3 A CONVINCING VICTORY IN THE FRANKLIN AMERICAN MUSIC CITY BOWL. 4 WHEREAS, the football program at the University of 5 Mississippi, referred to with affection as "Ole Miss," continued 6 the Rebels' return to prominence and became the 23rd Ole Miss team 7 to win a bowl game after Head Coach Hugh Freeze successfully 8 inspired the 2013 Rebel team in year two as head football coach of 9 the Rebels; and 10 WHEREAS, Coach Freeze's first Rebel unit finished ninth in 11 the conference, winning three conference games and losing three 12 others in nail biters in a 7-6 season, and his second unit 13 improved on that record with an 8-5 campaign; and 14 WHEREAS, over 50,000 mostly University of Mississippi 15 football fans saw the Rebels win their sixth straight bowl game 16 tying Florida State University for the current longest streak in 17 the nation, and the Franklin American Music City Bowl in Nashville H. R. No. 47 *HR40/R1866* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 14/HR40/R1866 PAGE 1 (CAA\BD) 18 on December 30, 2013, was the second appearance for the Rebels in 19 the bowl and the 35th bowl appearance in school history; and 20 WHEREAS, on that crisp, winter day at LP Field the contest 21 between the University of Mississippi and Georgia Tech University 22 was a fitting finale to the Rebels' season that began with a 23 thrilling victory over Vanderbilt University in their stadium 24 nearby in the Music City, Bo Wallace's prolific running and 25 passing, Donte Moncrief's outstanding receiving contributions, and 26 I'Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton's strong runs and especially 27 gritty play from the Rebel defense enabled Ole Miss to solidly 28 beat Georgia Tech 25-17; and 29 WHEREAS, the season began successfully for the Rebels when 30 Coach Freeze led his team to its first 3-0 start in many years, 31 when Ole Miss came out victorious in its opener at Vanderbilt 32 University with a thrilling finish capped by Jeff Scott's 33 tremendous late 70 plus yard touchdown run, a home opener win 34 against Southeast Missouri State University and a convincing 35 defeat of the University of Texas in Austin highlighted by a Jeff 36 Scott 70 plus yard punt return for a touchdown; and 37 WHEREAS, the Rebels' 2013 season was highlighted by the 38 recapturing of the Magnolia Bowl Trophy after a blissful victory 39 over Louisiana State University on October 19, 2013, in 40 Vaught-Hemingway Stadium when placekicker Andrew Ritter nailed a 41 42 yard field goal with two seconds left on the clock, sending the H. R. No. 47 *HR40/R1866* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 14/HR40/R1866 PAGE 2 (CAA\BD) 42 Rebel fans into a frenzy upon the defeat of the Number 6 ranked 43 Tigers; and 44 WHEREAS, the Rebels also prevailed against Idaho, Arkansas 45 and Troy in 2013, and have high hopes for the upcoming 2014 season 46 with numerous starters and experienced players returning; and 47 WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 48 recognize excellence, and to commend those athletic teams that 49 bring honor to their university and to the State of Mississippi: 50 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 51 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 52 commend and congratulate the 2013 Ole Miss Rebels Football Team 53 and Head Coach Hugh Freeze for an outstanding season that 54 concluded with a convincing victory in the Franklin American Music 55 City Bowl, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of 56 their future endeavors. 57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 58 furnished to Coach Hugh Freeze, Athletic Director Ross Bjork, 59 Chancellor Dan Jones and to the members of the Capitol Press 60 Corps. H. R. No. 47 *HR40/R1866* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 14/HR40/R1866 ST: Ole Miss Rebels Football Team; commend and PAGE 3 (CAA\BD) congratulate upon successful 2013 season. .