Filed for intro on 02/03/99 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 22 By Ridgeway A RESOLUTION to honor Coach Phillip Fulmer and the 1998-99 University of Tennessee football team on winning the NCAA National Championship. WHEREAS, American football evolved in the 19th century as a combination of rugby and soccer, with the first intercollegiate football match in the United States credited to the game between Princeton University and Rutgers College in 1869. Since then, American football has developed and come a long way; and WHEREAS, Tennessee has also had a hard battle to wage in the 47 years since the last National Championship Trophy was brought to "The Hill" in 1951; and WHEREAS, the University of Tennessee Volunteers were able to bring home the Fiesta Bowl Trophy and the Sears National Championship Trophy after their 23-16 victory over Florida State on January 4, 1999; and WHEREAS, more than 30,000 Big Orange fans traveled far and wide to cheer on Coach Phillip Fulmer and the Vols in the NCAA National Championship game, which capped off an historic 13-win season; Coach Fulmer praised the Vol fans "for coming so far and yelling so loud and making such a huge difference"; and WHEREAS, as Walter Camp is considered to be the "Father of American Football", Coach Phillip Fulmer is quickly establishing himself as the "Father of Tennessee Football" with HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 22 000980 -1- such statistics as 54 victories and 11 losses thus giving Fulmer an enviable winning percentage of .831; and WHEREAS, Coach Fulmer has become the winningest active head coach in college football as he continues to stress the importance of teamwork, "It was not one or two guys, it was a whole football team believing they could get it done, working hard and finally getting it done"; and WHEREAS, this team's spirit of determination was evident throughout the season, as the Volunteers impressively held their own, beating Syracuse 34-33, Florida 20-17, Houston 42-7 Auburn 17-9, Georgia 22-3, Alabama 35-18, South Carolina 49-14, UAB 37-13, Arkansas 28-24, Kentucky 59-21, Vanderbilt 41-0, Mississippi State 24-14, Florida State 23-16; and WHEREAS, Tee Martin completed 11 of 18 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns as "Tennessee's Rifleman" en route to the national title, standing in the pocket several times against a fierce FSU rush and completing a number of clutch passes; and WHEREAS, wide receiver Peerless Price lived up to his name in the championship game as he caught four passes for 199 yards, earning the game's Most Valuable Player Award in the process; and WHEREAS, the Vol seniors have provided the leadership needed to help Coach Fulmer and his coaching staff guide this team to the "Rocky Top of the World"; they include Jeff Hall, Jeremaine Copeland, Benson Scott, Tim Sewell, Corey Terry, Shawn Bryson, Al Wilson, Steve Johnson, Peerless Price, Bill Hurst, Diron Robinson, Ron Green, Matt Goodin, Jarvis Reado, Mercedes Hamilton, Jeff Coleman, and Antron Peebles; and WHEREAS, Tennesseans take great pride in their Volunteer football and it is most appropriate that this team be duly honored for their gridiron exploits; now, therefore, 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 congratulate Coach Phillip Fulmer and the 1998-99 - 2 - 00098020 University of Tennessee Volunteers football team on winning the coveted college football National Championship and extend to everyone associated with the team our best wishes for every future success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation to the team and Coach Fulmer with this final clause omitted from such copy. - 3 - 00098020.