2004 -- S 2036 ======= LC00483 ======= STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2004 ____________ S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N CONGRATULATING THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS ON WINNING THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE EASTERN DIVISION Introduced By: Senator John A. Celona Date Introduced: January 08, 2004 Referred To: Senate read and passed 1 WHEREAS, Before the 2003 NFL Season began, most of the "experts and 2 prognosticators" were predicting that the New England Patriots would finish second or third in 3 their division and attain a record of somewhere close to 8-8; and 4 WHEREAS, Instead, the New England Patriots shocked at the football world and 5 compiled a 14-2 record, the best in the NFL. Not only did the Patriots win the AFC East division 6 but their best in the NFL record of 14-2 gives them home field advantage throughout the AFC 7 playoffs; and 8 WHEREAS, Once again the Patriots were led by the superb coaching and leadership of 9 Bill Belichek, the steady and clutch performance of quarterback Tom Brady, a superb defense led 10 by defensive end Willie McGinest, cornerback Ty Law and Ted Bruschi, and the timely kicking 11 of Adam Vinitieri; and 12 WHEREAS, In a season of so many thrilling moments and games perhaps no game 13 stands out like the game New England played at Indianapolis on November 30, 2003. With a 14 chance to take a commanding lead in the divisional race and the race for best record in the 15 conference and league, New England had a 38-34 lead late in the game but Indianapolis had the 16 ball inside the Patriot's 5 yard line with less than a minute to go. On 4th down defensive end 17 Willie McGinest made a spectacular play charging from the corner and stuffed the Colts running 18 back short of the end zone thereby winning the game for New England; now, therefore be it 19 RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 1 hereby congratulates the New England Patriots on winning the American Football Conference 2 Eastern Division and wishes them continued success in the NFL playoffs; and be it further 3 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to 4 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to New England Patriots Head Coach Bill 5 Belichek. ======= LC00483 ======= 2 .