MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 1st Extraordinary Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Harkins

Senate Concurrent Resolution 505

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FIRST BASEMAN BRENT ROOKER FOR WINNING THE 2017 C SPIRE FERRISS TROPHY AND AS THE FIRST BULLDOG NAMED SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

     WHEREAS, on May 22, 2017, Mississippi State University (MSU) slugger First Baseman Brent Rooker was named the recipient of the 2017 C Spire Ferriss Trophy as the best college player in the Magnolia State, and later became the first Bulldog to ever be named SEC Player of the Year, in addition to being named First Team All-SEC.  Rooker thanked God, his family, his coaches and teammates in his acceptance speech for the Ferriss Trophy at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum; and

     WHEREAS, Rafael Palmeiro was the last player to capture the SEC Triple Crown.  The former big-leaguer with more than 3,020 career hits and 569 home runs pulled off the rare feat in 1984 while playing at Mississippi State.  Palmeiro hit .415 with 29 home runs and 94 RBIs that season.  Now, 33 years later, another Mississippi State slugger has a significant chance at joining Palmeiro in the exclusive club.  Rooker led the conference in homers (20), RBIs (73) and batting average (.415) entering SEC Tournament action Wednesday.  He also leads the SEC in slugging, on-base percentage, doubles, hits and total bases; and

     WHEREAS, Brent Rooker was selected by a pool of professional scouts and college coaches.  He has led one of the toughest conferences in the nation in most offensive categories all season, and three times been named that league's Player of the Week.  "He's doing things in the SEC that haven't been done in this league in a very long time or ever," MSU Coach Andy Cannizaro said.  "I can't wait to get to the field every day to see what he's going to do next, how he's going to impact the game and help his team."  "It is just a testament to the baseball we have in the State of Mississippi this year," Southern Miss Coach Scott Berry said.  "Brent has had an outstanding season.  He is very deserving of the honor"; and

     WHEREAS, in the 2017 Regular Season, Mississippi State's Brent Rooker led the Southeastern Conference in nine offensive categories and is on track to have the greatest season by any player in the conference since new bat standards went into effect in 2011.  The redshirt Junior First Baseman might look back at Super Bulldog Weekend as his signature performance.  He hit three homers, including a grand slam, and went 4 for 4 with six RBIs in a 10-6 win over Kentucky.  Rooker started the season batting cleanup but moved up because he was getting pitched around.  Few teams have the 1-2-3 punch of the Bulldogs now, with leadoff batter Jake Mangum (.374), Rooker and Ryan Gridley (.348).  Rooker, who has six multi-homer games in his career, became the first Mississippi State player to hit three in a game since 2010.  The feat was enhanced because it happened on Super Bulldog Weekend, the annual three-day extravaganza when all the spring sports teams play at home and the spring football game is held; and

     WHEREAS, "I have got a good supporting cast around me that is allowing me to put up some numbers," Rooker said.  "I have runners on base all the time I can drive in, and guys are hitting great behind me, and it makes people pitch to me.  As a team we are performing really well, which has allowed me to continue to see the ball really well"; and

     WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this Mississippi university athlete who has brought honor to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby congratulate Mississippi State University First Baseman Brent Rooker for winning the 2017 C Spire Ferriss Trophy and as the first Bulldog named SEC Player of the Year, and extend our best wishes to Brent and his "Bulldog" family on this high honor.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Brent Rooker, Coach Andy Cannizaro and Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.