Bill Text: MS SC525 | 2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend EMCC "Lions" Football Team for NJCAA National Championship.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-01-30 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC525 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-SC525-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (32nd), Brown, Montgomery, Browning, Burton, Butler (38th), Carmichael, Frazier, Gandy, Lee, Moran, Turner
Senate Concurrent Resolution 525
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING THE EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE "LIONS" FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACH OF THE YEAR BUDDY STEPHENS FOR WINNING THE NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND NUMBER ONE RANKING IN THE FINAL NJCAA POLL.
WHEREAS, the East Mississippi Community College "Lions" (12-0), led by six touchdown passes from Bo Wallace, upset the Arizona Western College "Matadors" 55-47 to win the 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Football Championship on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the El Toro Bowl in Yuma, Arizona. The National Title is the first in any sport for East Mississippi Community College. Having won two of the last three State Titles, East Mississippi can now claim the first National Championship in the football program's history; and
WHEREAS, following the El Toro Bowl victory over Arizona Western College, the East Mississippi Football Team claimed No. 1 in the final NJCAA Top 20; and
WHEREAS, the Lions, who entered the contest ranked second overall in the NJCAA final football poll of the regular season behind the Matadors, came out roaring and quieted the sellout crowd at Veteran's Memorial Stadium by jumping out to a 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The scoring was led by four touchdown passes from Wallace, including two to Lacoltan Bester. In addition to their fantastic offense, the Lions were a nightmare for the Arizona Western College offense through much of the first half. East Mississippi Community College held the Nation's top rushing offense to just 15 rushing yards in the first quarter and just 132 total offensive yards in the half. The Matador comeback was put to rest when the Lions recovered an onside kick and ran over two minutes of the game clock before punting back to Arizona Western with 1:08 left to play. The East Mississippi Community College defense rose up at the most critical time and turned the Matadors away on four plays to seal the win and the program's first National Championship; and
WHEREAS, freshman quarterback Bo Wallace was named NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year, the first such honor in Lions history. A first-team All-American, Bo Wallace established NJCAA single-season records for passing yards (4,604), total offense yards (4,810) and touchdown passes (53); and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Buddy Stephens of East Mississippi Community College, who led the Lions to their first NJCCA National Championship, was named the American Community College Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year. The Award was presented to Stephens on January 10, 2012, at the 2012 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. "The team really deserves this for such an outstanding season," Coach Buddy Stephens said. "It is a reward for their hard work and sacrifice to finish No. 1 in the Nation for the first time ever. It is a credit to the type of players we have in our program. Not only are they great football players but they are also great people, as well"; and
WHEREAS, the 2011 East Mississippi Community College Lions Football Roster is as follows: Termarcus Conner, QB; Justin Cox, DB; Shaquille Fluker, DB; JJ Harbin, WR; Rodney Davis, WR; Jeremy Reed, WR; Hamp Glover, WR; D.J. Jordan, LB; Jason Yarbor, DB; Antoinne Adkins, WR; Lacoltan Bester, WR; Bo Wallace, QB; Raphael Harris, WR; Jaquez Johnson, QB; Michael Pack, LB; Joshua Ferguson, WR; Joe Weatherly, P; Geovontae Carter, DB; Frank Richardson, DB; Billy Shed, RB; Jeremy Cannon, DB; Randy Brown, DB; Amos Tatum, DB; Rodriguez Moore, RB; Deismen Robinson, DB; Xavier Hogan, RB; Hunter Lohman, WR; Enoch Glenn, DL; Devan Freeman, LB; Corey Williams, LB; Taylor Walker, PK; Blake McBride, DL; JaMichael Myles, LB; Quinn McClendon, LB; Joshua Dennis, LB; KeShun Smith, OL; Dominique Hersey, OL; Jarrod Atterberry, OL; Tyler Stanley, OL; Gussie Lane III, OL; Derrick Wilson, OL; Ryan Hollivay, OL; E.J. Perry, OL; Warren Jones, OL; Earnest Lang, OL; Cody DeForrest, DS; Alventray Tarleton, WR; Denico Autry, DL; Antonio Wells, DL; Ricky Holt, DL; Za'Darius Smith, DL; Brandon Moore, DL; Stokes Wells, DL; Damien Jacobs, DL; and Lauren Jackson, DL; Head Coach Buddy Stephens; Associate Head Coach William Jones; Assistant Coaches: Marcus Wood, Clifton Collins, A.J. Milwee, Freddie Roach and Heath Thomas; Graduate Assistant Coach Ken Evans; Head Athletic Trainer Caitlin Redlich; Assistant Athletic Trainer Evan Dauterive; Student Athletic Trainers: Brittney Brantley, Adam Denson, Jessica Dowdy, Zack Graves, Karley Hall, Dorion McDole, Johniece Moore, Doty Seabrooks and Tyler Warnat; Student Managers: Stoney Armstrong, Demitrius Bass, Nick Campbell, Zach Carpenter, Trent Cole, Mo Dale, Bill Dawkins, Mack Jamison and Jon Smith; Head Cheerleading Coach Brittany Wagner-White; and Mighty Lion Band Director Steve Stringer; and
WHEREAS, this first National Championship was a fitting way to inaugurate East Mississippi Community College's new "Sullivan-Windham Field" named for legendary Coach Bull Sullivan whose strict disciplinary coaching methods and success were the topic of a famous Sports Illustrated article "The Toughest Coach There Ever Was"; and it is with great pride that we note this first-ever Championship by a team which has brought honor to its college, its 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 recognize and salute the East Mississippi Community College "Lions" Football Team and Head Coach Buddy Stephens for winning the NJCAA National Championship, its first-ever Championship, and its Number 1 Ranking in the Final NJCAA Poll, and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors on this honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Stephens and East Mississippi Community College President Dr. Rick Young, the Board of Trustees of East Mississippi Community College and the State Board for Community Colleges, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
