Bill Text: MS SC566 | 2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulate USM punter Ray Guy upon his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2014-02-25 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC566 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-SC566-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Smith, Jordan, Polk, Gollott, Fillingane, Dawkins, Hill, Norwood, Horhn, Harkins, Lee, Hudson, Browning, Butler (38th), Clarke, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jolly, Kirby, Longwitz, Montgomery, Parker, Ward
Senate Concurrent Resolution 566
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO CELEBRATED UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI "GOLDEN EAGLES" PUNTER RAY GUY UPON HIS ELECTION TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2014.
WHEREAS, a six-time NFL All-Pro, Ray Guy is widely considered to be one of the greatest punters of all time and has been a seven-time finalist as a modern era candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On August 21, 2013, he was selected by the Seniors Committee as a finalist for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014, and finally was elected to the Hall of Fame on February 1, 2014, with enshrinement in August 2014. Ray became only the second kicker (after, Jan Stenerud) and the first pure punter so honored; and
WHEREAS, Ray Guy became the first punter ever selected in the first round of a National Football League draft when the Oakland Raiders tapped him as the 23rd player chosen in 1973. The 6'-3", 195-pounder from Southern Mississippi spent his entire 14-year season, 207-game career with the Raiders. His career punting average was an excellent 42.4 yards and he averaged more than 40 yards 13 of his 14 seasons. The only time he fell below the 40-yard average mark came during the strike-shortened (9 games) 1982 season, when he averaged 39.1 yards. Only three of his 1,049 punts were blocked and he ranked second all-time at the time of his retirement by punting 619 straight times without a block in a period from the 1979 season until the end of his career in 1986; and
WHEREAS, Ray Guy led the NFL in punting in 1974, 1975 and 1977 and finished second three times and third once. A veteran of 22 postseason games, he added 111 punts for a 42.4 average to his career totals. He played in seven Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro six times and All-AFC seven times. His top seasonal average, 45.3 yards on 69 punts, was recorded in his rookie season. His longest punt in the NFL was a 74-yarder against Denver in 1977. In the 1980 AFC Championship Game, he boomed a 71-yarder against San Diego. Besides being a long-distance punter, Guy specialized in putting opponents in poor field position with his pinpoint punts. In the 11 seasons after such records were kept, he was credited with 209 "inside the 20" punts, with more than a third of them in his final three seasons; and
WHEREAS, Guy, who was born December 22, 1949, in Swainsboro, Georgia, was a collegiate All-American at the University of Southern Mississippi, who averaged 44.7 yards on 200 punts. He doubled as a field goal kicker and once had a 61-yard field goal against Utah State. Guy also played safety and had 18 interceptions in three years. An outstanding baseball pitcher, he was drafted by major league baseball while in high school. His athletic versatility served the Raiders well. Guy not only handled the kickoff duties but served as the Raiders' emergency quarterback as well; and
WHEREAS, Ray Guy was one of the most celebrated Golden Eagles to step on the gridiron at The University of Southern Mississippi; he recently served as Grand Marshal for its 2012 homecoming parade. In 1970, his sophomore year at Southern Miss, he played a key role in the Golden Eagles' 30-14 upset of nationally ranked Ole Miss in Oxford. He set several school records during his collegiate career, including the longest punt, a 93-yarder against Ole Miss, as well as a 61-yard field goal in a snowstorm against Utah State University. After his senior season at Southern Miss, Guy was named Most Valuable Player of the 1973 Chicago College All-Star Game, in which an All-Star team of college seniors played the current Super Bowl Champion. He was also a starting safety at Southern Miss; during his senior season, he intercepted a USM-record 8 passes, and was named an All-American defensive back.
WHEREAS, Ray Guy also played quarterback in his early years, and was the Raiders' emergency quarterback, replacing kicker-quarterback George Blanda in this position. Guy has been inducted into both the Mississippi and Georgia Sports Halls of Fame, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame, and on April 21, 2008, Guy was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, in 1994, Ray was named the punter on the National Football League's 75th Anniversary Team. His trademark was kicking punts that stayed in the air for so long that by the time the punt returner was able to field it, the Raiders' coverage unit had the field covered so well that a return was not possible. Guy's punts often left opposing offenses pinned in their own end of the field. The statistic for hang time was instituted in the NFL during his career, reportedly because of him; and
WHEREAS, at the 1976 Pro Bowl, Guy became the first punter to hit the Louisiana Superdome video screen. Officials raised the screen from 90 feet to 200 feet; and
WHEREAS, Ray Guy and his wife, Beverly, have two children, Ryan and Amber, and it is with great pride that we recognize this legendary Mississippi athlete who has brought honor to his alma mater 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 pay tribute to celebrated University of Southern Mississippi "Golden Eagles" Punter Ray Guy upon his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 and extend our congratulations and best wishes to Ray and his family on this overdue honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Ray Guy, and transmitted to the President of University of Southern Mississippi Rodney D. Bennett and the Pro Football Hall of Fame and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
