STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 53rd Legislature (2012)

SENATE
RESOLUTION 54	By:	Halligan

AS INTRODUCED

A Resolution honoring the Oklahoma State University Cowboys football team for winning the Big 12 title and the 41st annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, the Oklahoma State University Cowboys football team, under Coach Mike Gundy, won the 2011 Big 12 football championship and the 41st annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in a thrilling 41-38 overtime victory over Stanford; and
WHEREAS, the Cowboys won twelve games in the season, including a dominating 44-10 victory over their bedlam rivals; and
WHEREAS, the Cowboys were ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll for the entire season, and finished the season ranked third, their highest finish ever; and
WHEREAS, the Cowboy offense set new school records for points scored and total offense while averaging 48.7 points a game, and  the Cowboy defense led the nation in turnovers forced; and
WHEREAS, dating back to the start of the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 41 games, the seventh highest total in the nation during that time; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, the Cowboys set a school record with five All-Americans – Justin Blackmon, Quinn Sharp, Levy Adcock, Grant Garner and Markelle Martin; and
WHEREAS, in the 2011 season, the Cowboys defeated four teams that won 10 games and defeated seven teams in the final BCS rankings' top 30; and
WHEREAS, junior wide receiver Justin Blackmon in 2011 became only the second player in the history of college football to win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best collegiate wide receiver for the second consecutive year, and quarterback Brandon Weeden re-wrote the school's passing record book; and
WHEREAS, the Cowboys championship season earned Coach Mike Gundy the Eddie Robinson Award as the national coach of the year and the Paul "Bear" Bryant College Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Coach Gundy is on the cusp of becoming the most successful coach in OSU football history; and
WHEREAS, since 2009, Oklahoma State's 20-5 record against the Big 12 is the best mark in the league.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 53RD OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
THAT the Oklahoma State Senate congratulates the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team and Coach Mike Gundy upon their outstanding 2011 season and recognizes their Big 12 Conference Championship and their win in the 41st Annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
THAT the Oklahoma State Senate recognizes the talents of the student-athletes who make up this winning team; and commends Coach Gundy on his outstanding career and many accomplishments as well as his dedication to the OSU football program.
THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Coach Mike Gundy, members of the Oklahoma State University Cowboys football team, OSU President Burns Hargis, Athletic Director Mike Holder and the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.

53-2-3402	 MG	4/23/2012 10:56:00 AM