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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 7
BY SENATORS DORSEY-COLOMB, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL,
BROOME, BROWN, BUFFI NGTON, CHABERT, CL AITOR,
CORTEZ, CROWE, DONAHUE, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY,
MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH , MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHI TE
A RESOLUTION
To commend Les Miles, head coach of the Louisiana State University Fighting Tigers, on
his 2011 perfect football season, his NCAA Division One Southeastern Conference
Championship, his distinction as the Associated Press "Coach of the Year", and the
Bowl Championship Series bid.
WHEREAS, Coach Les Miles has proved to be a leader of the highest caliber, a
catalyst who motivates young athletes to work together, to exceed personal expectations, to
attempt seemingly unattainable goals, to demonstrate an exceptional competitive nature and
esprit de corps, and to perform as a team made of many cohesive parts; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, NCAA Division I Collegiate Football was the most formidable
within the Southeastern Conference, where, as the season neared its end, the top three ranked
Division I FBS teams in the nation were LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas, respectively; and
WHEREAS, in Week 11 of the regular season, Coach Miles led the Tigers in what
was touted in the sports media as "The Game of the Century", as the No. 1 LSU Tigers went
up against the No. 2 ranked team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, where Les Miles confronted
Nick Saban, who preceded him as head football coach at LSU and who has become his
major nemesis in the SEC; and
WHEREAS, the two teams were so evenly matched that at the end of regulation
game play, the score was 6-6; however, the Tigers prevailed in overtime play with a field
goal kick, topping the Tide at 9-6; and
WHEREAS, Coach Miles and the Fighting Tiger team completed the regular season
undefeated, 12-0, with a convincing win over the Arkansas Razorbacks and confirmed their SR NO. 7 ENROLLED
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No. 1 SEC ranking, earning the championship of the Western Division of the SEC, and the
right to compete against Georgia, the leader in the Eastern Division, on December 3, 2011,
in Atlanta's Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship; and
WHEREAS, having won the 2011 SEC Championship title against Georgia,
Coach Miles focused the remarkable talents and determination of his coaching staff and
players to an unprecedented perfect winning regular season; the last undefeated season for
the Tigers, 11-0, was in 1958 when the team included the "Chinese Bandits" and its first
national championship; and
WHEREAS, the BCS National Championship Bowl was set for January 9, 2012, in
New Orleans, to face Alabama once again; and
WHEREAS, it was a heart-breaking loss to the Crimson Tide, in particular the
disappointment felt by so many LSU fans "on their own turf" in the Superdome; and
WHEREAS, Coach Les Miles owns every play on the field, whether good or bad,
and in an adversarial pursuit such as coaching football, Coach Miles always relies on his
own personal merit axiom, that decisions made during the game are ultimately his
responsibility to do what is best for the team in that moment; and
WHEREAS, Coach Miles has never varied from this course, no matter what is said
by hindsight detractors; and
WHEREAS, Coach Miles has garnered numerous awards through his career and this
season has added the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award for the Football Bowl
Subdivision and the Associated Press Coach of the Year award; and
WHEREAS, although twenty-five teammates participated on Senior Day, speculation
has already begun to whip around sports media circles that next year's team composed of an
LSU roster deep with tremendous young talent along with a bevy of new recruits who have
signed to LSU that the "Mad Hatter" could possibly have a 2012 football team greater than
any in the nation; and
WHEREAS, as the days turn warm and spring practice nears, Les Miles can "taste"
the grass on the Charles McClendon LSU football practice field and can look forward to
many more two-a-day sessions under the sun, awaiting the elation of that deafening roar of
"Go Tigers"; and SR NO. 7 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Coach Miles has led the team in an outstanding season upholding the
glorious traditions of the Purple and Gold, and all the faithful alumni, students, and fans
recognize the distinguished honor that the LSU Fighting Tigers have brought to the state of
Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend and congratulate LSU Head Coach Les Miles for the superb
undefeated regular season of twelve victories and no losses and an SEC Championship, and
does hereby recognize his many career successes with the LSU Fighting Tigers football
team.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Coach Les Miles has proved that it is "Great to
be a Tiger" and best wishes are extended to him for continued success well into the future.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to LSU
Head Coach of the Fighting Tigers' Football Team, Les Miles.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE