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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 68
BY SENATORS LONG, ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, CORTEZ, CROWE,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, MARTINY, MILLS,
MORRELL, MORRISH, MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK, PERRY,
PETERSON, RISER, G. SMITH, J. SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON,
WALSWORTH, WARD, AND WHI TE
A RESOLUTION
To commend Patrick Sean Payton upon his return as the New Orleans Saints head coach.
WHEREAS, Patrick Sean Payton was born in San Mateo, California, raised in
Naperville, Illinois, by parents Thomas and Jeanne Payton, and has two children, daughter
Meghan and son Connor; and
WHEREAS, Sean Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School, and,
after winning a scholarship, he successfully played quarterback at Eastern Illinois
University, leading the Panthers to an 11-2 record and the quarter finals of the Division I-AA
Playoffs in 1986, and was elected to the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in September 2000;
and
WHEREAS, although not drafted in 1987 into the National Football League (NFL),
he tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs for one day, and played quarterback for the Chicago
Bruisers and Pittsburgh Gladiators during the inaugural season of the Arena Football
League; and
WHEREAS, he was also a member of the Chicago Bears as one of the strikebreaking
replacement players, known as the "Spare Bears", during the 1987 NFL players strike where,
coincidently, his one interception came against the New Orleans Saints; and
WHEREAS, he began his coaching career as the offensive assistant coach for San
Diego State University and had several assistant coaching positions in the NFL, including
the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, assistant coach for the New York Giants,
and assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys before being named as the tenth coach in Saints SR NO. 68 ENROLLED
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history; and
WHEREAS, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints finished the 2005 season
with a disappointing 3-13 record, but in 2006, Coach Payton joined the franchise as head
coach and aggressively worked and motivated the team to a winning 10-6 record and their
first playoff appearance in six years; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his team's dramatic improvement and inspirational
play, Coach Payton was selected as the 2006 Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, he aggressively coached the Saints to their most successful
season, with a 13-3 regular season record and a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in
Super Bowl XLIV - the first professional football championship for the city of New Orleans,
the state of Louisiana, and the Saints franchise; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, Coach Payton led the Saints to an 11-5 record and their second
consecutive post-season appearance, becoming only the second coach in franchise history
to post three double-digit winning seasons; and
WHEREAS, Coach Payton followed up in 2011, leading the Saints to another 13-3
record, their third consecutive post-season appearance, and the fourth post-season
appearance in his six years with the franchise; and
WHEREAS, during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons, coached by Sean Payton, the
Saints won 41 regular-season and playoff games combined, more than any other team in the
NFL; and
WHEREAS, in January 2013, Coach Payton, who guided the most successful period
in Saints franchise history, signed a five-year contract extension as head coach at a time
when most experts would agree that he would have become the most coveted available coach
in the NFL if allowed to become a free agent; and
WHEREAS, it brings great joy and hope to the numerous fans and supporters of
Saints football to know that when the season starts in the fall of 2013, Coach Payton will
once again be on the sidelines leading and inspiring the players and coaches; and
WHEREAS, Coach Sean Payton has proven to be a leader and a catalys t who
motivates athletes to work together, exceed personal expectations, attempt seemingly
unattainable goals, and perform as a team made of many cohesive parts. SR NO. 68 ENROLLED
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby congratulate Coach Payton upon his return as head coach of the New Orleans
Saints.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Coach Sean Payton.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE