SLS 17RS-606 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 33
BY SENATOR LUNEAU
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the coaches, players, and staff of Grambling State
University's football team on winning the 2016 SWAC title and HBCU National
Championship.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend and congratulate the coaches, players, and staff of the Grambling State
3 University Football Tigers on winning the 2016 West Division SWAC title, the
4 SWAC conference championship, and the HBCU national championship.
5 WHEREAS, the 2016 football season was one of exhilarating triumphs for the
6 Grambling State University Tigers as they completed the regular season with a 10-1 record
7 and a 9-0 league record as West Division champions of the SWAC; and
8 WHEREAS, on December 3rd in Houston, Texas, a big second-half lifted Grambling
9 State to a 27-20 victory over defending champion Alcorn State in the 2016 Toyota SWAC
10 Football Championship Game, marking the seventh championship game win for the Tigers,
11 and the first for Head Football Coach Broderick Fobbs; and
12 WHEREAS, Martez Carter, the offensive most valuable player of the game, set a
13 game record for most all-purpose yards with 348 yards, including scoring the eventual
14 game-winner, as the Tigers outscored the Braves 27-3 after falling behind 17-0 at half; and
15 WHEREAS, defensively, Grambling State was led by De'Arius Christmas, who
16 picked up 12 tackles and a sack in winning the defensive MVP award; and
17 WHEREAS, in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 17, at the Air Force Reserve
18 Celebration Bowl, the Tigers captured their fifteenth black college national championship
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1 and first since 2008; and
2 WHEREAS, the Celebration Bowl, which was supposed to feature two high-powered
3 offenses in North Carolina Central and Grambling State, instead, was defense and special
4 teams game; and
5 WHEREAS, GSU running back Martez Carter, whose 32-yard touchdown gave the
6 Tigers its first lead in the third quarter, finished with 109 rushing yards on 12 carries, 23
7 yards pass receiving, and 69 years on returns and was named the Offensive Most Valuable
8 Player; and
9 WHEREAS, in the crucial final minutes of the game, the NCC Eagles scored a
10 touchdown to move the score to 10-9, but the Tigers' Joesph McWilliams blocked the extra
11 point try, which was recovered by De'Arius Christmas, to capture the title; and
12 WHEREAS, linebacker Jameel Jackson was named the defensive most valuable
13 player after coming up with a huge interception with less than six minutes remaining in the
14 game and recording five unassisted tackles; and
15 WHEREAS, the SWAC All-Conference Team included Tigers Devante Kincade as
16 quarterback and Offensive Player of the Year; Donavan McCray on the defensive line and
17 as Defensive Player of the Year, Martez Carter at running back, Justin Miller on the
18 offensive line, Chad Williams at wide receiver, Samuel Reese on the defensive line, Arkez
19 Cooper at linebacker, Guy Stallworth and Jameel Jackson at defensive back, and Coach
20 Fobbs as Coach of the Year; and
21 WHEREAS, quarterback Kincade ranked third in the FCS and first in the SWAC in
22 passing efficiency (171.6) and first in the conference in completion percentage (65.2),
23 passing yards per game (263.3) and total offensive yards per game (290.4), boasted 28
24 touchdown passes to just three interceptions, and posted two games where he threw for at
25 least 400 yards and five scores or better; and
26 WHEREAS, defensive lineman McCray anchored the front four of a Tigers defensive
27 unit that led the SWAC in most every statistical category and ranked fourth in FCS in points
28 allowed (16.4), as well as ranked first nationally in red zone defense (.577), making 28 total
29 stops – 11.5 for loss – with five sacks, three fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and a safety
30 recorded; and
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1 WHEREAS, the second team all-conference included Trent Scott at offensive line,
2 Verlan Hunter at wide receiver, Blain Winston at Defensive line, Jonathan Wallace as
3 kicker, and Martez Carter as return specialist; and
4 WHEREAS, wide receiver Chad Williams was named to the American Football
5 Coaches Association 2016 Coaches FCS All-America team as he posted a SWAC triple
6 crown in receiving as he led all players in catches (90), yards (1337), and touchdowns (11),
7 and was the only player to crack 1,000 receiving yards and average 100 yards or better per
8 contest; and
9 WHEREAS, the Tigers completed the 2016 season with a 12-1 record, perfect in the
10 SWAC, winners of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC),
11 SWAC champion, and national champions.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
13 does hereby commend and congratulate the coaches, players, and staff of the Grambling
14 State University Tigers for its twelve win one loss season record and capturing the SWAC
15 West Division title, the SWAC championship, and HBCU National Championship.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Head
17 Coach Broderick Fobbs.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 33 Original 2017 Regular Session Luneau
Commends the coaches, players, and staff of the Grambling State University Tigers for its
twelve win one loss season record and capturing the SWAC West Division title, the SWAC
championship, and HBCU National Championship.
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