| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | reached the pinnacle of success by winning the National Collegiate |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | Athletic Association Division II national championship in Kansas |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | City, Kansas, on December 16, 2017; and |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The Lions compiled a stellar overall record of 14 |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | wins and only 1 defeat during 2017, the winningest season in program |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | history; after capturing the Lone Star Conference crown for the |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | fourth year in a row, the A&M-Commerce players went on to compile |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | playoff victories over Winona State, Central Washington, Minnesota |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | State, and Harding Universities before facing off against the |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | University of West Florida in the title game; and |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Led by quarterback Luis Perez, who threw for 323 |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | yards and two touchdowns, A&M-Commerce bested West Florida by a |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | final score of 37-27, securing the university's first NCAA national |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | title; the victory also marked the 10th consecutive win for the |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | Lions, giving them the longest undefeated streak in all of Division |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | II football; and |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, A&M-Commerce excelled with a true team effort, |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | receiving valuable contributions from each member of the roster |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | over the course of the 2017 campaign; these dedicated athletes were |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | guided by head coach Colby Carthel and the members of his staff, |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | whose leadership and expertise helped inspire the squad to play to |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | its full potential; and |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Through hard work, exceptional skill, and an |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | enduring commitment to excellence, the 2017 Lions proved themselves |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | the finest Division II team in the nation, and their achievement |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | will long be remembered and celebrated by A&M-Commerce students, |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | alumni, and fans; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas A&M University-Commerce |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | football team on winning the 2017 NCAA Division II national |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | championship and extend to its players, coaches, and staff best |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | wishes for the future; and, be it further |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | House of Representatives. |
|---|