| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution honoring and congratulating the Florida |
| 3 | International University Golden Panthers Football Team on |
| 4 | its many accomplishments during the 2010-2011 season. |
| 5 |
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| 6 | WHEREAS, since its founding in 1965, Florida International |
| 7 | University has been Miami-Dade County's public university, and |
| 8 | today enrolls over 44,000 students and has more than 100,000 |
| 9 | graduates living and working in South Florida, and |
| 10 | WHEREAS, it was not until 2000 that Florida International |
| 11 | University established a football program and not until 2002 |
| 12 | that the team competed in its first season, and |
| 13 | WHEREAS, in 2005, Florida International University joined |
| 14 | the Sun Belt Conference and its football team ascended to |
| 15 | college football's National Collegiate Athletic Association |
| 16 | Football Bowl Subdivision, and |
| 17 | WHEREAS, on November 27, 2010, the Florida International |
| 18 | University Golden Panthers Football Team clinched its first Sun |
| 19 | Belt Conference championship title, with a 31-24 victory over |
| 20 | the Arkansas State University Red Wolves at FIU Stadium, earning |
| 21 | the program its first bowl berth, and |
| 22 | WHEREAS, on December 26, 2010, at the 2010 Little Caesars |
| 23 | Pizza Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, the Golden |
| 24 | Panthers, led by the game's Most Valuable Player, Eugene "T.Y." |
| 25 | Hilton, defeated the University of Toledo Rockets by a score of |
| 26 | 34-32, providing the Golden Panthers football program with its |
| 27 | first bowl victory, and |
| 28 | WHEREAS, outstanding skill, sportsmanship, and |
| 29 | competitiveness have been characteristics consistently |
| 30 | demonstrated by Golden Panthers Marquis Rolle, Willis Wright, |
| 31 | Junior Mertile, Larvez Mars, Eugene "T.Y." Hilton, Wayne Times, |
| 32 | Jeremiah Harden, Solomon Smith, Anthony Gaitor, Khambrel McGee, |
| 33 | Kedrick Rhodes, Glenn Coleman, Ashlyn Parker, Jake Medlock, |
| 34 | Wesley Carroll, Toronto Smith, Wayne Younger, Colt Anderson, |
| 35 | Franklin Brown, Dudley LaPorte, Kreg Brown, Randy Williams, |
| 36 | Chuck Grace, Markeith Russell, Terrance Taylor, Emmanuel |
| 37 | Souarin, Jonathan Cyprien, Darian Mallary, Jose Cheeseborough, |
| 38 | Darriet Perry, Dezariah Johnson, Jonathan Faucher, Jarvis |
| 39 | Wilson, Justin Halley, Cain Elliot, Zach Schaubaut, Robert |
| 40 | Boswell, Winston Fraser, Trenard Turner, Brandon Bennett, |
| 41 | Jarrell McGee, Derrick Jones, Jr., Jack Griffin, Sam Miller, |
| 42 | Josh Brisk, Kenneth Dillard, Torrence Seymour, Caleb Vincent, |
| 43 | Antwoine Bell, Jeremy Jermin, Aaron Davis, Michael Davies, Sam |
| 44 | Gervais, Kasey Smith, Junior Delpe, Dylan Lynch, David Delsoin, |
| 45 | Anton Graham, Nick Thorstenson, Giancarlo Revilla, Rupert Bryan, |
| 46 | Jr., Gregory Hickman, Michael Cal, Dereck Wimberly, Jr., Kenneth |
| 47 | White, Donald Senat, Christopher Edwards, Curtis Bryant, Chris |
| 48 | Nasiff, Mitch MacClugage, David Istanich, Kevin Van Kirk, Austin |
| 49 | Tottle, Caylin Hauptmann, Ceedrick Davis, Stephen Bailey, Chris |
| 50 | Cawthon, Andre Pound, Brad Serini, Cedric Mack, James Wiggins, |
| 51 | Jason "Ty" Frierson, Jairus Williams, Greg Ellingson, Ariel |
| 52 | Martinez, Michael Curry, Mitch Wozniak, Joey Harris, Mike Jean- |
| 53 | Louis, Jacob Younger, Rockey Vann, Jordan White, Paul Crawford, |
| 54 | Andrew Mattox, James Jones, Joshua Forney, Tourek Williams, |
| 55 | Jerrico Lee, Isame Faciane, Chris Schirripa, Julio Moraga, |
| 56 | Croswell Paige, Jason Fitch, Thatcher Starling, and Jonathan |
| 57 | Jackson, and |
| 58 | WHEREAS, head coach, and 2010 Sun Belt Conference Coach of |
| 59 | the Year, Mario Cristobal has been recognized by the National |
| 60 | Collegiate Athletic Association for the program's 74-point |
| 61 | increase in the all-important Academic Progress Rate for "the |
| 62 | improved academic performance of the football team since the |
| 63 | arrival of (Coach Cristobal) in December 2006," and |
| 64 | WHEREAS, the Golden Panthers' coaching and support staff, |
| 65 | including Athletic Director Pete Garcia, Defensive Coordinator |
| 66 | Geoff Collins, Offensive Coordinator Scott Satterfield, Cedric |
| 67 | Calhoun, Greg Laffere, Alex Mirabal, Juan Navarro, Frank Ponce, |
| 68 | Jeff Popovich, Apollo Wright, Phil Ockinga, Roderick Moore, |
| 69 | Dennis Smith, Tony Egues, Dan Hernandez, Jared Brookman, and |
| 70 | Andrew Green, exhibited exemplary leadership and guidance to the |
| 71 | team throughout the season, and |
| 72 | WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Florida |
| 73 | International University Golden Panthers Football Team is |
| 74 | applauded for the numerous accomplishments of its players, |
| 75 | coaches, and staff, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 76 |
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| 77 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 78 | Florida: |
| 79 |
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| 80 | That the Florida House of Representatives honors the 2010- |
| 81 | 2011 Florida International University Golden Panthers Football |
| 82 | Team for their many accomplishments, especially for having |
| 83 | earned the university's first Sun Belt Conference championship |
| 84 | title in football and its first bowl berth and first bowl |
| 85 | victory. |
| 86 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida House of |
| 87 | Representatives commends the entire Florida International |
| 88 | University community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, |
| 89 | administrators, friends, and loyal fans for their spirit and |
| 90 | dedication. |
| 91 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be |
| 92 | presented to 2010-2011 Florida International University Golden |
| 93 | Panthers Football Team as a tangible token of the sentiments |
| 94 | expressed herein. |