[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 56 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 56

Congratulating the Florida International University Golden Panthers for 
                    the school's first Bowl victory.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 25, 2011

   Mr. Rivera (for himself, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Ms. Wilson of 
 Florida submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating the Florida International University Golden Panthers for 
                    the school's first Bowl victory.

Whereas Florida International University (FIU), established in 1965, is a public 
        university located in Miami, Florida;
Whereas the FIU football program was established in 1999 and had its inaugural 
        season in 2002 in Division 1-AA;
Whereas the FIU Golden Panthers moved to Division I-A in 2005, joining the Sun 
        Belt Conference;
Whereas the FIU Golden Panthers were the 2010 Sun Belt Conference co-champions;
Whereas, on December 26, 2010, the FIU Golden Panthers defeated the University 
        of Toledo Rockets 34-32 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl;
Whereas the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was the first bowl appearance for the FIU 
        football program as well as their first victory;
Whereas, during the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl game, FIU wide receiver Eugene 
        ``T.Y.'' Hilton, who had 3 catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, also 
        returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, and was instrumental on a 
        4th-and-17 conversion that eventually set up the game-winning field 
        goal, was named the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Most Valuable Player;
Whereas kicker Jack Griffin connected on a 34-yard field goal as time expired to 
        clinch the victory for the FIU Golden Panthers;
Whereas the FIU football team of skilled players, including Marquis Rolle, 
        Willis Wright, Junior Mertile, Larvez Mars, Eugene ``T.Y.'' Hilton, 
        Wayne Times, Jeremiah Harden, Solomon Smith, Anthony Gaitor, Khambrel 
        McGee, Kedrick Rhodes, Glenn Coleman, Ashlyn Parker, Jake Medlock, 
        Wesley Carroll, Toronto Smith, Wayne Younger, Colt Anderson, Franklin 
        Brown, Dudley LaPorte, Kreg Brown, Randy Williams, Chuck Grace, Markeith 
        Russell, Terrance Taylor, Emmanuel Souarin, Jonathan Cyprien, Darian 
        Mallary, Jose Cheeseborough, Darriet Perry, Dezariah Johnson, Jonathan 
        Faucher, Jarvis Wilson, Justin Halley, Cain Elliot, Zach Schaubaut, 
        Robert Boswell, Winston Fraser, Trenard Turner, Brandon Bennett, Jarrell 
        McGee, Derrick Jones, Jr., Jack Griffin, Sam Miller, Josh Brisk, Kenneth 
        Dillard, Torrence Seymour, Caleb Vincent, Antwoine Bell, Jeremy Jermin, 
        Aaron Davis, Michael Davies, Sam Gervais, Kasey Smith, Junior Delpe, 
        Dylan Lynch, David Delsoin, Anton Graham, Nick Thorstenson, Giancarlo 
        Revilla, Rupert Bryan, Jr., Gregory Hickman, Michael Cal, Dereck 
        Wimberly, Jr., Kenneth White, Donald Senat, Christopher Edwards, Curtis 
        Bryant, Chris Nasiff, Mitch MacClugage, David Istanich, Kevin Van Kirk, 
        Austin Tottle, Caylin Hauptmann, Ceedrick Davis, Stephen Bailey, Chris 
        Cawthon, Andre Pound, Brad Serini, Cedric Mack, James Wiggins, Ty 
        Frierson, Jairus Williams, Greg Ellingson, Ariel Martinez, Michael 
        Curry, Mitch Wozniak, Joey Harris, Mike Jean-Louis, Jacob Younger, 
        Rockey Vann, Jordan White, Paul Crawford, Andrew Mattox, James Jones, 
        Joshua Forney, Tourek Williams, Jerrico Lee, and Isame Faciane, 
        contributed extraordinary performances throughout the regular season and 
        the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl;
Whereas FIU Head Coach Mario Cristobal provided strong, wise leadership and 
        instilled a solid work ethic for the football team;
Whereas Coach Cristobal has been commended by the National Collegiate Athletic 
        Association (NCAA) for the team's 74-point increase in the all-important 
        Academic Progress Rate for ``the improved academic performance of the 
        football team since the arrival of [Coach Cristobal] in December 2006'';
Whereas the FIU coaching and support staff, which included Athletic Director 
        Pete Garcia, Defensive Coordinator Geoff Collins, Offensive Coordinator 
        Scott Satterfield, Cedric Calhoun, Greg Laffere, Alex Mirabal, Juan 
        Navarro, Frank Ponce, Jeff Popovich, Apollo Wright, Phil Ockinga, 
        Roderick Moore, Dennis Smith, Tony Egues, Dan Hernandez, Jared Brookman, 
        and Andrew Green, exhibited exemplary leadership and guidance to the 
        team; and
Whereas the dedicated FIU Golden Panthers fans supported their team with joy and 
        enthusiasm: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates--
                    (A) the Florida International University Golden 
                Panthers football team for their first bowl victory in 
                the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl and for their outstanding 
                performance during the 2010 season; and
                    (B) FIU wide receiver Eugene ``T.Y.'' Hilton for 
                winning the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Most 
                Valuable Player Award;
            (2) recognizes and praises the achievements of the FIU 
        Golden Panthers football players, coaches, and support staff 
        whose hard work, dedication, and resiliency proved instrumental 
        throughout the season;
            (3) commends the Florida International University students, 
        faculty, alumni and fans for their dedication; and
            (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
                    (A) the FIU Head Coach, Mario Cristobal;
                    (B) FIU Wide Receiver, Eugene ``T.Y.'' Hilton;
                    (C) the FIU President, Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg; and
                    (D) the FIU Athletic Director, Pete Garcia.
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