HR0733 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Saint Xavier University football team, the Cougars, on winning the 2011 NAIA National Championship; and

WHEREAS, The Cougars won the championship on December 17, 2011 in Rome, Georgia; it was their first national championship in the 41-year history of Saint Xavier University Athletics and the first college football national title for a Chicago team since 1913; and

WHEREAS, The Cougars are also the first college football team in the State of Illinois to win a national championship since Augustana College won a title in 1986; and

WHEREAS, The Saint Xavier University football team is fairly new, starting in 1993; from those humble beginnings, Coach Mike Feminis has built a solid program with many Chicago area players; the team has made it to the playoffs in 2006, 2009, and 2010; and

WHEREAS, The Cougars finished the 2011 season with a 14-1 overall record and the NAIA's No. 1 ranking in the 2011 NAIA Football Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll; and

WHEREAS, The Cougars held the No. 1 ranking for 8 weeks during the regular season, marking the first time a varsity team has received the top spot in school history; and

WHEREAS, A special assembly was held to honor the football team on January 17, 2012 at the Shannon Center; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Saint Xavier Football team on their national victory and wish them the best in their future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Head Coach Mike Feminis as a symbol of our respect and esteem.