First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. R97@0492.01 MTJ

STATE OF COLORADO

BY SENATOR Norton;

also REPRESENTATIVES T. Williams and Owen.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 97-8

CONCERNING THE EXTENSION OF CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS FOOTBALL TEAM.

WHEREAS, The University of Northern Colorado Bears football team recently completed a surprising and dramatic one hundred fourth football season in which it won the 1996 NCAA Division II Championship; and

WHEREAS, The University of Northern Colorado Bears qualified for the Division II football playoffs after struggling to an 8­3 record, finishing tied for second place in the North Central Conference; and

WHEREAS, The University of Northern Colorado Bears demonstrated that they could overcome adversity, winning their last seven games of the season, including regular season and postseason games; and

WHEREAS, The University of Northern Colorado Bears demonstrated their character, winning the three games leading up to the championship game by a total of five points, with time running out in each game; and

WHEREAS, In the semifinal game, the University of Northern Colorado Bears defeated Northwest Missouri State, the second­ranked Division II football team in the nation and the highest­ranked opponent the Bears have ever defeated, by a 27­26 score in the Bears' first­ever home playoff game; and

WHEREAS, In winning the championship game by a 23­14 score, the University of Northern Colorado Bears earned their twelfth victory of the year, including both regular season and postseason victories, the most in school history; and

WHEREAS, This is the first national sports title ever earned by the University of Northern Colorado; and

WHEREAS, The team set a school record of seven players being selected for All­American honors, including senior offensive tackle Tony Ramirez, who became the first University of Northern Colorado Bears football player selected to play in the Blue­Gray Classic and the Hula Bowl college all­star football games; and

WHEREAS, The University of Northern Colorado Bears were led to victory by head coach Joe Glenn who was selected GTE Division II Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Eighty­seven of the University of Northern Colorado's one hundred players are graduates of Colorado high schools, representing Colorado to the nation not only as an institution, but as individuals; and

WHEREAS, The University of Northern Colorado epitomizes excellence in higher education as well as athletics, having educated the citizens of Colorado for more than a century and currently serving over ten thousand students, eighty­nine percent of whom are Colorado residents; and

WHEREAS, The memories of this past season of University of Northern Colorado football, and especially the glory that Colorado athletes brought to the state in overcoming adversity and persevering in triumph, will live forever in our hearts and bring inspiration to our lives; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty­first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That we, the members of the General Assembly, extend our congratulations to the players and staff who comprise the University of Northern Colorado Bears football team for their success in the 1996 season and offer our thanks for the inspiration they have given to all citizens of Colorado.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Joe Glenn, Coach of the University of Northern Colorado Bears football team; to Howard Skinner, President of the University of Northern Colorado; to the chief executive officer of the University of Northern Colorado alumni association; and to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Northern Colorado.