S*0696 Resolution, By Alexander
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND LEGENDARY FOOTBALL COACH CHARLEY PELL FOR HIS
 MANY ACHIEVEMENTS DURING HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER AND WISHING HIM AND HIS WIFE,
 WARD, GODSPEED AND HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE.

   05/22/01  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-14

TO COMMEND LEGENDARY FOOTBALL COACH CHARLEY PELL FOR HIS MANY ACHIEVEMENTS DURING HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER AND WISHING HIM AND HIS WIFE, WARD, GODSPEED AND HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE.

Whereas, Charley Pell came to Clemson University in 1976 serving as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator; and

Whereas, he became Head Football Coach of the Clemson Tigers and authored college football's Cinderella story in 1977; and

Whereas, Coach Pell took a Clemson team that was 3-6-2 in 1976 and led the 1977 Tigers to a sparkling 8-2-1 regular season mark and a berth in the Gator Bowl. It was Clemson's first final Top 20 season since 1959; and

Whereas, he coached Clemson to a 10-1 regular season in 1978 before he left to become head coach at Florida. Clemson's 1978 team beat Ohio State in the Gator Bowl and finished sixth in the final AP poll in only his second year as Head Coach of Clemson; and

Whereas, Coach Charley Pell was a near unanimous choice as ACC Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1978, the first coach, regardless of sport, to win ACC Coach of the Year honors in each of his first two years; and

Whereas, he was raised on Sand Mountain (known as "The Mountain"), an area close to Albertville, Alabama, that is largely as rural as when he grew up there fifty years ago. Today ninety-five percent of his family is still on "The Mountain". He never saw a daily newspaper until high school, first saw a TV when he was fifteen, and never played high school football, a luxury for farming families, until Bobby Golden became coach at Albertville High in 1958. Coach Golden, a deacon in the local Baptist Church, convinced Charley Pell's religious parents it would be all right for their strapping son to play his senior year. Even then, his ambitions were limited to a local junior college. But Golden spoke with the new coach at Alabama and to the Pells' disbelief, Bear Bryant offered their son a football scholarship; and

Whereas, Charley, who played on Alabama's 1961 national championship team, made an early impression on the renowned coach. He was bright, enthusiastic, and a hard worker. And he had something Coach Bryant recognized: the ability to be the center of attention when he walked into a room; and

Whereas, Charley Pell is committed to his wife, Ward, and together they are blessed with three children and love to talk about their adoring grandchildren; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are proud of the role Coach Charley Pell played in raising the profile of Clemson University in football and putting the Tigers on track by showing them how to win. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate hereby commend legendary Football Coach Charley Pell for his many achievements during his outstanding career and wishing him and his wife, Ward, Godspeed and happiness in the future.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution to be forwarded to Coach Charley Pell.