S 0571  Resolution, By Alexander
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR COACH DABO SWINNEY, HEAD FOOTBALL
 COACH AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR LEADING HIS TEAM TO THE
 2019 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY.
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   02/26/19  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 15)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR COACH DABO SWINNEY, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, AND TO COMMEND HIM FOR LEADING HIS TEAM TO THE 2019 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are deeply grateful to Dabo Swinney for his leadership and athletic acumen that have built a national championship football program at one of most celebrated institutions of higher learning in the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, early in the first quarter of the championship game, Clemson intercepted an Alabama pass with a 44-yard return for a touchdown to start the battle that ended in an impressive 44-16 victory; and

Whereas, in the past three seasons Coach Swinney has secured a second College Football Playoff championship against a team that other coaches have determined to be too formidable to attempt, but not this coach, even though that team was his alma mater where he was a walk-on wide receiver in the early nineties; and

Whereas, in 2008, some ten years earlier, Coach Swinney was a receivers coach for Clemson University when it was announced that Head Coach Tommy Bowden was leaving with six games left in the season. Coach Swinney was chosen to finish the season as interim coach, before being selected to head the Clemson football program in 2009; and

Whereas, during Coach Swinney's tenure, Clemson has won one hundred sixteen games, two national championships, five Atlantic Coast Conference championships, including the last four championships, and has won ten games in each of the last eight seasons; and

Whereas, Coach Swinney has managed to build a championship-caliber football program in one of the most competitive environments imaginable, while creating a family atmosphere beloved by his players; and

Whereas, when three of his defensive linemen passed on an opportunity to enter the National Football League draft in 2018, they chose to stay another year with the coach and the team that had meant so much to them at the university that had provided that special belonging; and

Whereas, under Coach Sweeney's leadership, in the 2018 season Clemson became the first team in modern college football to go 15-0 in a season; and

Whereas, in 2018 his leadership was widely recognized when for the third time he was honored with the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, making him the only coach ever to win it three times since the award originated in 1986; and

Whereas, after leading the team to its fourth consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference championship the month before winning the national title, Coach Swinney was presented with the Woody Hayes Award, given annually to college football's coach of the year; and

Whereas, cognizant of the attention that a national football championship stimulates throughout the nation, the South Carolina Senate deeply appreciates the celebrated status that Coach Swinney and this victory have brought to our great State, and the members congratulate him on winning the national title and on being named Coach of the Year. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Coach Dabo Swinney, head football coach at Clemson University, and commend him for leading his team to the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship victory.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Dabo Swinney.