H*3875 Resolution, By Ballentine, Harrell, J.E. Smith, Thompson, Lucas, Haley, 
Neilson, Agnew, Allen, Altman, Anderson, Anthony, Bailey, Bales, Barfield, 
Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, 
Cato, Ceips, Chalk, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, 
Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Emory, 
Frye, Funderburk, Govan, Hagood, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, 
Hayes, Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hiott, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Jefferson, Jennings, Kennedy, Kirsh, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, 
Loftis, Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, 
Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Norman, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, 
Phillips, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Rhoad, Rice, Rivers, Rutherford, 
Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, 
F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Stewart, Talley, 
Taylor, Toole, Townsend, Tripp, Umphlett, Vaughn, Vick, Viers, Walker, Weeks, 
Whipper, White, Whitmire, Wilkins, Witherspoon and Young
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION JOINING THE ENTIRE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN
 CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS ON THEIR 2005
 NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT TITLE AND EXPRESSING THE STATE'S EXCITEMENT AT
 THE STELLAR 20-13 SEASON, BEHIND THE MEASURED DIGNITY AND COACHING FINESSE OF
 HEAD COACH DAVE ODOM.

   04/06/05  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-40

JOINING THE ENTIRE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS ON THEIR 2005 NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT TITLE AND EXPRESSING THE STATE'S EXCITEMENT AT THE STELLAR 20-13 SEASON, BEHIND THE MEASURED DIGNITY AND COACHING FINESSE OF HEAD COACH DAVE ODOM.

Whereas, the University of South Carolina basketball Gamecocks had suffered a thirty year post-season title drought going into the 2005 National Invitation Tournament; and

Whereas, Coach Dave Odom, in his first three years at the helm, had already led the team to two twenty-game seasons and a chance at the 2002 NIT crown; and

Whereas, a win in the exciting roundball arena of Madison Square Garden on Thursday, March 31, 2005, would earn Odom his third twenty-game outing in just four years and the first USC basketball post-season title since 1971; and

Whereas, the Gamecocks came alive at this historic chance for themselves, their coach, their school, and their State; and

Whereas, Tarence Kinsey's twenty-two-foot three pointer with 1.3 seconds to play and the 60-57 victory over the St. Joseph's Hawks, was just the amazing finale to a blazing five-game run for the championship that began on the home court the Gamecocks owned all season long; and

Whereas, Carlos Powell, who earned MVP honors for his outstanding play throughout the tournament schedule, followed up Tré Kelley's layup for the lead near the two-minute mark with a three-pointer of his own; and

Whereas, in spite of a powerful Brandon Wallace rejection of a Hawk three-point try, St. Joe's star Pat Carroll was able to tie up the game about seven seconds before Kinsey drilled his last-second, 2005 NIT title-winning shot; and

Whereas, the team and Coach Odom and his staff gave the nation not only great basketball that Thursday night in the rarefied atmosphere of Madison Square Garden, but also a glimpse of a disciplined but exciting new era for the Gamecock basketball program. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives join the entire State of South Carolina in congratulating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on their 2005 National Invitation Tournament title, and express their excitement at the stellar 20-13 season, behind the measured dignity and coaching finesse of Head Coach Dave Odom.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Head Coach Dave Odom.