S*0782 Resolution, By Alexander, Anderson, Bryan, Cork, Courson, Courtney, 
Drummond, Elliott, Fair, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, Hayes, Holland, Hutto, 
Jackson, Land, Lander, Leatherman, Leventis, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, 
McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Rankin, 
Ravenel, Reese, M.T. Rose, Russell, Ryberg, Saleeby, Setzler, Short, J.V. Smith, 
Thomas, Waldrep, Washington, D. Williams and Wilson
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY "TIGERS" MEN'S
 BASKETBALL TEAM ON AN OUTSTANDING 1996-97 EFFORT, ONLY THE THIRD TEAM IN
 CLEMSON HISTORY TO ADVANCE TO THE SWEET 16 ROUND IN THE NCAA NATIONAL
 TOURNAMENT, ENDING THE SEASON AS THE HIGHEST RANKED TEAM IN CLEMSON HISTORY
 WITH A #8 RANKING IN THE FINAL USA/TODAY POLL, AND TO RECOGNIZE HEAD COACH
 RICK BARNES AND HIS STAFF FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL SEASON.

   05/22/97  Senate Adopted SJ-8

TO CONGRATULATE THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY "TIGERS" MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ON AN OUTSTANDING 1996-97 EFFORT, ONLY THE THIRD TEAM IN CLEMSON HISTORY TO ADVANCE TO THE SWEET 16 ROUND IN THE NCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT, ENDING THE SEASON AS THE HIGHEST RANKED TEAM IN CLEMSON HISTORY WITH A #8 RANKING IN THE FINAL USA/TODAY POLL, AND TO RECOGNIZE HEAD COACH RICK BARNES AND HIS STAFF FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL SEASON.

Whereas, this exceptional team was only the third team in Clemson history to advance to the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA National Tournament; and

Whereas, the Clemson University Men's Basketball Team completed the 1996-97 season as the highest ranked team in Clemson history with a #8 ranking in the final USA/Today poll; and

Whereas, the Tigers posted twenty-three wins, including five wins over ranked teams, the second highest total for a single season in Clemson history, and just one off the record of six set by the 1979-80 Clemson basketball team; and

Whereas, four of the wins were over teams ranked 11th or higher, and another was against the University of South Carolina, a number-two seed in the NCAA Tournament, who the Tigers defeated by 19 points in Columbia; and

Whereas, this team achieved a #2 National Ranking in the AP Poll on January 20, the highest ranking in Clemson history; and

Whereas, this talented group of outstanding young men represented a team which was one of 10 teams to be nationally ranked in every top 20 poll this year, even in the face of the country's ninth toughest schedule; and

Whereas, Clemson won more games away from home than any other team in school history, including wins over Virginia and Maryland, who were nationally ranked at the time of their defeat; and

Whereas, led by its Head Coach Rick Barnes, who was one of the ten finalists for the AP National Coach of the Year Award, this team consisted of: Greg Buckner, Terrell McIntyre, Merl Code, Harold Jamison, Iker Iturbe, Vincent Whitt, Tom Wideman, Tony Christie, Andrius Jurkunas, Mohamed Woni, LeDarion Jones, Bill Harder, and Brian Chester; and

Whereas, the Clemson University Men's Basketball Team added to its rich basketball heritage by the numerous records the Tigers compiled during the exceptional 1996-97 season, which was epitomized by their performance in the NCAA National Tournament; and

Whereas, the Senate, along with the citizens of the Palmetto State, are extremely proud of these fine young athletes' unity, superb talent, and thrilling 1996-97 record-setting season. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, congratulate the Clemson University "Tigers" Men's Basketball Team on an outstanding 1996-97 effort, only the third team in Clemson history to advance to the Sweet 16 Round in the NCAA National Tournament and ending the season as the highest ranked team in Clemson history with a #8 ranking in the final USA/Today Poll.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Head Coach Rick Barnes.