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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 527 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 527

 To commend and congratulate the Harding University football team for 
 winning the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II 
                         national championship.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 18, 2024

   Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Cotton) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 To commend and congratulate the Harding University football team for 
 winning the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II 
                         national championship.

Whereas, on December 16, 2023, the Harding University Bisons football team 
        (referred to in this preamble as the ``Bisons'') won the 2023 National 
        Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the 
        ``NCAA'') Division II national championship;
Whereas the Bisons defeated Colorado School of Mines 38-7 at McKinney 
        Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas;
Whereas this was the first time the Bisons ever competed for an NCAA Division II 
        national championship;
Whereas the Bisons are the first Arkansas college sports team to win an NCAA 
        Division II football national championship, and 1 of only 6 college 
        football programs in Arkansas to win a national championship;
Whereas the Bisons completed a perfect season, winning all 15 games played in 
        the 2023 season;
Whereas the Bisons rushed for a season total of 6,160 yards, becoming the first 
        team at any level of NCAA football to rush for over 6,000 yards in a 
        single season;
Whereas Bisons player Blake Delacruz rushed for 212 yards on 27 carries, 
        breaking the NCAA Division II championship game record for rushing 
        yards;
Whereas Paul Simmons became the Bisons head coach in 2017, was named the 2023 
        National Coach of the Year by D2Football.com, and under his leadership, 
        the team--

    (1) has gained a 65-13 overall record, making Simmons Harding 
University's fastest head football coach to obtain 65 career wins;

    (2) won the 2021 and 2023 Great American Conference championship and 
has never finished lower than second in the conference;

    (3) has reached the NCAA Division II playoffs 5 times, compiling an 8-4 
record and reaching the national semifinals in 2017, the Super Region 3 
semifinals in 2021, and winning the NCAA Division II national championship 
game in 2023, marking Simmons as the only active coach in the Great 
American Conference to have more than 1 NCAA II playoff win;

Whereas the dedication and hard work of the players, coach Paul Simmons, and his 
        staff, as well as the enthusiastic support of alumni, fans, and the 
        Searcy community, where Harding University resides, were all critical to 
        the Bisons' success; and
Whereas the Bisons' coaches, players, and support staff should all be 
        congratulated and celebrated for their accomplishments and commitment to 
        their school, team, and community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends and congratulates the Harding University 
        football team on winning the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic 
        Association Division II national championship and completing a 
        perfect season;
            (2) recognizes the achievements, excellence, dedication, 
        and teamwork of the Harding University football team; and
            (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
                    (A) the head coach of the Harding University 
                football team, Paul Simmons;
                    (B) the president of Harding University, Dr. 
                Michael D. Williams; and
                    (C) the athletic director of Harding University, 
                Jeff Morgan.
                                 <all>
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