III 

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; 


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•SRES 527 ATS 

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, 


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•SRES 527 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends and congratulates the Harding 

3 University football team on winning the 2023 Na4 tional Collegiate Athletic Association Division II na5 tional championship and completing a perfect sea6 son; 

7 (2) recognizes the achievements, excellence, 

8 dedication, and teamwork of the Harding University 

9 football team; and 

10 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

11 the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu12 tion to— 

13 (A) the head coach of the Harding Univer14 sity football team, Paul Simmons; 

15 (B) the president of Harding University, 

16 Dr. Michael D. Williams; and 

17 (C) the athletic director of Harding Uni18 versity, Jeff Morgan. 

Æ 


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