HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 93-4603, by Representatives Sheahan, Schoesler, Mielke, Silver, Lisk, Fuhrman, Grant, Kremen, Morton, Rayburn, Jacobsen, Heavey, Foreman, Morris, Brumsickle, Chandler, Stevens, Karahalios, Chappell and Wood

                        WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

                        WHEREAS, Washington State University's Cougar football team has exhibited the highest level of excellence in winning the 1992 Weiser Lock Copper Bowl in Tucson, Arizona; and

                        WHEREAS, The Cougars' 31-28 victory over the University of Utah Utes enabled them to complete the season ranked fifteenth in the nation, the best final national ranking ever for a Washington State University team; and

                        WHEREAS, Head Coach Mike Price's skills and leadership over just four years of coaching at Washington State University has brought stability to the Cougars' football program and has built a strong foundation for future success; and

                        WHEREAS, Coach Mike Price is one of only two Cougar coaches, the other being Dennis Erickson in 1988, to win nine games in a season since 1930.  Price was a strong contender for regional and national coach of the year honors, and was a Football News Coach of the Year top ten finalist; and

                        WHEREAS, Coach Mike Price and all the Washington State University football assistant coaches and all the players share in the Cougars' success by combining exceptional coaching with exceptional playing; and

                        WHEREAS, The phenomenal individual and team achievements of the 1992 Cougar players will be forever remembered when commemorating the Cougars' winning year; and

                        WHEREAS, Their incredible abilities were demonstrated by this second bowl appearance and second bowl win for the Cougars in the past five years; and

                        WHEREAS, The Cougars' 1992 9-3-0 record equals Washington State University's 1988 9-3-0 record after they beat Houston in the Aloha Bowl; it equals their most wins ever, and represents their best record since the 1930 Rose Bowl team finished 9-1; and

                        WHEREAS, The Cougars' triumphant season included a crushing defeat of the University of Washington Huskies by a stunning 42-23 in the 1992 Apple Cup in Pullman, Washington; and

                        WHEREAS, The Cougars finished the 1992 season with the third best record in the Pacific-10 conference for Pac-10 play and tied for the second best record overall; and

                        WHEREAS, The Cougar players' profound professionalism, aggressive defense, brilliant offense, and amazing team discipline resulted in superb achievements in kicking, punting, field goals, rushing, passing, receiving, kickoff returns, punt returns, tackles, sacks, recovered fumbles, and touchdowns; and

                        WHEREAS, Quarterback Drew Bledsoe is the grandson of the esteemed Stewart Bledsoe, who served the constituents of State Legislative District Thirteen and the citizens of Washington State with great distinction as an esteemed member of the House of Representatives from 1967 to 1972; and

                        WHEREAS, Drew Bledsoe's Most Valuable Player performance in the Copper Bowl with an awesome 476 passing yards, surpassing his previous school record of 413 yards against Montana in 1992, places him in league with other great Cougar quarterbacks such as Mark Rypien and Timm Rosenbach; and

                        WHEREAS, Drew Bledsoe was named the Pacific-10 conference's Player of the Year on offense by the league's coaches, the fourth Washington State University player to earn such an honor and the first Cougar quarterback to do so; and

                        WHEREAS, Drew Bledsoe captured the Pacific-10 Conference total-offense crown for the second straight season by racking up 2,717 yards in total offense in the 11 regular season games alone, 247 yards per game, giving him a ranking of ninth in total offense nationally; and

                        WHEREAS, Drew Bledsoe set a Washington State University Cougars single season 12 game record for total yards passed by passing a remarkable 3,246 yards; and

                        WHEREAS, Drew Bledsoe set a Washington State University Cougars record for passing and running over 200 yards per game by achieving such an accomplishment in 23 games during his career, bettering the previous Washington State University record of 20 games set by Timm Rosenbach; and

                        WHEREAS, Drew Bledsoe set a Washington State University Cougars single season record for pass attempts, 432, and for pass completions, 241, and tied for the second best record for single season touchdown passes at 20; and

                        WHEREAS, Four Washington State University Cougars seniors participated in three of the collegiate postseason bowl games:  Running back Shaumbe Wright-Fair, leading rusher in the Pac-10 this season, Pac-10 conference second team selection and a Doak Walker Award semi finalist, participated in the Japan Bowl; tight end Clarence Williams, a Pac-10 conference first team selection participated in the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game; defensive end Lewis Bush, a Pac-10 conference honorable mention team selection participated in the Hula Bowl; and  offensive guard Bob Garman, a Pac-10 conference second team selection participated in the Japan Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game; and

                        WHEREAS, Other Cougar players receiving football honors include Greg Burns, ranked second in the Pac-10 in interceptions and a Pac-10 conference honorable mention selection; Ron Childs, a Pac-10 conference honorable mention selection; C. J. Davis, ranked second in the Pac-10 in receptions and receiving yards, Copper Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player and a Pac-10 conference honorable mention selection; Josh Dunning, a Pac-10 conference honorable mention selection; Torey Hunter, a Pac-10 conference honorable mention selection; Anthony McClanahan, a Pac-10 conference second team selection and a Football News All-America third team selection; Singor Mobley, a Pac-10 conference honorable mention selection; DeWayne Patterson, a Football News sophomore All-America second team selection; Deron Pointer, ranked first in the Pac-10 in kickoff returns and a Pac-10 conference honorable mention selection; Aaron Price, ranked fifth in the Pac-10 in field goals and a Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award semifinalist; John Rushing, a PAC-10 conference honorable mention selection and a Football News sophomore All-America third team selection; and Robbie Tobeck, a Pac-10 conference second team selection; and

                        WHEREAS, These wonderful achievements could only have been attained with the many students, alumni, family, and community members, and friends who gave their enthusiastic support, making them achievements for everyone to share and enjoy; and

                        WHEREAS, The Washington State University Cougar football team is a source of great pride to all the citizens of the state of Washington;

                        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Washington honor the 1992 Washington State University Cougar football team and Coach Mike Price; and

                        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Head Coach Mike Price and the entire coaching staff, Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the entire 1992 Cougar football team, and Washington State University President Samuel Smith.

                                                                                                                        I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

                                                                                                                       Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives

                                                                                                                                                      February 10, 1993.

                                                                                                                               ________________________________

                                                                                                                                            Alan Thompson, Chief Clerk