WHEREAS, The 1915 Washington State College football team compiled a record of seven victories and zero defeats; and
     WHEREAS, The 1915 Washington State College football team allowed only one opponent touchdown all year and is still revered as one of the most dominate defensive college football teams in West Coast history; and
     WHEREAS, The 1915 Washington State College football team was invited to the January 1, 1916, Tournament of Roses Football game to play Brown College in a nationally anticipated matchup of East vs. West football powers; and
     WHEREAS, The Washington State College team defeated Brown by a margin of 14-0; and
     WHEREAS, Despite days of rain, hours of snow, inches of mud, and palm tree withering cold temperatures, Brown could not stop the Washington State College team from racking up 313 yards of rushing as well as earning 19 first downs; and
     WHEREAS, Cougar Running Back, Carl Dietz, rushed 33 times for 105 yards, one touchdown later was named the 1916 Rose Bowl MVP, and was since forth declared Washington State College's greatest athlete of all time; and
     WHEREAS, After kicking both extra points in the Rose Bowl game, Cougar Quarterback Thomas Arthur "Bull" Durham successfully served in the United States Navy, earning the prestigious rank of Commodore; and
     WHEREAS, The Washington State College team became the first West Coast school to win a Rose Bowl and earned the title of National Champions, giving Washington State the longest standing winning tradition on the West Coast; and
     WHEREAS, The Washington State College team was coached by the legendary "Lone Star" Dietz, who played at Carlisle Indian Academy and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame; and
     WHEREAS, National anticipation for the 1916 Tournament of Roses Football Championship and for the Washington State College victory helped restore the nation's faith in college football and put an end to the practice of celebrating the Pasadena Tournament of Roses with events such as ostrich races, polo matches, and chariot races, beginning the annual tradition of the Rose Bowl Football Championship, the granddaddy bowl game of them all;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the 99th anniversary of the 1915 Washington State College Football Rose Bowl and National Champion football team; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Washington State University, The Washington State University Alumni Association, and Washington State Cougars worldwide.