By Senators Baumgartner, Billig, Warnick, Hunt, and Padden

WHEREAS, The Gonzaga men's basketball team has dominated the March Madness NCAA playoffs and advanced to the Final Four semifinal matchup against South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, A Pacific Northwest team has not advanced to the Final Four since Seattle University did it in 1958; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga has developed a culture and tradition of winning beginning with the leadership of coach Dan Fitzgerald, who led the team to its first NCAA appearance in 1995, and continuing with the success of Dan Monson, who brought Gonzaga to its first Elite Eight appearance in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Mark Few has created a culture of ownership and responsibility built on a unique attention to player development and an attitude of loyalty and persistence; and

WHEREAS, Coach Few has led the Zags to an NCAA tournament appearance in each of his 17 years as head coach, including fifteen West Coast Conference titles, five Sweet 16 appearances, and one Elite Eight competition; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga has become a national powerhouse and a place where athletes come to be a part of a winning culture and something bigger than themselves; and

WHEREAS, Gonzaga demonstrates a high level of student achievement on and off the court, leading the nation with 80 percent of Gonzaga sports teams scoring at the top of the Academic Progress Rate score for academic achievement; and

WHEREAS, The Zags outlasted West Virginia in the Sweet 16 round and manhandled Xavier in the Elite Eight; and

WHEREAS, South Carolina should tremble at having to face the speed and endurance of the mighty Bulldogs this Saturday in the Final Four;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the success of the Gonzaga men's basketball team in reaching the Final Four of the NCAA tournament; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate commend Head Coach Mark Few for his leadership in crafting a national powerhouse that is now contending for a national title; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate fully support the Gonzaga Bulldogs in their game on Saturday and will be cheering for a victory; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Gonzaga University.