The University of Kentucky football team was honored by the Kentucky Senate and Kentucky House of Representatives on Friday at the state capitol in Frankfort. Here is the Senate resolution, followed by the House of Representatives resolution:

SENATE RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION honoring the University of Kentucky Wildcats Football Team, 2006 Music City Bowl Champions.

WHEREAS, on Friday, December 29, 2006, before a crowd of 68,024 at LP Field in Nashville, the University of Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tigers of Clemson University by a score of 28-20 to win the 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl; and

WHEREAS, the victory capped off what was the finest season for the Wildcats in some time, with an 8-5 final record, the most wins in a season since 1984, a victory over traditional SEC power Georgia, and the school’s first bowl victory in over 20 years; and

WHEREAS, the Wildcats were led by junior quarterback Andre Woodson, who completed 20 of 28 pass attempts for 299 yards and three touchdowns and was named the MVP of the game; and

WHEREAS, during the game, Woodson distributed the ball to many of the amazing nine different receivers, including junior standout Keenan Burton, who led the Wildcats with five receptions, and Jacob Tamme, Dicky Lyons, and Demoreo Ford, who each caught a touchdown pass; and

WHEREAS, the sometimes-maligned Wildcat defense rose to the occasion and was a huge key to the Wildcat victory, holding Clemson to less than 200 total yards in the first three quarters of play, forcing four turnovers, and sacking the Clemson quarterback four times; and

WHEREAS, the defense was led by sophomore linebacker Wesley Woodyard, whose team high 12 tackles included one sack and one forced fumble; linemen Jeremy Jarmon and Myron Pryor, who each recorded one sack; and freshman cornerback Trevard Lindley, who intercepted one pass and recovered a fumble; and

WHEREAS, the success of the Wildcat program is directly a result of the efforts of head coach Rich Brooks and an experienced and talented staff of coordinators and position coaches who have led the Wildcats from the depths of probation to these lofty heights, where the future of Wildcat football looks incredibly bright; and

WHEREAS, the accomplishments and efforts of this talented group of young men will forever be remembered in the annals of UK sports history, as the 2006 Kentucky Wildcats are arguably the best football squad the school has produced in the last two decades; and

WHEREAS, it is only fitting that this team be publicly saluted for its tremendous achievements and the notoriety it has brought to the Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Section 1. The members of this body, both individually and collectively, do hereby congratulate the University of Kentucky Football Wildcats, coach Rich Brooks, Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart, and President Lee Todd on their victory in the 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl and on all their accomplishments of the past season, and wish them future success in all their endeavors.

Section 2. The members of this body commend the efforts and dedication of this group of talented student athletes as role models for the youth of our Commonwealth.

Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate shall forward a copy of this Resolution to Mitch Barnhart, Director of Athletics, UK Athletics, Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, KY 40506.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION honoring the University of Kentucky Wildcats Football Team, 2006 Music City Bowl Champions.

WHEREAS, on Friday, December 29, 2006, before a crowd of 68,024 at LP Field in Nashville, the University of Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tigers of Clemson University by a score of 28-20 to win the 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl; and

WHEREAS, the victory capped off what was the finest season for the Wildcats in some time, with an 8-5 final record, the most wins in a season since 1984, a victory over traditional SEC power Georgia, and the school’s first bowl victory in over 20 years; and

WHEREAS, the Wildcats were led by junior quarterback Andre Woodson, who completed 20 of 28 pass attempts for 299 yards and three touchdowns and was named the MVP of the game; and

WHEREAS, during the game, Woodson distributed the ball to many of the amazing nine different receivers, including junior standout Keenan Burton, who led the Wildcats with five receptions, and Jacob Tamme, Dicky Lyons, and Demoreo Ford, who each caught a touchdown pass; and

WHEREAS, the sometimes-maligned Wildcat defense rose to the occasion and was a huge key to the Wildcat victory, holding Clemson to less than 200 total yards in the first three quarters of play, forcing four turnovers, and sacking the Clemson quarterback four times; and

WHEREAS, the defense was led by sophomore linebacker Wesley Woodyard, whose team high 12 tackles included one sack and one forced fumble; linemen Jeremy Jarmon and Myron Pryor, who each recorded one sack; and freshman cornerback Trevard Lindley, who intercepted one pass and recovered a fumble; and

WHEREAS, the success of the Wildcat program is directly a result of the efforts of head coach Rich Brooks and an experienced and talented staff of coordinators and position coaches who have led the Wildcats from the depths of probation to these lofty heights, where the future of Wildcat football looks incredibly bright; and

WHEREAS, the accomplishments and efforts of this talented group of young men will forever be remembered in the annals of UK sports history, as the 2006 Kentucky Wildcats are arguably the best football squad the school has produced in the last two decades; and

WHEREAS, it is only fitting that this team be publicly saluted for its tremendous achievements and the notoriety it has brought to the Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Section 1. That the members of this body, both individually and collectively, do hereby congratulate the University of Kentucky Football Wildcats, coach Rich Brooks, Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart, and President Lee Todd on their victory in the 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl and all their accomplishments of the past season, and wish them future success in all their endeavors.

Section 2. That the members of this body commend the efforts and dedication of this group of talented student athletes as role models for the youth of our Commonwealth;

Section 3. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall forward of a copy of this Resolution to Mitch Barnhart, Director of Athletics, UK Athletics, Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, KY 40506.