A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the appalachian state university football team on winning its third consecutive national championship.

Whereas, on December 14, 2007, Appalachian State University's football team won the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I Championship Football Subdivision title, defeating the University of Delaware by a score of 49‑21; and
Whereas, the Mountaineers' victory earned the team its third straight national title, becoming the first Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I‑AA) team to achieve this honor; and
Whereas, the Mountaineers began their 2007 season by upsetting the University of Michigan Wolverines, who were then ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll; and
Whereas, by defeating the University of Michigan, Appalachian State University secured a place in college football history by becoming the first Division I Football Championship Subdivision team to beat a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I‑A) team that was ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll; and
Whereas, the Mountaineers' triumph over the Wolverines also influenced the Associated Press to change its 71‑year‑old policy to allow all Division I teams to be eligible for its Top 25 Poll; and
Whereas, the Mountaineers ended their 2007 season with an overall record of 13‑2 and were co‑champions of the Southern Conference; and
Whereas, the members of ASU's football team along with Coach Jerry Moore and his entire staff deserve recognition for bringing great honor and distinction to the State of North Carolina; and
Whereas, it is also fitting to recognize the Mountaineers' fans, who have always been an integral part of supporting the team; and
Whereas, one of those enthusiastic fans was the late Mariam Cannon Hayes, who gave the single largest gift ever received by Appalachian State University which was used to create an endowment at the University's School of Music which bears her name; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly congratulates the Appalachian State University Mountaineers on winning the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship and recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, students, alumni, and support staff, all of whom were instrumental in helping the football team win its third straight national championship.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Mariam Cannon Hayes for her longtime support of Appalachian State University, higher education, and the arts.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a copy of this resolution to Appalachian State University Chancellor Kenneth Peacock, Athletics Director Charlie Cobb, Head Football Coach Jerry Moore, and the family of Mariam Cannon Hayes.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of June, 2008.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives