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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 91
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WHEREAS, An outstanding football coach received |
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well-deserved recognition when Willie Fritz of Sam Houston State |
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University was named the 2012 Liberty Mutual National Collegiate |
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Athletic Association Division I Football Championship |
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Subdivision Coach of the Year; and |
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WHEREAS, This prestigious award pays tribute to |
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individuals who not only help their team to succeed on game day |
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but who also demonstrate sportsmanship, integrity, |
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responsibility, and a commitment to education; with his |
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selection for this honor, Coach Fritz received $70,000, $20,000 |
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of which will fund student scholarships provided through the Sam |
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Houston State University Alumni Association, with the remainder |
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benefiting two charities chosen by the coach: the Lone Survivor |
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Foundation, which helps support wounded United States military |
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veterans and their families, and the Fellowship of Christian |
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Athletes; and |
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WHEREAS, Coach Fritz has compiled a 31-10 record during his |
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three seasons as head coach, and he has guided the Bearkats to two |
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Southland Conference championships and two appearances in the |
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National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Champion |
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Subdivision national championship game; moreover, the team's 14 wins in |
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2011 and 11 wins in 2012 are the top victory totals in the history of Sam |
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Houston State University football; and |
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WHEREAS, Seven of Coach Fritz's athletes were named |
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All-Americans in 2011 and five in 2012, and numerous players have |
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received All-Southland Conference honors in recent years; the |
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Bearkats have made a fine showing in the classroom as well; in the |
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coach's first two seasons at Sam Houston State University, 70 |
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team members earned a place on the conference commissioner's |
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honor roll, and in 2011 the university surpassed all of its |
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Southland rivals in the number of football players on the |
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academic conference team; and |
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WHEREAS, Coach Fritz encourages his young charges to give |
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back to their fellow citizens through community service, and |
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players and staff take part in various projects to assist |
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veterans, food banks, and other deserving causes; and |
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WHEREAS, Coach Fritz draws on a broad range of experience; |
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after playing football for Pittsburg State University, he |
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coached at a number of different high schools and colleges and |
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was a secondary and special teams coach at Sam Houston State |
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University in the early 1990s; he went on to establish very |
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successful records as the head coach of Blinn College and the |
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University of Central Missouri before taking charge of the |
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Bearkats in advance of the 2010 season; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Coach Fritz is supported |
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by his loving wife, Susan, and he is the proud father of three |
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children, Wesley, Elaine, and Brooke; and |
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WHEREAS, Exceptional football coaches inspire their team |
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members to realize their full potential, both as athletes and |
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individuals, and Willie Fritz's commitment to this goal makes him |
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an exceptional role model and leader; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
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83rd Legislature, hereby congratulate Willie Fritz on winning |
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the 2012 Liberty Mutual National Collegiate Athletic Association |
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Division I Football Championship Subdivision Coach of the Year |
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award and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Coach Fritz as an expression of high regard from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Schwertner |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on January 30, 2013. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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Member, Texas Senate |