| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Troy Vincent was born June 8, 1970 in Trenton, New |
|
|
Jersey. He grew up in East Trenton then moved to suburban Bucks |
|
|
County, Pennsylvania where he attended Pennsbury High School and |
|
|
starred in football and track; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Troy's talent on the football field brought him |
|
|
several scholarship offers. He chose the University of Wisconsin |
|
|
where he started on varsity his freshman year as a defensive back |
|
|
and return man; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, An impact player, Troy earned a letter all four |
|
|
years at Wisconsin. As a sophomore in 1989, he led the Big Ten with a |
|
|
15.1 punt return average. As a junior he set new Wisconsin |
|
|
single-season and career records for passes broken up. In 1991, |
|
|
Troy was voted team captain and MVP. That season he was also named |
|
|
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, set a school record for punt |
|
|
return yards, and was honored as an All-American as a senior-the |
|
|
school's first since 1987; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1992 he entered the NFL Draft and was the seventh |
|
|
pick in the first round by the Miami Dolphins. Wearing #23, he |
|
|
started at left corner as a rookie and helped the Dolphins reach the |
|
|
AFC Championship Game. Miami had a winning record in each of Troy's |
|
|
four seasons with the team, and made the playoffs three times. |
|
|
During that time, Troy intercepted 14 passes and ranked among the |
|
|
team leaders in tackles; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1996, Troy signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as |
|
|
a free agent. Vincent was a major player in the Eagles' dominant |
|
|
defense of the late '90s. |
|
|
He was selected for the Pro Bowl |
|
|
consecutively from 1999 to 2003, and was named First-Team All-Pro |
|
|
in 2002; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1999, Troy tied for the NFL lead in interceptions |
|
|
with a total of 7, and in 2001 helped the Eagles get to the NFC |
|
|
Championship Game; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 2004, Vincent agreed to terms with the Buffalo |
|
|
Bills, ending a stellar eight-year tenure with Philadelphia. Then |
|
|
in 2006 he moved to the Washington Redskins. He retired from the NFL |
|
|
following that season and finished with a total of 47 career |
|
|
interceptions; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Troy's leadership and success extends well beyond |
|
|
the football field to this day. He has served as VP of the NFL Player |
|
|
Engagement Organization, Board of Directors for the University of |
|
|
Wisconsin Foundation, and the State of New Jersey After 3 Program. |
|
|
He has spoken at league-held seminars on the importance of sound |
|
|
financial planning and preparing for life after football. He served |
|
|
as president of the NFL Players Association and became the first |
|
|
active NFL player to serve on the National Board of Directors for |
|
|
Pop Warner Little Scholars Football; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 2010, Vincent also partnered with Feed The |
|
|
Children to help families in need, and returned to Pennsbury School |
|
|
District in support of the Fuel Up To Play 60 program. Troy Vincent |
|
|
recently, Troy was honored with a 2012 Jefferson Award for |
|
|
outstanding public service by an athlete, and was elected to the |
|
|
Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commend Troy Vincent for his life work and |
|
|
recognize him as an honorary Texan; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Troy Vincent as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |