| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The football team from the Texas School for the Deaf |
|
|
in Austin closed out an unforgettable season by capturing the Texas |
|
|
Association of Private and Parochial Schools Six-Man Division I |
|
|
state championship on December 11, 2020; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TSD was forced to |
|
|
switch from 11-man to six-man football for the first time in its |
|
|
history during 2020; undeterred, the Rangers claimed the TAPPS |
|
|
District 5 title and then maintained their momentum in the |
|
|
playoffs; they defeated Logos Preparatory Academy before knocking |
|
|
off San Marcos Academy to advance to the state title contest; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Matching up against the previously unbeaten squad |
|
|
from Veritas Academy in the finale, TSD took an early 22-8 lead in |
|
|
the first quarter and never looked back; when the final seconds |
|
|
ticked away, the Rangers brought the year to a triumphant end with a |
|
|
63-32 victory, earning the first football state championship in the |
|
|
164-year history of the school; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The success enjoyed by the TSD players was the |
|
|
result of an exceptional team effort, with valuable contributions |
|
|
being made by each member of the roster; a total of eight players |
|
|
received All-District honors, and Jordan Leeper, Zarek Nathanson, |
|
|
and Russell Rohde were honored by the Austin American-Statesman for |
|
|
their exceptional efforts in the championship game; the Rangers |
|
|
were guided throughout their winning season by head coach John |
|
|
Moore Jr. and assistant coaches Joshua Moore, Harvey Nathanson, and |
|
|
Al Reins; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Demonstrating inspiring perseverance during a |
|
|
season that was nearly cancelled because of the pandemic, the TSD |
|
|
team earned national attention from such media outlets as NBC's |
|
|
Today show and ESPN's SportsCenter; the Rangers' achievement was |
|
|
all the more special in that it marked a new level of football |
|
|
success for an institution that is considered one of the oldest |
|
|
continually operating public schools in Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Winning a state championship is a daunting task that |
|
|
requires countless hours of hard work and an unwavering commitment |
|
|
to excellence, and the members of the Texas School for the Deaf |
|
|
football team may take justifiable pride in their historic |
|
|
accomplishments on the gridiron; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas School for the Deaf |
|
|
football team on winning the 2020 TAPPS Six-Man Division I state |
|
|
championship and extend to the team's players, coaches, and staff |
|
|
sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Rodriguez |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 192 was adopted by the House on March |
|
|
18, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |