R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Ganado High School Indians football team is to

 1-2     be commended for its exceptional season and for providing longtime

 1-3     Indian fans with many great memories and excitement for the future;

 1-4     and

 1-5           WHEREAS, After going undefeated during the 10-game regular

 1-6     season and methodically stomping through the first four rounds of

 1-7     the playoffs, Ganado's state championship hopes were dashed in a

 1-8     14-6 loss to the Groveton Indians in the state Class 2A semifinals;

 1-9     and

1-10           WHEREAS, Each of the rival teams came into the matchup with

1-11     an unblemished record but with vastly different playoff histories;

1-12     Groveton, ranked number one in its class, is a regular playoff

1-13     contender, while Ganado has come into its own in the past two years

1-14     after a string of less-than-successful seasons; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Head Coach Monte Althaus has done a remarkable job

1-16     turning around a football program that has suffered in recent

1-17     years; during Coach Althaus's two seasons at the helm, he has

1-18     guided the team to an impressive 23-1 record, accumulating one more

1-19     victory than the team earned in its previous eight seasons

1-20     combined; and

1-21           WHEREAS, The Indians averaged more than 300 yards per game on

1-22     offense and allowed just over 200 yards per game on defense while

1-23     outscoring its opponents 442-103; running backs Doug Holt and

1-24     Sterling Watson spearheaded the ground attack, combining for 33

 2-1     touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards, and quarterback Bryan Hurt threw

 2-2     for 13 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, The defense, which picked off an amazing 27 passes,

 2-4     was anchored by defensive back Greg Lee, who also led the team in

 2-5     receptions on offense; other valuable contributions came from

 2-6     safety Heath Bures, defensive back Timmy Alvarez, wide receiver

 2-7     Barry Dunlap, and kicker Jarrett Lambert; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, The Ganado High School Indians demonstrated the

 2-9     importance of putting the good of the team ahead of individual

2-10     accomplishments, and although this recent defeat ended the team's

2-11     18-game winning streak, which dates back to last season, these

2-12     overachievers gained much-needed experience and will no doubt

2-13     return next year with their eyes again on the state crown; and

2-14           WHEREAS, This exemplary group of young men, as well as their

2-15     coaches and staff, is a tremendous source of pride for the students

2-16     and faculty of Ganado High School, an academically recognized

2-17     campus, and it is indeed a privilege to join their many supporters

2-18     in the community in honoring them at this time; now, therefore, be

2-19     it

2-20           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-21     Legislature hereby congratulate Head Coach Monte Althaus and the

2-22     Ganado High School Indians on their outstanding season and extend

2-23     to them sincere best wishes for continued success in the years to

2-24     come; and, be it further

 3-1           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-2     prepared for the members of the team and coaching staff as an

 3-3     expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                      Seaman

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 130 was adopted by the House on March

         5, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House