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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A superb Lone Star athlete set a new standard of |
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excellence when Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M University was named |
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the winner of the 2012 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first freshman |
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ever to earn that prestigious award; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Manziel's recognition as the top college player |
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in the nation followed his exceptional debut season as the |
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quarterback of the Aggies; with his gutsy determination and |
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outstanding abilities as a playmaker, he earned the admiration of |
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everyone who witnessed his thrilling gridiron achievements, and he |
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soon became known by the nickname that sums up his no-nonsense |
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approach to the game: "Johnny Football"; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Paul and Michelle Manziel, Johnathan Paul |
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Manziel was raised in Kerrville, where he was a standout |
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quarterback at Tivy High School; he gained national recognition as |
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a senior and was voted Player of the Year in a national coaches |
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poll; he received a scholarship from Texas A&M University and won |
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the starting quarterback job before the start of the 2012 season; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, With his pinpoint throws and elusive running, |
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Mr. Manziel ignited the Aggie offense, and he was especially |
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effective at darting downfield for long gains, leaving defenders |
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scattered in his wake; his breakout performance came in his second |
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game, when he racked up six touchdowns to defeat Southern Methodist |
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University, and Texas A&M went on to tally a total of 217 points |
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while winning its next four contests; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the biggest highlights for this phenomenal |
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freshman came in the showdown with undefeated and No. 1-ranked |
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Alabama on November 10; playing with cool composure in the national |
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spotlight, he directed his team to 20 first-quarter points, and the |
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Aggies knocked off the Crimson Tide by a score of 29-24; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of the 2012 campaign, Mr. Manziel |
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rewrote the record books; he is the first freshman and only the |
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fifth person in NCAA history to compile 3,000 passing yards and |
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1,000 rushing yards in a season; in addition, he holds the |
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Southeastern Conference game and season records for most total |
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yardage, and he set new Texas A&M marks for total yards, rushing |
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yards by a quarterback, and passing yards in a single game; and |
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WHEREAS, After leading the Aggies to 10 triumphs in the |
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regular season, Mr. Manziel took the field alongside his teammates |
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for the 77th Cotton Bowl Classic on January 4, 2013; he guided the |
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squad to a resounding 41-13 win over Oklahoma, as he established a |
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new Cotton Bowl mark for total yardage while scoring four |
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touchdowns; Mr. Manziel also set a Football Bowl Subdivision record |
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for rushing by a quarterback in a bowl game after gaining 229 yards, |
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and he was named the game's Offensive Most Valuable Player; |
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moreover, when his bowl-game scores were added to his regular |
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season statistics, he set a new Texas A&M record for rushing TDs in |
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a season and earned the distinction of being only the fourth FBS |
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quarterback to record 20 rushing and 20 passing touchdowns in the |
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same year; and |
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WHEREAS, In becoming the second Aggie to win the Heisman |
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Trophy, Johnny Manziel has joined the most elite fraternity in |
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college football, and his accomplishment is a source of great pride |
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and excitement to his countless fans in the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Johnny Manziel on winning the 2012 |
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Heisman Trophy 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 Mr. Manziel as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |