1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2024 SR 25
4
5 By: Senator J. Dismang
6
7 SENATE RESOLUTION
8 TO RECOGNIZE THE HARDING UNIVERSITY BISONS FOOTBALL
9 TEAM AS THE 2023 NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
10
11
12 Subtitle
13 TO RECOGNIZE THE HARDING UNIVERSITY
14 BISONS FOOTBALL TEAM AS THE 2023 NCAA
15 DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
16
17 WHEREAS, the Harding University Bisons finished off an undefeated
18 season by beating the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers to claim the NCAA
19 Division II Football Championship in front of a crowd of more than twelve
20 thousand (12,000) attendees; and
21
22 WHEREAS, Harding University became the first team in the history of
23 college football to rush for more than six thousand yards (6,000 yds.) in a
24 season, with the offense rushing for five hundred two yards (502 yds.) in the
25 championship game; and
26
27 WHEREAS, the Bisons finished as the top rushing offense nationally,
28 with six thousand one hundred sixty yards (6,160 yds.) and seventy-nine (79)
29 rushing touchdowns, averaging four hundred eleven yards (411 yds.) rushing
30 per contest; and
31
32 WHEREAS, the Bison defense was equally strong, finishing second
33 nationally in scoring defense by allowing only ten point nine (10.9) points
34 per game and finishing fifth in total defense by surrendering an average of
35 only two hundred forty-seven yards (247 yds.) per contest; and
36
*CRH294* 4/17/2024 3:58:09 PM CRH294
 SR25
1 WHEREAS, the Bison special teams was also impressive, with the kickers
2 averaging forty-one yards (41 yds.) per punt and connecting on eighty percent
3 (80%) of field goal attempts; and
4
5 WHEREAS, Head Coach Paul Simmons stated "I think if the country knew
6 our young men and what they are about - the accountability, the passion, the
7 humility, the selflessness - then nothing is really surprising"; and
8
9 WHEREAS, Coach Simmons also said, "If we are going to represent
10 Arkansas, then we want to compete the right way. We want to battle with a
11 warrior spirit, valiant toughness, grit and passion that would make somebody
12 who does not know us proud of what is going on"; and
13
14 WHEREAS, with their 38-7 victory over the Orediggers, the Bisons
15 certainly made Arkansas proud, securing the first-ever Division II football
16 championship for an Arkansas program in front of the eighth-largest crowd in
17 the game's fifty (50) year history,
18
19 NOW THEREFORE,
20 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
21 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
22
23 THAT the Senate recognize and congratulate the Harding University
24 Bisons football team for winning the NCAA Division II Football Championship.
25
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption of this resolution, a copy be
27 provided to Head Coach Paul Simmons by the Secretary of the Senate.
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
2 4/17/2024 3:58:09 PM CRH294