THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN, FABRIZIO, PARKER, SAINATO, DiGIROLAMO, ADOLPH, BAKER, MENSCH, ROEBUCK, MAJOR, QUINN, STERN, WATERS, KILLION, KIRKLAND, PAYTON, VEREB, DALEY, BROWN, MILLARD, ROSS, YUDICHAK, HICKERNELL, HARHAI, GRUCELA, WATSON, SANTONI, BUXTON, VULAKOVICH, W. KELLER, HORNAMAN, BRADFORD, DELOZIER, YOUNGBLOOD, PHILLIPS, MOUL, PALLONE, TALLMAN, ROCK, PASHINSKI, BRENNAN, ROHRER, SABATINA, DERMODY, KOTIK, EVERETT, GEORGE, SWANGER, HESS, DeWEESE, FLECK, SAMUELSON, DONATUCCI, KORTZ, GEIST, STABACK, FAIRCHILD, HANNA, BROOKS, SHAPIRO, McGEEHAN, BRIGGS, SEIP, MELIO, SOLOBAY, FARRY, McCALL, SCAVELLO, MARKOSEK, MUSTIO, LONGIETTI, SAYLOR, MANN, MIRABITO, MURPHY, M. O'BRIEN, CALTAGIRONE AND PAYNE, APRIL 20, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 20, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Congratulating The Pennsylvania State University Men's

Basketball Team for winning the 2009 National Invitation

Tournament Championship.

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions

Men's Basketball Team set a school record by winning 27 regular

season games during the 2008-2009 season; and

WHEREAS, The Nittany Lions were among 32 teams selected for

the Men's Division I National Invitation Tournament; and

WHEREAS, The Nittany Lions demonstrated their skill and

dedication through five tournament wins, including defeating

long-time school rival Notre Dame in the tournament semi-finals;

and

WHEREAS, Senior forward Jamelle Cornley earned the

designation of NIT Most Valuable Player, despite playing the

last three games with a partially separated left shoulder; and

WHEREAS, With their 69-63 victory over Baylor in Madison

Square Garden on April 2, 2009, the Nittany Lions Men's

Basketball Team earned its first-ever national tournament title

and second postseason championship; and

WHEREAS, The team, led by coach Ed DeChellis and his

assistants, trainers and managers, consisted of seniors Jamelle

Cornley, Stanley Pringle and Will Leiner and red-shirt senior

Danny Morrissey, sophomores Talor Battle, Adam Highberger, Jeff

Brooks, Steve Kirkpatrick and red-shirt sophomores David

Jackson, Andrew Jones and Andrew Ott and freshmen Chris Babb,

Cammeron Woodyard and Billy Oliver; and

WHEREAS, Through their dedication, sportsmanship and

performance, these 14 young men and their coaches enhanced the

rich and proud tradition of Pennsylvania State University

athletics; and

WHEREAS, According to an independent report, in 2008,

Pennsylvania State University's overall net impact on the

Pennsylvania economy was more than $7.7 billion, greater than

any other single enterprise or organization, generating more

than $621 million in tax revenue to the Commonwealth; and 

WHEREAS, As reported by the New York Times, Penn State fans

traveled to New York City aboard 36 buses and "turned the

neutral Garden into a virtual home game," including boisterous

chants of "We Are…Penn State!"; and

WHEREAS, The accomplishments of this team, as athletes and as

students, are worthy of acclaim and commendation, and young men

and women across this Commonwealth should seek to emulate the

success of the Nittany Lions Men's Basketball Team; therefore be

it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate The

Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions Men's Basketball

Team for winning the 2009 National Invitation Tournament; and be

it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

The Pennsylvania State University Men's Basketball Coach Ed

DeChellis, Athletic Director Timothy M. Curley and University

President Graham B. Spanier.