093_HR0059
LRB093 08787 KEF 09018 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Alstott, born on December 21,
3 1973 in Joliet, Illinois, otherwise known simply as "Mike"
4 Alstott to his fans, recently led his Tampa Bay Buccaneers to
5 victory in Super Bowl XXXVII at San Diego, California over
6 the Oakland Raiders by a score of 48-21; and
7 WHEREAS, Mike broke the game open for Tampa Bay when he
8 scored his team's first touchdown on a 2-yard run with 6:24
9 left on the clock in the second quarter to give the
10 Buccaneers a 9-3 lead before a successful extra point gave
11 the Bucs a 10-3 lead; and
12 WHEREAS, Mike's success on the football field can be
13 traced back to his roots in Illinois where he is well-known
14 for his days as a "Hillman" with the Joliet Catholic Academy
15 football team, and where he led the Hillmen to the Class 4A
16 Illinois State Championship in 1990 after he scored the
17 winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter and completed a
18 halfback option pass for a two-point conversion giving Joliet
19 Catholic the lead it would need to secure a win over its
20 opponent; and
21 WHEREAS, Mike continued his personal success with the
22 Purdue Boilermakers where he was named the Boilermakers' most
23 valuable player during his senior, junior, and sophomore
24 seasons, the only player in Boilermaker-football history to
25 accomplish the feat, and where he finished as Purdue's
26 all-time leading rusher with 3,635 yards on 644 carries for
27 an average of 5.6 yards per carry, and where he finished as
28 Purdue's all-time rushing touchdown leader with 39; and
29 WHEREAS, Mike began his career in the National Football
30 League after having been chosen in the second round of the
31 1996 NFL Draft, 35th overall, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers;
32 and
-2- LRB093 08787 KEF 09018 r
1 WHEREAS, Tampa Bay's choice of Mike paid immediate
2 dividends as he led the Bucs in yards-per-carry with 3.9
3 yards and in touchdowns with 6 and as he was only one of four
4 offensive starters to start all 16 games for Tampa Bay during
5 their 1996 season; and
6 WHEREAS, Mike has been named to participate in six
7 consecutive NFL Pro Bowls due to what experts say are his
8 intriguing mix of swift moves and numbing power that has
9 helped to cement his reputation as the National Football
10 League's top all-around fullback; and
11 WHEREAS, Listed at a height of 6-1 and a weight of 248
12 pounds, Mike instills fear in his defensive opponents,
13 especially those who are charged with the unenviable task of
14 having to tackle him; and
15 WHEREAS, Mike has amassed impressive rushing and
16 receiving statistics during his 7-year career in the National
17 Football League with 4,530 rushing yards on 1,171 carries for
18 an average of 3.9 yards and 45 touchdowns and with 1,692
19 receiving yards on 220 receptions for an average of 7.7 yards
20 and 12 touchdowns; and
21 WHEREAS, Mike is also known for his charitable
22 contributions to the community and his involvement with the
23 Boys & Girls Club with which he established the Alstott
24 Football Camp in 1997 for youths ages 8-18; therefore, be it
25 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
26 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
27 we congratulate Michael Joseph Alstott on his recent Super
28 Bowl victory and his distinguished career as an amateur and
29 professional football player and that we are proud of Mike as
30 a son of Illinois and for the way he represents the hard
31 working men and women of our home State; and be it further
-3- LRB093 08787 KEF 09018 r
1 RESOLVED, That we wish Mike good luck, health, and
2 continued success during his ongoing career as a member of
3 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5 furnished to Mike Alstott.