97 -- S 0900<TITLE> <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="Internet Assistant for Microsoft Word 2.0z"> </HEAD> <BODY> <H3><CENTER>97 - S 0900</CENTER></H3> <P> <FONT SIZE=2>=======<BR> DT00428 <BR> =======</FONT> <P> <TABLE > <TR><TD WIDTH=576> <H3><CENTER>S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D </CENTER></H3> </TD></TR> <TR><TD WIDTH=576> <H3><CENTER>IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY </CENTER></H3> </TD></TR> <TR><TD WIDTH=576> <H3><CENTER>JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 1997 </CENTER></H3> </TD></TR> <TR><TD WIDTH=576> <H3><CENTER>____________ </CENTER></H3> </TD></TR> </TABLE> <P> <H3><CENTER>S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N </CENTER></H3> <H3><CENTER>CONGRATULATING THE PROVIDENCE COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ON ITS TREMENDOUS SEASON AND WISHING THE FRIARS CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT <BR> </CENTER></H3> <P> <U><B><FONT SIZE=2>Introduced By</FONT></B></U><FONT SIZE=2>: Senators Kelly, Fogarty and Polisena</FONT> <P> <U><B><FONT SIZE=2>Date Introduced</FONT></B></U><FONT SIZE=2>: March 11, 1997 </FONT> <P> <U><B><FONT SIZE=2>Referred To</FONT></B></U><FONT SIZE=2>: Senate Read and Passed </FONT> <P> <TABLE > <TR><TD WIDTH=583></TD></TR> </TABLE> <P> WHEREAS, Each and every year, members of the Big East Conference look upon their annual trips to Rhode Island to play Providence College with a certain dread, knowing that the always competitive, well-coached Friars will never fail to give their all to secure a victory; and <P> WHEREAS, The 1996-97 season was greatly anticipated by Friar fans because PC's strong, senior-dominated team was expected to finish in the upper echelons of the conference and earn a coveted invitation to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Pete Gillen's resilient players certainly lived up to their advance billing, and now look forward to testing themselves at the very highest levels of national competition; and <P> WHEREAS, In the hunt to win their division right up to the final game of the regular season, the Providence College Friars, in spite of their impressive 19-10 record, and with significant victories over such powerful opponents as Wisconsin, Texas, Villanova, West Virginia and Boston College, the eventual Big East Tournament Champion, knew that they would probably need two additional victories in the Big East Championships to secure an invitation to the "Big Dance,"; and <P> WHEREAS, In true championship style, the Friars traveled to New York's Madison Square Garden and battled their way at Rutgers and West Virginia before falling in a hard-fought contest to the always strong Georgetown Hoyas in the Conference Tournament quarter-finals. Mission accomplished, the Friars have been rewarded with a trip to Charlotte in the Southeast Regional of the NCAA Tournament; and <P> WHEREAS, Paired against a strong Marquette University team, the Friars hope that their front court power and back court finesse will ground the Golden Eagles this Friday and propel the team into the next round of play. In any event the 1996-97 Friars have enjoyed a truly triumphant campaign, and will be able to look back upon this season with justifiable pride; now, therefore, be it <P> RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby honors Providence College basketball coach Pete Gillen and his determined and dedicated players on their superb season, and wishes the Friars tremendous success in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. They have already earned the unqualified admiration and respect of the Senate and of all of the people of Rhode Island; and be it further <P> RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Providence College head coach Pete Gillen on behalf of all of the coaches and players on the 1996-97 Providence College basketball team. </BODY> </HTML><CENTER> <HR WIDTH="95%" ALIGN="center" COLOR="#A70112" SIZE="1"><BR> As always, your <A HREF="mailto:webteam@rilin.state.ri.us">comments</A> concerning this page are welcomed and appreciated.<BR><BR>Thank you for stopping by! </CENTER> <IMG border=0 language=VBSCRIPT onclick="history.back()" src="/images/back.gif"> </BODY> </HTML>