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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois wish to congratulate the University of 
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Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team on advancing to 
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the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Final Four and 
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making the school's first appearance in the National 
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Championship game in the program's 100-year history; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The Illini advanced to the Finals by defeating 
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Fairleigh Dickinson University, the University of Nevada, the 
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Arizona, 
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and the University of Louisville in the NCAA's 64-team 
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tournament; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The head coach of the Fighting Illini is second 
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year coach Bruce Weber; he became the first University of 
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Illinois Men's Basketball head coach to advance to the Finals 
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of the National Championship, and he was named the 2004-05 
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Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year, the 2004-05 Big Ten 
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Coach of the Year, the 2005 Henry Iba Award winner, and the 
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2005 Associated Press Coach of the Year; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The team members of the Fighting Illini are junior 
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Marcus Arnold of Chicago; junior James Augustine of Mokena; 
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freshman Calvin Brock of Chicago; junior Dee Brown of Maywood; 
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sophomore Warren Carter of Dallas, Texas; senior Luther Head of 
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Chicago; senior Jack Ingram of San Antonio, Texas; sophomore 
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Rich McBride of Springfield; senior Fred Nkemdi of North 
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Riverside; senior Roger Powell, Jr., of Joliet; freshman Shaun 
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Pruitt of Aurora; sophomore Brian Randle of Peoria; senior Nick 
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Smith of Valrico, Florida; and junior Deron Williams of The 
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Colony, Texas; and
 

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    WHEREAS, The coaches of the Fighting Illini are Head Coach 
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Bruce Weber, and Assistant Coaches Wayne McCLain, Jay Price, 
 


 






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Tracy Webster, and Gary Nottingham; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate the team members and coaches of the Fighting 
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Illini basketball team on providing the University of Illinois 
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with its first appearance in the NCAA National Championship 
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game; and be it further
 

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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to each of the coaches and members of the Fighting 
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Illini as a token of our respect and esteem and with our best 
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wishes for future success.