HR0942 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate former Naperville resident, graduate of Eastern Illinois University, and head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton, on leading his team to a victory in Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Sean Payton was born on December 29, 1963 in San Mateo, California; he is a 1982 graduate of Naperville Central High School in Naperville; he attended and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, where he played quarterback and had 10,665 passing yards, the third highest in Division I-AA history; he was inducted into the Eastern Illinois University Hall of Fame in 2000; and

WHEREAS, He was a three-time all-America selection at Eastern Illinois University and had a brief professional career in Arena Football with the Chicago Bruisers, and in Canadian Football with the Ottawa Rough Riders; he played briefly in the National Football League (NFL), with the Chicago Bears in 1987; and

WHEREAS, Sean Payton's coaching career includes: coaching with the University of Illinois, quarterbacks in 1996; from 1994 to 1995 coaching at Miami University as the offensive coordinator; coaching the runningbacks at San Diego State in 1992 and 1993; in 1990 and 1991 he coached the quarterbacks/receivers at Indiana State; and in 1988 and 1989 he coached at San Diego State as the offensive assistant; and

WHEREAS, His NFL coaching career includes serving as the New Orleans Saints head coach from 2006 to the present; from 2003 to 2005 with the Dallas Cowboys as assistant head coach, quarterbacks; from 2000 to 2002 as the New York Giants offensive coordinator; in 1999 with the New York Giants, coaching quarterbacks; and in 1997 and 1998 with the Philadelphia Eagles, coaching quarterbacks; and

WHEREAS, Every year since 2006, when he became the Saints' head coach, Sean Payton invites members of the Naperville Central High School coaching staff, past and present, to attend training camp, and he has donated equipment and gear to the school; and

WHEREAS, During his career with the New Orleans Saints, he has been named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America, The Sporting News, and the Maxwell Club; and

WHEREAS, Sean Payton is married to Beth, and they have two children, Meghan and Connor; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Sean Payton and wish him continued success for years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton as a symbol of our respect and esteem.