Florida Senate - 2023 (NP) SR By Senator Berman 26-03558-23 20231734__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Resolution A resolution recognizing and celebrating the incredible accomplishments of the Florida Atlantic University men’s basketball team and the university’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence, 5 creating a collegiate brand that is nationally renowned. 7

WHEREAS, based in Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University 9 (FAU) is a public research university within the State University System with an outstanding track record of providing access, excellence, and social mobility to its diverse student body located across six campuses spanning miles of the Southeast Florida coastline, and

WHEREAS, the FAU men’s basketball team, the Owls, was established in and joined Division I in 1993, where they first held membership with the ASUN Conference, previously known as the Trans America Athletic Conference, and

WHEREAS, FAU moved to the Sun Belt Conference in and to Conference USA in 2013, and will join the American Athletic Conference in July 2023, and

WHEREAS, the FAU men’s basketball team achieved a final overall record of 35-4 for the season, the best in team history, and

WHEREAS, FAU’s 20-game winning streak was not only a school record, but the longest of any team in the nation during the 26 season, and

WHEREAS, FAU began the NCAA tournament as the No. 9 seed, 31 the team’s second appearance in tournament history and its first in years, and

WHEREAS, FAU defeated Memphis 66-65 for its first tournament win in team history, capped by a Nick Boyd score with 35 2.5 seconds remaining and Giancarlo Rosado leading the team with 36 points, and

WHEREAS, FAU defeated Fairleigh Dickinson University 78-70, 38 led by Johnell Davis’s 29-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist, and 5-39 steal performance, and

WHEREAS, FAU defeated No. 4 seed University of Tennessee 41 62-55 at Madison Square Garden, thanks to a second-half push led by Michael Forrest’s 8-0 run, which gave FAU its first lead since the opening minute of the game, and

WHEREAS, FAU defeated No. 3 seed Kansas State University 45 79-76 at Madison Square Garden, with a well-rounded performance featuring points from Vladislav Goldin, 13 points from Johnell Davis, 17 points from Alijah Martin, and points from Bryan Greenlee, and

WHEREAS, FAU made its first-ever Final Four, one of nine teams to ever make it as a No. 9 seed or below, and one of five teams to make it after entering without a previous tournament win, and

WHEREAS, FAU valiantly fell 72-71 to San Diego State University off a last-second buzzer beater at NRG Stadium in Houston, despite Alijah Martin’s 26-point, 7-rebound, and 1-56 steal game, and

WHEREAS, FAU’s Final Four appearance will likely have long-58 Florida Senate - 2023 (NP) SR 1734 26-03558-23 20231734__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. lasting positive impacts for the university, its athletic programs, and this state,

NOW, THEREFORE, 60

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 62 That the incredible accomplishments of the Florida Atlantic University men’s basketball team are recognized and celebrated, 65 as is the university’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence, creating a collegiate brand that is nationally renowned. 68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate congratulates team members Leo Beath, Nicholas Boyd, Tre Carroll, Johnell Davis, 70 Michael Forrest, Jalen Gaffney, Isaiah Gaines, Vladislav Goldin, 71 Bryan Greenlee, Jack Johnson, Brenen Lorient, Alijah Martin, 72 Alejandro Ralat, Giancarlo Rosado, and Brandon Weatherspoon on their teamwork, blazing new trails for the FAU men’s basketball program. 75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate recognizes the diligent work of Head Coach Dusty May, along with Assistant Coaches Todd Abernethy, Kyle Church, and Drew Williamson, 78 Assistant to the Head Coach Brandon Gilbert, and Director of Operations KT Harrell, in shaping the Owls into a team of winners who defy expectations. 81 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate also recognizes the university staff who contribute to the operation of the basketball facility and to the overall success of the team and the university and the extraordinary efforts of all involved in the accomplishments of the FAU 2022-2023 men’s basketball team. 86