LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Siena College Men's Basketball
Team upon the occasion of capturing the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference Championship

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, On Monday, March 9, 2009, the 2008-2009 Siena College Men's
Basketball Team achieved unparalleled excellence for the second year in
a row by capturing their second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic
Conference (MAAC) Basketball Championship; and
WHEREAS, Using a super second half to defeat Niagara 77-70 in front of
9,744 fans in downtown Albany, the 2008-2009 Siena College Men's Basket-
ball Team became one of the College's best teams ever; this win is the
first time that Siena has won back-to-back MAAC Tournament titles in
school history; and
WHEREAS, The 2008-2009 Siena College Men's Basketball Team earned
their second straight invitation to the prestigious NCAA Division I
Basketball Tournament; this is Siena's fifth trip to the NCAA Tourna-
ment; and
WHEREAS, The MAAC Championship win against Niagara gave Siena their
21st consecutive victory at home; it ties Siena for the third longest
home winning streak in the country; and
WHEREAS, The inspired play of the 2008-2009 Siena College Men's
Basketball Team built an unprecedented loyal following of students,
faculty, staff, alumni and local community support; and
WHEREAS, The 2008-2009 Siena College Men's Basketball Team was marked
by both inspired team play and individual excellence, epitomized by the
selection of senior co-captain Kenny Hasbrouck as the Tournament's Most
Valuable Player, and by the selection of junior point guard Ronald Moore
and junior Alex Franklin to the All-Tournament team, along with
Hasbrouck; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of Head Coach Fran McCaffery and his talented team
of assistant coaches, skilled and inspirational tutors, respected for
their ability to develop potential into excellence; and
WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, the 2008-2009 Siena College
Men's Basketball Team members have proven themselves to be an unbeatable
combination of talents, reflecting favorably on their school; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Fran McCaffery and his team of assistant coaches
have done a superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring the 2008-2009
Siena College Men's Basketball Team members toward their goals; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Head Coach Fran McCaffery and his assistant coaches,
and the 2008-2009 Siena College Men's Basketball Team's outstanding
athletes have clearly made a contribution to the spirit of excellence
which is a tradition of their school; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the 2008-2009 Siena College Men's Basketball Team, its
members, and Head Coach Fran McCaffery and his assistant coaches on
their outstanding season, overall team record, capturing the 2009 Metro

Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship, and their NCAA Tournament
participation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the 2008-2009 Siena College Men's Basketball
Team, and to Head Coach Fran McCaffery and his assistant coaches.