(JACKSON, Miss.) – Alumni and Jackson State University (JSU) community members gathered at the Mississippi State Capitol as lawmakers recognized the national SWAC football champions. During the annual JSU Day at the Capitol event, legislators also honored other athletic programs for their success on the fields and in the classroom.
Senator Sollie B. Norwood (D) introduced JSU football, softball and tennis champions from the Senate floor. Also joining them were the J5 drum majors and Prancing J-Settes from the Sonic Boom of the South marching band.
“[The year] 2024 was a valiant year for THEE I Love, from the classroom, with a conference-high grade point average, to record success in the respective arenas: the softball field, the tennis court, the Super Bowl, the Celebration Bowl, and the prestigious Rose Bowl,” Norwood said while addressing the Senate chamber.
Norwood presented a resolution to head coach T.C. Taylor, who led the football team to victory in its third bowl appearance in four years.
“I really appreciate the invite down to the Capitol. I woke up this morning and started getting dressed, and any time you have an invite like this, you know you’re doing something right,” Taylor said. “Two years ago, I came down and spoke to you guys following the SWAC Championship, and here it is two years later, and I brought something extra: a national championship.”
JSU Day at the Capitol allows university leaders to meet with state legislators and advocate for campus needs. JSU President Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D., outlined the university priorities, including renovations to the Heritage Dining Hall and the Rose E. McCoy and T.B. Ellis buildings. He also emphasized the need for campus safety projects and additional student housing to accommodate growing enrollment.
“We are so grateful for the support that you have provided, which shows that you believe in the mission of our great institution,” said Thompson. “Jackson State is not just a Mississippi university; it’s Mississippi’s future, and every dollar you appropriate goes to further the economy in the city and the economy of the state.”
The 2025 Mississippi legislative session concludes later this spring.