Gov. Bill Haslam joined Rep. Jason Zachary in the library at Farragut High School Monday to congratulate the FHS football team on winning the state title in Division 5A in December, a first state championship win in football for the Admirals.

Zachary presented the team with a proclamation lauding their accomplishment. “We were invited to Nashville,” said Athletic Director Don Dodgen, “but with testing and scheduling, we never could get the majority of the team together to go. It’s great that the governor was able to be here and honor them here at the school.”

The governor’s message to the football team was three points: Congratulations, a thank-you for giving a Knoxville boy football bragging rights in Middle Tennessee and an observation on what he liked best about their victory.

“I love that you won,” Haslam told the team, “but what I am most impressed with is the way you won. As the season progressed, the character of this team came through loud and clear.”

As a parting thought, Haslam said, “As cool as it is to be a state champion in football in a really hard division, I’d challenge you with this: Don’t let that be the high point of your life… don’t rest on that because there is a whole lot more each one of you guys can do.”