[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON THEIR 
                          ORANGE BOWL VICTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DIANE E. WATSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 2003

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the accomplishments 
of the University of Southern California football team. Congratulations 
are indeed in order for USC President Steven Sample, Head Coach Pete 
Carroll, and the Orange Bowl champions, who finished the season with 
the #I ranking in the Sagarin and Matthews/Scripps Howard ratings and 
the nation's #4 ranking in the final AP and ESPN/USA Today polls.
  The USC Trojan football team has shown unique skill, charisma, 
dedication, and love for the sport. The Trojans accumulated an 11 and 2 
win-loss record while competing against some of the best programs in 
the country. The Trojans regular season performance and their strength 
of schedule earned them a Bowl Championship Series, or BCS, berth. 
Teamwork and a motivated work ethic combined to create second half 
domination over Iowa in the Orange Bowl. After going into the half tied 
10-10, the Trojans mounted long touchdown marches on their first three 
possessions of the second half to blow open the game. USC finished the 
game 38-17, defeating a higher ranked Iowa Hawkeye team.
  Now is also the appropriate time to congratulate quarterback Carson 
Palmer for winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy. This is the first 
time the trophy has returned to the west coast since USC running back 
Marcus Allen managed the feat 21 years ago. Carson Palmer is the 5th 
Heisman winner from USC. Palmer himself summed up the Trojan mind set 
this year when he stated, ``I couldn't be more honored to take this 
trophy back to share with my teammates in Los Angeles . . . This award 
is as much theirs as it is mine.''
  Mr. Speaker, again I congratulate USC President Steven Sample, Head 
Coach Pete Caroll, and the football team at the University of Southern 
California for a season to remember.

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