[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER JOHN

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2004

  Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, on January 4, 2004, the Louisiana State 
University Tiger football team, my alma mater, defeated the Oklahoma 
Sooners 21-14 in the Nokia Sugar Bowl, securing the Bowl Championship 
Series National Title. The Fighting Tigers did their State proud by 
bringing home the first football National Championship in 45 years. 
This unique honor is one that every citizen in Louisiana will certainly 
cherish. LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert, Coach Nick Saban, the student-
athletes, cheerleaders, members of the band and fans deserve a moment 
of recognition for a job well done.
  However, the football team has not been the university's only 
champions this year. The women's indoor and outdoor track teams both 
earned the title of ``best in the Nation''; the baseball team claimed 
first place in the Southeastern Conference, which propelled them to yet 
another College World Series. I know that fans throughout the country 
have watched with intense excitement as the Tigers distinguished 
themselves on the field of play.
  LSU's accomplishments have in no way been limited to athletic 
achievements. As one of the Nation's largest institutions of higher 
learning, the university continues to raise its standards and increase 
its funds for research. In the last fiscal year, a record-breaking 
$122.4 million was awarded to the school in the form of research awards 
and sponsored projects, establishing LSU as a significant player in the 
development of innovative ideas and technology. In the quest for 
increased technology, faculty and staff designed and developed 
SuperMike, one of the fastest computers on the face of the planet. This 
impressive machine is expected to do a myriad of important tasks from 
helping to develop the next generation of the Internet, TeraGrid, to 
modeling coastal erosion and storm damage.
  In response to our country's heightened awareness to issues of 
national security, LSU has developed a National Center for Security and 
Research. The center will pull from experts in a number of LSU's 
departments as well as the private sector to share knowledge about the 
best ways to deal with national catastrophes.
  While all of this has been going on, the faculty as LSU continue to 
be among the best in the Nation and have garnered awards too numerous 
to mention here. As a result, faculty pay has increased and the school 
has been able to retain and attract some of the country's greatest 
minds.
  These accomplishments have translated into a rising bar for LSU 
students. The pool of applicants continues to increase while the 
standards for admission are the highest the university has ever seen. 
At the same time, LSU has been able to retain over 80 percent of its 
students and graduate more than half of its candidates. With admission 
requirements set to rise again in 2005, LSU will continue to offer an 
excellent affordable education to the young men and women who study 
there.
  I appreciate this opportunity to recognize some of the 
accomplishments of this fantastic institution. As LSU continues to 
strive for excellence, Louisiana can be proud that the university 
remains a respected national force in both athletics and academics.

                          ____________________