[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H478-H482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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COMMENDING LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS FOR WINNING 2003 BOWL
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND COMMENDING SOUTHERN
UNIVERSITY JAGUARS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING 2003 SBN BLACK COLLEGE
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order
at any time for the majority leader or his designee to call up House
Resolution 496; the resolution be considered as read; and the previous
question be considered as ordered on the resolution to final adoption
without intervening motion except (1) one hour of debate and (2) one
motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the House,
and as the designee of the majority leader, I call up the resolution
(H. Res. 496) commending the Louisiana State University Tigers football
team for winning the 2003 Bowl Championship Series national
championship game, and commending the Southern University Jaguars
football team for winning the 2003 SBN Black College National Football
championship, and ask for its immediate consideration.
[[Page H479]]
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of House Resolution 496 is as follows:
H. Res. 496
Whereas the Louisiana State University Tigers football team
won the 2003 Bowl Championship Series national championship
game, defeating Oklahoma University by a score of 21-14 in
the Nokia Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New
Orleans, Louisiana, on January 4, 2004;
Whereas the Louisiana State University football team won
the Southeastern Conference Championship, defeating the
University of Georgia by a score of 34-13 in the Southeastern
Conference Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta,
Georgia, on December 6, 2003;
Whereas the Louisiana State University football team won 13
games during the 2003 season, more games than in any other
season in Louisiana State University history;
Whereas the Louisiana State University football team won 5
games against nationally ranked opponents during the 2003
season;
Whereas the Louisiana State University football team set 8
school records during the 2003 season;
Whereas in 2003 the Louisiana State University football
team was first in the Nation in total defense, allowing only
252 yards per game, and scoring defense, allowing only 1 team
to score more than 20 points in any game during the season;
Whereas Louisiana State University football head coach Nick
Saban was named the National Coach of the Year by the
Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of
America;
Whereas 4 players--Chad Lavalais, Corey Webster, Skyler
Green, and Stephen Peterman--were named first-team All-
Americans;
Whereas offensive tackle Rodney Reed was named a National
Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation and was
named first-team Academic All-American;
Whereas quarterback Matt Mauck threw 28 touchdown passes
during the 2003 season, a Louisiana State University single
season record, and was named second-team Academic All-
American;
Whereas running back Justin Vincent was named most valuable
player of the Southeastern Conference Championship game and
the Nokia Sugar Bowl;
Whereas the Southern University Jaguars were named the 2003
SBN Black College National Football Champions;
Whereas on December 13, 2003, in front of 31,617 fans in
Birmingham, Alabama, the Southern University football team
defeated Alabama State University by a score of 20-9 to win
the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game and
Southern University's 19th Southwestern Athletic Conference
title;
Whereas the Southern University football team beat
Grambling State University by a score of 44-41 to win the
2003 State Farm Bayou Classic and a trip to the Southwestern
Athletic Conference Championship game;
Whereas the Southern University football team finished the
2003 football season with a 12-1 record;
Whereas the Southern University Jaguars' football head
coach, Pete Richardson, earned his 5th conference title in
his 11th year of coaching at Southern University;
Whereas Southern University coach Pete Richardson was named
Coach of the Year by the Southwestern Athletic Conference;
Whereas Southern University quarterback Quincy Richard led
the most effective offense in Black college football this
year and was named Offensive Player of the Year by the
Southwestern Athletic Conference;
Whereas 4 Southern University football players have been
named to the 2003 SBN Black College All-American Team,
including quarterback Quincy Richard, offensive linemen
Arnold Sims and Miniya Smith, and defensive back Lenny
Williams;
Whereas the Southern University football team was the most
efficient and dominant football team in the Southwestern
Athletic Conference in the 2003 season; and
Whereas over 1,000,000 devoted fans attended the top 30
Black college football games in the 2003 season: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the Louisiana State University Tigers football
team for winning the 2003 Bowl Championship Series national
championship game;
(2) recognizes the achievements of all the players,
coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in helping
the Louisiana State University football team during the 2003
football season;
(3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
make available enrolled copies of this resolution to
Louisiana State University for appropriate display and
distribution to the coaches and members of the 2003 Louisiana
State University football team;
(4) commends the Southern University Jaguars football team
for winning the 2003 SBN Black College National Championship;
(5) recognizes the achievements of all the players,
coaches, and support staff who were instrumental in helping
the Southern University football team during the 2003
football season; and
(6) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
make available enrolled copies of this resolution to Southern
University for appropriate display and distribution to the
coaches and members of the 2003 Southern University football
team.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today,
the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker) is recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. John), for purposes of debate only.
General Leave
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on H. Res. 496.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Louisiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a particular note of pride to speak on
behalf of two fine athletic achievements from institutions both
domiciled within the great city of Baton Rouge.
It began last fall when LSU set eight school records during the 2003
season. They won 13 games during that season, more games than in any
other season in Louisiana State University history. They won the
Southeastern Conference championship, defeating the University of
Georgia by a score of 34 to 13 in the Southeastern Conference
championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on December 6, 2003.
This was followed by a terrific game and a victory in the 2003 Bowl
Championship Series for the national championship, defeating Oklahoma
University by a score of 21 to 14 in the Nokia Sugar Bowl on January 4,
2004.
Let me say a word about the excellent Oklahoma team and the manner in
which their athletes competed. There was no giving up until the final
whistle blew. It was a terrific game to watch.
But I want to express great appreciation to the young men of the LSU
football team for their commitment to excellence and their hard work in
pursuit of this championship. As a result of this effort, they were
first in the Nation in total defense, allowing only 252 yards per game,
and scoring defense, allowing only one team in a game to score more
than 20 points. As a result of this outstanding effort, Coach Nick
Saban was named the National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press
and the Football Writers Association of America, and Chad Lavalais,
Corey Webster, Skyler Green and Stephen Peterman were all named first-
team All-Americans.
At the same time, as amazing as this accomplishment was for any
athletic program, located just across the city is the great Southern
University, also within the Sixth Congressional District of Louisiana.
They ended their football season, finishing with a 12 and 1 record,
defeating Grambling State University in an exciting game, 44 to 41, to
win the 2003 State Farm Bayou Classic and the right to go to the
Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game.
On December 13, 2003, in front of 31,617 fans in Birmingham, Alabama,
the Southern University team defeated Alabama State by a score of 20 to
9 to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game and
Southern University's 19th Southwestern Athletic Conference title,
consequently were named the 2003 SBN Black College National Football
Champions.
This is an extraordinary occurrence, when two programs of such
excellence achieve national prominence and bring home the national
championship.
Although there has been some discussion about the manner in which
this championship was arrived at, I would be quick to point out that
this resolution is the first such resolution to be considered on the
House floor, and appropriately so, because I believe, without doubt,
LSU and Southern University are first in the Nation in football
excellence.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, first let me thank my good friend and colleague from
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for introducing this resolution, and, of
course, thank him for extending me the time.
I am very proud to stand up here today to congratulate two national
[[Page H480]]
championships from the same city. I think that is an accomplishment
that we all in Louisiana, and certainly the Congressman from Baton
Rouge, should be very proud of.
As the gentleman mentioned, on January 4, down in the Louisiana
Superdome in the Sugar Bowl, which was the BCS national championship,
the LSU Fighting Tigers, my alma mater, defeated the Oklahoma Sooners
in the Bowl Championship Series national title. The Tigers did the
State proud by bringing home the first national championship in 45
years, Mr. Speaker; and I think that is a proud accomplishment.
However, LSU, as the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker) has
mentioned, is not the only collegiate football team to excel this year.
The Southern University Jaguars gave the fans throughout the country
something to cheer about when they were recognized in the Sheraton Poll
as the 2004 Historical Black College National Championship, completing
the dual national championships from two universities from the same
town.
The Southern Jaguars completed an impressive 12 and 1 season,
including a very exciting football game in the Superdome in the Bayou
Classic and also the Southwest Athletic Conference title championship
game.
Mr. Speaker, but this was more than just about two football games. I
am very proud to stand up here and congratulate the athletic programs
of both universities, but this was also an opportunity to showcase the
academic excellence of both of those universities. I am very proud of
that.
LSU chancellor, Mark Emmert; Southern University chancellor, Ed
Jackson; the LSU football coach, Nick Saban; the Southern football
coach, Peter Richardson; all the students; the great fans from
Louisiana should all be proud and join us in recognizing this wonderful
accomplishment of the two national championships from my home State. I
am very proud to stand here and congratulate them.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Chairman Tauzin).
Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important resolution, because
it recognizes a most unusual event in our Nation's sports history, when
two college teams in the same town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, not a big
metropolitan town like Los Angeles or New York or what have you, but a
small southern capital city, when two universities in that town achieve
the ranking of number one in the Nation, national championships, both
the Black College National Championship with Southern and the NCAA
championship with the LSU Tigers, that is a remarkable event.
I missed the LSU game, by the way. My friend from Crowley should know
the fact I spent the night in Crowley Hospital in fact attending to a
problem I was having that night and missed the game, and my wife had to
tell me who won the next morning.
But I did watch the replay, and the gentleman is absolutely right, it
was an amazing game. Unfortunately, I stayed there with my two tickets,
knocked out for the evening, and did not see the game. But when I saw
the replay, I realized how tough a game it was.
Oklahoma was a great team. The Oklahoma Sooners were supposed to be
the ``team of the century'' as they began their season, stumbled with
Kansas State, and again faced an incredibly improving LSU team under
Nick Saban. Coach Richardson with the Southern team had an amazing run
of great victories to a national championship as well. What an
outstanding year Baton Rouge, Louisiana, had and our State of Louisiana
had in these two national championships.
The most remarkable thing, of course, is the way these two coaches
have brought these players along. If you watched the season of these
two teams, you saw coaches really working with young men and bringing
them along, both athletically and in many other ways, making great men
of them as they proceeded through their schedule. When the end of the
season came, they were all much better than when they started, both
academically, athletically and in so many other ways.
I should also tell you one of my best friends in this world is a
former Member, Bill Brewster. You should know that last Friday Bill
Brewster went through open heart surgery here in Washington, D.C. He
had five bypasses, and he is back at his desk today. He is doing great;
he has recovered.
But I called him up when I knew he was going into that surgery, since
he is from Oklahoma and he was a Congressman from Oklahoma, to offer
him some LSU surgeons, since we had learned to cut up on Oklahoma
pretty good in the stadium in New Orleans. He had a good laugh and
said, ``You are going to break my stitches. Don't do that, please.''
The bottom line is we had a great year. The coaches and players at
LSU, my son is an LSU senior right now, as you and I, all of us are LSU
graduates, he is a senior now at LSU, and the thrill of those students,
I know at LSU and Southern, to watch their team achieve such great
heights is an inspiration for all those young people. They are going to
be better students. They are going to be better people because they
went through a great year, and they saw what hard work, determination
and just gutting it out means in terms of winning a great victory the
way the teams won those victories.
So, again, our great congratulations to the LSU Tigers and the
Southern Jaguars, our great appreciation to the coaches and their
staffs and the students and those folks who run those two great
institutions, and our congratulations to the fans of our great State,
who stuck with our teams through some hard times until this great year
we experienced.
So, again, thank you for bringing this resolution forward, Richard,
and again congratulations at Mardi Gras time to the State of Louisiana.
``Laissez les bon temps rouler,'' let the good times roll.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from North Louisiana (Mr. McCrery).
Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman bringing this
resolution to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I am a graduate of LSU Law School, so, of course, I am
very proud of the LSU Tigers and their national championship this year.
But I have to tell you not only LSU graduates are proud of the LSU
Tigers. LSU is an institution in Louisiana that exceeds just the
confines of the campus and the student body and the alumni. Everybody
in Louisiana takes great pride in watching the LSU Tigers play, so, of
course, the State is just very excited still about the national
championship.
Southern University, the Jaguars, have a long history of great
football teams, this year, of course, winning the national championship
for Black Colleges. So Baton Rouge, as the gentleman from Louisiana
(Mr. Tauzin) pointed out, is the home of two national champions, and we
all of us in Louisiana, north Louisiana and south Louisiana alike, are
very proud of those two schools and our capital of Baton Rouge.
I took my two boys and my wife to the Sugar Bowl; and just to give
you some idea of the excitement that was generated by LSU, my two boys,
who are 10 and 8, I have never seen them get so excited about anything,
whether it is Christmas morning or birthday presents. These guys were
excited. Just throughout the stadium, people were excited about what
was going on in our State and with our football team, the LSU Tigers.
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So it was a great victory not only for LSU but for everybody who
lives in Louisiana and who enjoys watching the LSU Tigers play
football. The same thing I am sure for the alumni fans, children of
graduates of Southern University. So, all in all, this year we just
could not have asked for a better ending to the football season at both
Southern and LSU.
So I thank the gentleman for bringing this resolution to the floor.
I commend the coaches of both schools and the players. I want to
particularly point out Nick Saban's performance not only on the
football field and not only on the sideline but before the cameras. In
every interview leading up to the Sugar Bowl, I think Coach Saban was
extremely gracious in his
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comments about the BCS and who might be the eventual champion, who
should be and what game. He never, ever got cross-wise with the press.
He never stuck his nose up and said LSU ought to be here or there. He
just said, look, we are just going to play the game and see what
happens; and whatever game they tell us to go to and play, that is
where we will go and play. I thought he exhibited a great deal of
character and class in that whole time period leading up to the game.
So congratulations to Coach Saban for a fine performance on the field
and off the field.
Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I have the gentleman from New Orleans, Louisiana, (Mr. Jefferson) who
is on his way to also join in this celebration of two national
championships.
Of course, I am very proud of being not only an alumnus of that great
institution but also for being present at the game. It was an
incredible game. It was a defensive game. Of course, Coach Saban always
said, and borrowed a line from many famous coaches, that defense wins
national championships. Of course, the 21-to-14 score at the end of the
game I think reiterated the fact that the defense indeed did win this
national championship.
I am actually looking forward to the 2004 season with the BCS to
ending up very similar to this year, but the only difference is it will
happen in Miami and not New Orleans.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I wish to read into the Record additional commendations that are
certainly appropriate. I recognize that Coach Saban was named the
Associated Press Coach of the Year. I would like to also recognize the
Southern University Coach, Pete Richardson, who was named Coach of the
Year by the Southwestern Athletic Conference, as well as having young
men named to the SBN Black College All American Team, including
quarterback Quincy Richard, offensive linemen Arnold Sims and Miniya
Smith, and defensive back Lenny Williams. So the achievements and
recognition coming to both universities, their football leadership, and
the members of the team have been extraordinary.
It is with great pleasure that I participate in this discussion this
afternoon and note, as I did a few moments ago to the gentleman from
Louisiana, that this is also the first resolution to be considered in
the House on this matter. Although there appeared to be controversy, I
do not consider it so. There was merely discussion about the efficacy
of Louisiana State University being named number one as a result of
some expressed concerns about the BCS. Those concerns only became
apparent when the calculations turned out the way they did at the end
of the day. Many people were quite happy to abide by the BCS scientific
analysis as long as LSU remained in third position.
So I just wanted to enter into the Record that once again, with the
consideration of this resolution, LSU is moving forward in first place
through the legislative process.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As the gentleman mentioned, I happen to be, I guess notwithstanding
anything else, a big fan of the BCS. I believe that it is a system that
is maybe far from perfect, but I am very supportive of the theory of
what it is all about. It puts to strength the schedule and also puts
the games, who you play, and not just how many points you score. And I
think that, in the end, it was very close. It was in the decimal
points.
But I also want to congratulate the University of Southern
California, who had a very excellent season and ended on a very
positive note. But the BCS, I think we will hear lots of controversy
about it, but I think it worked. I think it was something that is far
from perfect, as I mentioned before, but it is something that is needed
in college football, and we are moving towards that.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. JOHN. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that when we start
a political campaign as hopeful candidates to be elected to Congress,
we set up a standard of rules, we conduct the campaign, and we finalize
the campaign based on those pre-determined sets of rules. Rarely do we
get engaged in a discussion about changing the rules during the course
of the campaign.
I think, although I had some differences myself with the way the BCS
calculations were to ultimately be determined, once the BCS was put in
place, win or lose, we had to abide by those rules until that season
was over.
Now next season may bring us new opportunities to talk about perhaps
playoff opportunities. Some were interested in seeing a playoff game
between LSU and USC. I would personally have enjoyed that to a great
extent.
Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, it is also just
interesting to note that all of the conferences across the NCAA signed
off on those rules before the season started, so we must play by those
rules.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New Orleans (Mr. Jefferson), my friend and colleague.
Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
this time.
I hope the Nation can appreciate this bipartisan effort here that is
being made to bring to the attention of those who are still unconvinced
that LSU is the undisputed national champion of college football. I
hear no objection to that on this floor from any of my colleagues,
because it is a fact.
I am very proud that this event that established LSU as the
undisputed national champion was held in my home district in New
Orleans in the Super Dome. It was a rousing crowd and a wonderful
event; and, of course, the right team won.
I am also here to say for Southern University how proud we are of
that university. That is a school to which I went some 35 years ago
now, from which I graduated before law school and which I hold very
close to my heart. Southern University has won the National Black
College Championship Award for this year. So two schools from
Louisiana, both from Baton Rouge, from the biggest district have
distinguished themselves and therefore brought honor on our State and I
believe for our entire Nation.
We ought to be very proud of them. They not only distinguish
themselves in football, as my colleagues know. They have wonderful
records of accomplishments in academia, which is their major function.
They graduate as athletes, and they do a wonderful job all the way
around.
So Louisiana is in the spotlight tonight for something that is very,
very good. All of us are proud of them, Republicans and Democrats
across this country. We are proud of our schools and proud of what they
stand for and proud of the tradition that they represent, the best of
competition in college football. This year that competition being
rewarded in the fact that both of them are undisputed national
champions in their respective fields of operation.
Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to offer this resolution for
consideration by the House. I look forward to its final adoption and,
more importantly, next season.
Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to today to congratulate the
Louisiana State University Fighting Tigers football team for winning
the 2003 National Championship and the Southern University Jaguars for
being named the 2003 SBN Black College Football championship. Both of
these schools brought great excitement to the people of Louisiana,
including myself, and undoubtedly deserving champions.
As I watched the game in the Superdome I knew I was watching
something special, a part of history that folks in Louisiana would be
proud of for a long time. LSU defensively dominated Oklahoma on its way
to a 21-14 victory over the heavily favored Sooners to bring the
national title back to Baton Rouge for first time since the ``Chinese
Bandits'' secured it in 1958. Led by coach of the year Nick Saban, the
Tigers won a school record 12 games this year and their 9th
Southeastern Conference Championship beating arch rivals Ole Miss,
Auburn, Alabama, and Arkansas by a combined score of 130-48.
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The Tigers got outstanding performances from several players during
the season. True Freshman Justin Vincent was named the most valuable
player of the Southeastern Conference Championship game against
Georgia, where he rushed for 201 yards and the Sugar Bowl where he ran
for 117 yards with 1 touchdown.
LSU's defense led by first team all-American Chad Lavlais ranked
number 1 in the Nation this season in scoring defense allowing only an
average of 11 points per game and only yielding more that 20 points in
1 game. The defense was the difference in the National Championship
game as Defensive End Marcus Spears intercepted a Jason White pass and
ran it back for what turned out to be the go ahead touchdown.
But this is not the only title that now resides in Louisiana. The
Southern University Jaguars defeated Alabama State University 20-9 to
win their 19th Southwestern Athletic Conference title and become the
SBN Black College Football National Champions.
Under the guidance of Pete Richardson, this year's Southwestern
Conference coach of the year, the Jaguars earned their 5th conference
title in Coach Richarson's 11 year tenure and defeated Grambling State
University in a 44-41 shootout to win the annual Bayou Classic held in
the New Orleans Superdome.
Southern Quarterback Quincy Richard was named the Offensive Player of
the year and was named to the SBN Black College All American Team,
along with offensive lineman Arnold Sims, Miniya Smith, and defensive
back Lenny Williams.
It is an honor to congratulate both these teams on a memorable and
historic season that will forever bring great pride to each University
and the people to Louisiana.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Without objection, the
previous question is ordered.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________