[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        COMMENDING THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TEAM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 288, a 
resolution submitted earlier today by Senator Breaux.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 288) commending the Louisiana State 
     University Tigers football team for winning the 2003 Bowl 
     Championship Series national championship game.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements relating to the matter be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 288) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 288

       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 to 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 to 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 school history;
       Whereas the Louisiana State University football team won 5 
     games against nationally ranked opponents;
       Whereas the Louisiana State University football team set 8 
     school records;
       Whereas the Louisiana State University football team led 
     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; and
       Whereas running back Justin Vincent was named most valuable 
     player of the Southeastern Conference championship game and 
     the Nokia Sugar Bowl: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (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 
     Louisiana State University during the 2003 season; and
       (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to make available 
     enrolled copies of this resolution to Louisiana State 
     University for appropriate display and to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of the resolution to each coach and member of 
     the 2003 Louisiana State University football team.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, for those of us who watched the game, 
LSU did indeed have an outstanding performance on that day. I know they 
are somewhat frustrated because they had to share the national title 
with USC, but it was a great day for the LSU Tigers by any count.

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