On his most recent update, the maker of the Web site onepeat.com announced that the billboard reminding USC fans of LSU’s 2003 BCS championship and taunting their 2006 loss to Texas will be up in about three weeks.
According to the Web site, which is run by “Steve,” he and the three friends who came up with the idea found a way to reduce costs to $11,360 from more than $13,000. The source of inspiration for the billboard: random times when media outlets referred to USC as back-to-back champions, or nearly becoming the first team to win three consecutive national championships. Now participating fans have helped “Steve” “set the record straight” about USC.
The “rivalry” that LSU fans have created is downright silly on a number of levels.
No team has ever won a share of a national title and been referred to as half-champions, so 2003 counted as a championship for the Trojans, just as it does for the Tigers. Two years later USC came one win short of accomplishing something never done in college football.
USC never played LSU. USC never took anything from LSU. USC never even said anything about LSU.
LSU won the BCS in 2003. The only reason USC even has a share of the 2003 title is because of the almost unanimous votes from the media, some of who are mentioned on onepeat.com’s claim to fame page, which lists all the media entities who have mentioned the idea.
How has anyone’s life changed since LSU won the national championship – or instead, a share of the national title?
I am from New Orleans, and I have seen firsthand how lives have been devastated after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The maker of the page justifies buying the billboard by saying he is from New Orleans, and his house was also destroyed.
“Steve,” as well as the donors to this project, is contributing to the confusing message Louisiana is sending to the rest of the country, especially to lawmakers in Washington.
While families remain homeless and signs of life still seem hopeless in many parts of the city, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin announces that the city will continue with Mardi Gras festivities, although they have not found a sponsor to pay for police overtime hours and other necessary public services.
While New Orleans area families struggle after Katrina and southwest Louisiana tries to recover from Hurricane Rita, we raise $10,000 to give the city of Los Angeles so we can “set the record straight.”
The one good thing resulting from this is that the Web site maker said extra money will go to the Red Cross Katrina Relief Fund, but in my most positive way of looking at this, I am skeptical to think that much more than the already excess $200 will be raised after the mission has been accomplished.
Student Government’s $10,000 on voting clickers for keeping records was bad enough, but $10,00 for this? Let’s get our priorities in order, then let’s get some “respect.”
 
Walter is a print journalism senior. Contact him at [email protected]