SIMPLY A SUPER PLACE TO PLAY
Andrew Whitworth is used to winning championships at the Superdome. Just not in theNFL.
The 13th-year pro offensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams has his chance to complete an unusual career trifecta on Sunday, when his Rams play the host New Orleans Saints for the NFC championship and attendant Super Bowl berth.
Asked this week about winning a U.S. college title as a freshman with LSU in the Superdome after the 2003 season, Whitworth informed a reporter that that wasn’t his first time winning a championship in
New Orleans’ famous domed stadium.
“Funny enough, I won three state (high school) championships there as well,” the 37-yearold native of Monroe, La., said. “So I have a historic history there. I’ve had a lot of success in that building, and that building really means a lot to me.
“Those are fond memories … I say it all the time: Superdome is probably, to me, the place that I’ll always have the best emotional ties, just because of my athletic career there.”
After the 2003 college season, Whitworth’s LSU Tigers upset the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners 21-14 to win the BCS championship.
In all four of Whitworth’s years at West Monroe High School (1997-2000), the Rebels advanced to the state championship game at the Superdome, winning three times.