If you didn't think that USC's 2007 Rose Bowl victory was a big deal, you should ask the United States House of Representatives about it.

Tuesday's proceedings in the House included discussions on the establishment of a new office of Homeland Security, a resolution to adjust the Pell Grant program to benefit low-income students, and yes, a resolution honoring the successes of the USC football team.

"I am very proud to represent the University of Southern California in my district," said Congresswoman Diane Watson, D-Calif., the resolution's sponsor. "With USC's last victory I thought it was off the charts."

You might be reading this while giggling about how awesome the House is for recognizing the Trojans.

You might also be screaming and tearing this page to pieces in frustration at the House's productivity, or lack thereof.

At least now we know that Congress has been keeping itself busy by paying attention to the important things in the world.

There is a war going on, social security is dying and USC football is awesome. Cool.

It's important to note that USC wasn't the only team recognized on Tuesday (Mount Union College was congratulated for winning the 2006 Division III National Championship) and that Congress does congratulate teams for winning national titles in their respective sports.

But USC didn't win a national championship - it won the Rose Bowl. And as sad as it might be to say, they're not the same thing.

The resolution mentioned USC's last five seasons, each of which included at least 11 victories, a Bowl Championship Series appearance and a Pacific-10 Championship.

Sure, it's important to appreciate athletic success, but let's not take out time to mention "linebacker Brian Cushing made seven tackles, four tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble, and he was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player for the game," as Watson's resolution did.

Athletic accomplishments by a football team shouldn't deserve congressional honors. Those honors should be reserved for the accomplishments that go unnoticed by society.

Congress should bring to light the noteworthy achievements we all miss, rather than further praise an already indifferent sports juggernaut about its laundry list of widely known successes.

If the House is going to take the time out for acclaim during this era of turmoil, it should focus on unmentioned deserving people and institutions.

USC might not be a bad candidate for such an honor, but perhaps not in the area of its already overly publicized football team.

Why not recognize USC's commitment to its work in the community through programs such as the Joint Educational Project, or recent accomplishments by USC-led researchers who have found ways of further reducing breast cancer risks in women?

Watson said USC deserved recognition, not just for its athletic success but also for its academics.

"When you have an institution of higher education that is not only academically outstanding, but they also have the brawn to succeed athletically, it's something that the rest of the world should know about," Watson said, contending that the resolution was good use of House time to promote good examples of America throughout the world by solidifying the accomplishments in House records.

But only the final clause of the resolution mentioned USC academics, and it did so vaguely.

Also, while Watson said she included a clause about USC's willingness to admit 109 students from the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina, an unknown fact that deserves recognition, this addition could not be found in the resolution posted online.

USC might deserve congressional applause for many things. But if the House is going to take the time to commend something, the football team shouldn't be it.

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