Debate: These four faces belong on the LSU Tigers Mount Rushmore
By John Fye
College basketball is historically second to college football in Baton Rouge. Thus, it is appropriate that Billy Cannon is next to the most significant basketball player in LSU Tigers' history.
Our honorable mentions gave away that Pete Maravich's face is not carved into the mountain. As much as we appreciate the Pistol's contributions to LSU athletics, there's a celebrity status that one must consider. One man stands alone in that regard.
LSU Tigers Mount Rushmore face No. 2: Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal is a larger-than-life personality who continues to bring attention to the LSU athletic program.
In our lifetime, few players will equal Shaq's celebrity status. From the hardwood to movies, video games, and clothing lines, Shaq has seemingly done it all. And in our deliberation, pop culture status held weight.
Not to mention, Shaq was a darn good player with LSU basketball.
As O'Neal's alumni profile indicates, he set numerous records in Baton Rouge. He established the SEC record for most blocks in a game and most blocks in a season and was the first SEC player to lead the conference in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, and blocked shots in the same season.
Nationally, Shaq led all college basketball in rebounding in 1991.
LSU men's basketball does not hold a national championship, but they were close during O'Neal's tenure. The Tigers reached the second round of the NCAA tournament in his freshman season (1989-90), finished as co-SEC champions in his sophomore season, and again reached the tournament's second round in 1991-92.
With Cannon and Shaq in place, we shift to (arguably) the third most important LSU sport for the next face on our Mount Rushmore.