Major Applewhite and not Lane Kiffin is the new head coach of the Houston Cougars. There were reports yesterday that Kiffin would get the job, but that didn’t happen. Applewhite is a Baton Rouge native, who played at Catholic High and then was a star quarterback at Texas. It’s possible Kiffin could still get the head coaching job at South Florida.

Bad loss for the Pelicans last night as they fell to the 76ers 99-88. Philadelphia snapped a 23-game road losing streak with the defeat. New Orleans is now 7-16 on the season and Anthony Davis says this is the most frustrated he’s been at any point during his four-plus NBA career. He had 26 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

Today in the Mercedes Benz Superdome, it’s the Class One-A and Two-A state championship games. Haynesville faces Logansport in the Class One-A title and in the two-A championship game it’s undefeated Madison Prep versus Sterlington.

It’s the Saints and the Buccaneers this Sunday in Tampa Bay. The Bucs have won four in a row and they are tied for first place in the NFC South. But Tampa is only two and four this year at their home stadium and the Saints have won four in a row at Raymond James Stadium. Kick-off is at 3:25.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic concludes Saturday night with the Class 5A championship game as Landry-Walker faces West Monroe. Landry-Walker Head Coach Emmanuel Powell expects an intense game…
cut 19 (18) “…dangerous situations’
West Monroe is seeking it’s eighth state championship and first with Jerry Arledge as it’s head coach.

The other two games tomorrow, Lutcher and Amite in the 3A championship, Karr versus Lutcher in the 4A title.