The Saints had their final practice today before Saturday night’s preseason game against Indianapolis. Coach Sean Payton says Andrew Luck and the Colts should be a good test for his team…
cut 30 (16) “…played well’
Several Saints players will see their first action in a preseason game on Saturday. Quarterback Drew Brees headlines that list, but we’ll also get a chance to see Jairus Byrd and cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Patrick Robinson. Byrd and Robinson are battling for the starting cornerback position opposite of Keenan Lewis.

Sophomore Ethan Pocic could be LSU’s starting center in the season opener against Wisconsin. Coach Les Miles said on his radio show last night that Pocic will play in the game, if not start. Elliot Porter was LSU’s starting center last season.

The Pelicans released their preseason schedule today. New Orleans will play two games at the Smoothie King Center, October 14th against the Rockets and October 16th versus the Thunder. They will also play the Dallas Mavericks on October 23rd at the Century Link Center in Bossier City. The Pels preseason schedule begins October fourth against the Miami Heat in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Ragin Cajuns and McNeese State will play each other in football in 2016. The game will be held at Cajun Field. These two teams played each other in 2007 and the Cowboys won 38-17.

UL Lafayette also announced that individual game tickets for this year’s season opener against Southern will go on sale Monday. You can purchase tickets at the Cajundeom Box Office or through Ticketmaster.
Louisiana Tech wants to get Hunter Lee more involved in the offense this season. The senior running back caught 16 passes and rushed the ball three times last year. Lee was a big part of the Bulldogs offense as a freshman, when he rushed for 650 yards and five touchdowns in 2011.

The Saints practiced in front of a big crowd at Mandeville High School last night. Coach Sean Payton says it was a good experience for his team…
cut 30 (14) “…his players”
The Saints are back at their facility today, praciting indoors and getting ready for Saturday’s preseason game against the Colts.

According to ranking by Forbes Magazine, the Green Bay Packers have the best fans in the NFL. Bronco fans came in second place and the Who Dat Nation finished third in that ranking.

And Forbes has also come out with its ranking over how much franchises are worth. Dallas tops the list at three-point-two billion dollars, the Saints are worth one-point-one billion.

During Les Miles’ call-in talk show, the LSU head coach reitereated that quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will play in the season opener. He also said that sophomore offensive lineman Ethan Pocic could be in the starting line-up, which means Elliot Porter could be a back-up. Miles also said that freshman Jamal Adams and sophomore Rickey Jefferson are playing safety. There was no mention of senior Ronald Martin.

Louisiana Tech wants to get Hunter Lee more involved in the offense this season. The senior running back caught 16 passes and rushed the ball three times last year. Lee was a big part of the Bulldogs offense as a freshman, when he rushed for 650 yards and five touchdowns in 2011.

Grambling State interim President Cynthia Warrick says she would like to make renovations to Eddie Robinson Stadium. Warrick told the Monroe News-Star Editorial Board that she would like to a see a new jumbotron at the stadium, along with new turf and an improved drainage system.

The Saints held a night practice at Mandeville High School last night and the place was packed. The players liked the interaction with the fans on hand. Coach Payton says he and the team felt like it was one of their better practices since they came back from the Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. Today’s Saints practice has been moved inside and will be closed to the public as the Black and Gold continue preparations for the next preseason game Saturday at 7 in Indianapolis against the Colts. You can watch that game on CBS.

LSU Coach Les Miles said once again on his radio show last night that both quarterbacks will play in the season opener against Wisconsin next Saturday. He added that whether it’s Anthony Jennings or Brandon Harris who starts in the game — that doesn’t necessarily mean that QB will be the one who gets more snaps or starts the rest of the season. Student athletes including coaches and players all took part in move-in day at LSU yesterday. The Tigers are back on the practice field today.

The Southeastern Conference says all 14 Southeastern Conference schools have made steps to improve fan experience during football games in their stadiums. The league says the changes were the result of recommendations made by athletic directors, including LSU AD Joe Alleva, who reviewed attendance trends noting that more fans were choosing to stay home and watch the game on their big TVs.

According to Forbes, The Dallas Cowboys are worth the most out of all 32 NFL franchises. The publication indicates The Cowboys are the first US sports franchise to top $3 billion dollars. The Saints came in a 23rd overall with a value of 1.11 billion dollars according to the report.

Officials with UL Lafayette broke ground Wednesday morning on a new 13-point-eight million dollar Athletics Performance Center. The facility will provide training space, an equipment room, and other amenities for the football team.

The Saints will practice tonight at Mandeville High School in St. Tammany Parish. A large contigent of Who Dats is expected to watch. New Orleans is getting ready for its third preseason game of the year on Saturday in Indianapolis. Saints safety Jairus Byrd is expected to see his first action since undergoing back surgery in May.

LSU Coach Les Miles says it’s likely both quarterbacks Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings will play in the season opener against Wisconsin. And Miles added that he’ll inform the team next Thursday, which QB will start the game against the Badgers.

The Tigers had a scrimmage last night and senior running back Kenny Hilliard rushed for 100 yards. That’s according to Miles. The head coach also said defensive tackle Quentin Thomas and wide receiver Malachi Dupre participated. Thomas injured his biceps muscle earlier in camp and Dupre has been dealing with a minor injury, believed to be a hamstring.

Louisiana Tech football coach Skip Holtz says he’ll like to name a starting quarterback for the upcoming season on Friday. It’s been a two man race for most of camp betweeen Cody Sokul and Ryan Higgins.

Officials with UL Lafayette broke ground this morning on a new 13-point-eight million dollar Athletics Performance Center, which will provide training space, an equipment room, and other amenities for the football team and other sport programs on campus.

Speaking of facilities interim Grambling State President Cynthia Warrick says she would like to make renovations to Eddie Robinson Stadium. Warrick told the Monroe News-Star Editorial Board that she would like to a see a new jumbotron at the stadium, along with new turf and an improved drainage system.

And work to put in new field turf at high schools in the Monroe school district has been delayed. Neville and Carroll High Schools will not get their new playing surface until September 14th, while Wossman will have to wait until September 28th.

In the second full-scale scrimmage of the preseason, LSU says Kenny Hilliard shined as he rushed for 100 yards. The Tigers open their 10th season under Les Miles on August 30th when 13th ranked LSU faces 14th ranked Wisconsin in Houston at NRG Stadium. The Bayou Bengals are off today then return to practice Thursday. Head Coach Les Miles said of the scrimmage that it was a good day of work with no injuries and progress was made.

As for the big question on the minds of purple and gold fans, Miles says he will not name a starting quarterback to the media before the Tigers’ season opener, but The Mad Hatter said he will make the announcement the Thursday before the game. In the close battle for the job of starting QB for LSU is sophomore Anthony Jennings and freshman Brandon Harris.

In Ruston, Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz says he hopes to name a starting quarterback by Friday.

The Northwestern State Football team announces they’ve gotten a major boost defensively with the addition of New Orleans native Lyn Clark, a linebacker transferring from Louisville. Clark, a 6-2, 244 pound redshirt freshman practiced Tuesday for his first time with the Demons who are continuing their transition from preseason camp to pregame work for next Thursday’s opener in Turpin Stadium against Missouri State.

First year Southeastern men’s basketball head Coach Jay Ladner announced non-conference games in Florida, Hawaii and Washington highlight the team’s schedule for the 2014-2015 season. The Lions will play an all Division I schedule this coming season along with a pair of exhibition games against local schools. After a November 6th exhibition game against Loyola, the Lions will play 13 of their next 15 regular-season games on the road.

The Saints will face the Colts on Saturday in the third preseason game of the year. A priority for the Black and Gold is to reduce the number of penalities called against the team. The Black and Gold were flagged 22 times for 184 yards against the Titans last Friday. Linebacker Curtis Lofton says they came away with a victory last week, but they have to stay away from the penalities…
cut 18 (11) “…tough defense”
Saints safety Jairus Byrd practiced at full speed today for the first time since training camp started. Coach Sean Payton says Byrd looked sharp and plans to play him on Saturday night.

Former LSU Tiger Tyrann Mahtieu was removed from the physically unable to perform list by the Arizona Cardinals. ESPN’s Adam Schefter says there is some optimism Mathieu will be ready to play in the regular season opener.

The LSU Tigers hold a scrimmage today, the final one before they begin preparations for the season opener against Wisconsin. A decision on who will start at quarterback for the Bayou Bengals is not expected anytime soon. And Badger head coach Gary Anderson says he’ll wait until the day of the game to decide between returning starter Joel Stave and dual-threat QB Tanner McEvoy.

ULM begins game week preparations today for its season opener against Wake Forest. That game is set for August 28th at Malone Stadium.

In Lafayette, Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth is concerned about all of the injuries in the secondary. Junior safety TJ Worthy started ten games last season, but has missed over a week because of a concussion.

And in basketball…Louisiana Tech won its exhibition opener in Bahamas last night, beating Pyramid Food Rockets 134-52. Junior college transfer Qiydar (Key-dar) Davis led the Bulldogs with 22 points.

Saturday’s preseason game against the Colts is big for all of the players who are on the bubble to make the roster. Undrafted rookie receiver Brandon Coleman is one of those players. But Coach Sean Payton says he liked what saw from the former Rutgers standout during yesterday’s drills…
cut 17 (16) “….that’s encouraging”
A priority for Saturday’s preseason game against the Colts will be to reduce the number of penalties called against the team. The Black and Gold were flagged 22 times for 184 yards against Tennessee on Friday. And ESPN reports tight end Jimmy Graham faces more than 33-thousand dollars in fines for dunking the football twice through the goalposts in the win over the Titans. The NFL outlawed Graham’s celbratory dunk in the offseason.

One of LSU’s top recruits in the 2014 class is expected to start practicing soon for the Tigers. Defensive tackle Travonte Valentine was waiting for the NCAA Clearinghouse to approve his high school transprict. That approval came down yesterday and the Florida prep star could be with the team as early as today.

The LSU Tigers will hold a scrimmage this afternoon as there’s still no word from Coach Les Miles on who will start at quarterback in the season opener against Wisconsin. Badgers Coach Gary Anderson says he’s not naming a starting Q-B until gameday, it will be either Joel Stave or Tanner McEvoy.

In Lafayette, Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth is concerned about all of the injuries in the secondary. Junior safety TJ Worthy started ten games last season, but has missed over a week because of a concussion.

And in basketball…Louisiana Tech won its exhibition opener in Bahamas last night, beating Pyramid Food Rockets 134-52. Junior college transfer Qiydar (Key-dar) Davis led the Bulldogs with 22 points.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is on track to see his first action of the preseason when New Orleans visits Indianapolis on Saturday night. Brees has spent most of this training camp recovering from an oblique injury, but has taken a majority of the snaps with the first team offense the last two days. Coach Sean Payton liked what he saw from number nine yesterday…:
CUT 16 (13) “fairly well”
A priority for Saturday’s preseason game against the Colts will be to reduce the number of penalties called against the team. The Black and Gold were flagged 22 times for 184 against Tennessee on Friday. Payton says that is unacceptable. He was particularly miffed about Jimmy Graham’s dunk over the goal posts and the tight end says it won’t be happening in the regular season.

LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says defensive tackle Travonte Valentine is expected to be officially cleared to join the Tigers at practice once he finishes the final stages of the admissions process from the NCAA. Once cleared, Valentine can’t practice until the four-day acclimation period is over, but once that happens the Tigers will be notably improved on the defensive line.

Louisiana Tech announced Monday wide receiver Sterling Griffin has been granted a 6th year of eligibility by the NCAA. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says this is what the 6th year rule is for. Griffin struggled with injuries his entire career, but is in good health in his second season with Tech. He had 33 catches for 357 yards last season.

ULM Head Coach Todd Berry released a new depth chart yesterday afternoon and there’s only a notable difference at quarterback. Senior Pete Thomas is still the starter, but junior Brayle Brown is now at No. 3 behind fellow junior Chazz Carrington.

Don’t expect to see Saints tight end Jimmy Graham dunk the football through the goal posts during the regular season. Graham was penalized twice for his celebratory dunk of the football in Friday’s preseason game, and after the second time, he got an earful from Coach Sean Payton. Graham says you won’t see it in the regular season…
cut 30 (15) “…for the team’
Graham says he and Payton are also fine and there’s no problem between the two.

Four star defensive tackle Travonte Valentine has reportedly received clearance from the NCAA clearinghouse to play football at LSU. Once Valentine joins the team, he’ll have to practice without pads for a few days, but could be someone that Coach Les Miles depends on before the season is over.

The LSU football team will hold its final scrimmage before the start of the regular season tomorrow. Coach Les Miles says several players stood out on defense during Saturday’s scrimmage…
cut 17 (22) “….capable of doing”

Fall camp is over for the ULM Warhawks and Coach Todd Berry has settled on a starting quarterback. Pete Thomas, a transfer from North Carolina state, will take the first snap in the season opener against Wake Forest.

Louisiana Tech learned today that receiver Sterling Griffin has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Griffin had 33 catches for 357 yards last season.

After missing the first two preseason games because of an oblique injury, Saints quarterback Drew Brees is expected to play in Saturday’s exhibition contest against the Indianapolis Colts. Brees practiced fully yesterday afternoon. Safety Jairus Byrd is expected to have his first full practice today as he continues to recover from offseason back surgery. Also, Saints tight end Jimmy Graham says he will not dunk the football through the goal posts during the regular season, after being flagged twice in Friday’s preseason game.

LSU Freshman defensive tackle Travonte Valentine has reportedly been cleared to participate in practice by the NCAA clearinghouse. Valentine is a four-star prospect out of the state of Florida.

ULM Football Coach Todd Berry has named North Carolina State transfer Pete Thomas as his starting quarterback for the August 28th season opener against Wake Forest. Thomas beat out Brayle Brown and Earnest Carrington.

Big things are expected from the Ragin Cajuns offense as quarterback Terrence Broadway is returning for his senior season. But UL Lafayette Coach Mark Hudspeth says sophomore running back Elijah McGuire has also looked good in preseason camp….
cut 19 (17) “…and explosive”
McGuire rushed for 863 yards and eight touchdowns last season and also caught 22 passes for three more scores.

Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz says wide receiver Sterling Griffin has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. Griffin missed all of 2010 and most of the 2012 season because of injuries. Last year, Griffin started ten games and caught 33 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns.