4:45 LRN Sportscast July 22

The Pelicans have made it official, announcing Willie Green as their new head coach after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. He’ll have an introductory press conference on Tuesday.

The NFL has reportedly told teams that if a game can not be rescheduled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with an outbreak will have to forfeit the game. The NFL got every game in last year, despite a vaccine not being available for players.

Alabama Coach Nick Saban says his football team is close to a 90-percent vaccination rate and he’s hopeful his unvaccinated players will get the shot. Saban says there are two factors to consider before a player gets vaccinated…
cut 18 (21) “….a team”
Saban is showing no signs of slowing down as he’ll turn 70 years old this season.

Southeastern Louisiana is the preseason favorite to win the Southland football title based on the league’s preseason poll. The Lions return senior quarterback Cole Kelley, who won the Walter Payton award last spring which goes to the best player in the FCS. Lions Coach Frank Scelfo says the team’s motto for this season is to be bold…
Cut 16 (14) “…make it happen”
The Lions received eight first-place votes, while Nicholls received four first-place votes and is expected to finish in second place. McNeese has been picked to finish fourth and Northwestern State fifth in the six-team conference.

The Joint Budget Committee has approved a new naming rights deal for the Superdome. The iconic stadium is now the Caesars Superdome as a result of a new 20-year naming rights deal worth an estimated 138-million dollars. The Saints say that money will go towards Dome renovations.