The voice of the LSU Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, has announced he will retire next year. Hawthorne has been calling LSU sporting events for 35 years and plans to hang up the headphones and microphone following the 2015-16 basketball season. During his career, he’s been on the mic for LSU’s three Final four appearances, two national titles in football and all six of LSU’s national championships in baseball…
cut 30 (09) “…2009 national championship”
That audio is courtesy of the LSU Sports Radio Network. LSU says a nationwide search for his replacement will begin in the spring.

Hawthorne was on the call for a near upset in college basketball last night. But the Tigers fell a little bit short as they lost to number one ranked Kentucky 71-69. Tonight on the basketball schedule, the Pelicans host Indiana.

U-L Lafayette defensive coordinator James Willis is leaving the Ragin Cajuns as he’s been hired as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints. Willis has been with U-L-L the last two seasons. The Saints also announced the hiring of former Raiders Coach Dennis Allen as a defensive assistant. He’ll work with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. The Saints will have 23 coaches on their staff.

High School football powers John Curtis and Evangel Christian have opted to play up to Class Five-A in all sports. The decision means that Curtis will likely play in the Catholic League. Other notable changes….because of enrollment Carencro moves from Five-A to Four-A. Abbeville and Bossier are going up to Four-A, while Eunice and Peabody falls to Three-A and Notre Dame falls from Three-A to Two-a, while Homer and Oak Grove goes from Two-A to One-A. New districts for the upcoming sports year could be finalized by the end of the month.