The Saints will battle the Rams tonight in the preseason opener for both teams. Quarterback Drew Brees probably will NOT play, because of an oblique injury. That means a lot of playing time for Ryan Griffin and Luke McCown, who are vying to become Brees’ primary backup. McCown says tonight’s opportunity to get some game experience is important…
cut 19 (14) “…that week”
In preseason action last night…San Diego beat Dallas 27-7 and in a wild game…Cincinnati defeated Kansas City 41 to 39. Former LSU Tiger Jeremy Hill had six rushes for 36 yards and James Wright caught a nine yard touchdown pass.

The LSU Tigers had their first practice in pads today. A question mark on defense this season is at defensive tackle as the Tigers must find two new starters. But Head Coach Les Miles says there is good depth at that position led by Christian LaCouture (Lock-uh-chur)….
cut 17 (11) ‘…coming to play”
Sunday is Media Day and also Fan Day on campus.

McNeese State begins fall practice at 4:30 today. The Cowboys return 16 starters from a team that went 10-and-3 last season. Coach Matt Viator has yet to decide on a starting quarterback. Kansas State transfer Daniel Sams, Will Briscoe and Tyler Bolfing are the candidates.

The Ragin Cajuns have set the school’s record for season tickets sold. Just over 12-thousand season tickets have been bought for the upcoming season.

And the nonconference schedule is out for the LSU men’s basketball team. The Tigers will host Texas Tech, UMASS and Southern Miss.

The Saints kick off the their preseason campaign tonight against the St. Louis Rams. While fans might think four preseason games are too much, Coach Sean Payton likes the current format. He says it gives players the opportunity to rise to the occasion….
cut 18 (08) “….kicking game”
Payton hasn’t said if quarterback Drew Brees will play tonight. He’s been limited in practice, because of an oblique injury.

The LSU football team will go through its first practice in pads this morning and the entire freshman class will also compete with the veterans for the first time. Coach Les Miles says based on yesterday’s practice, the defense is ahead of the offense…
cut 16 (10) “….good defense”
Sunday is media and fan day on the LSU campus.

The NCAA Board of Directors votes to allow the five major conferences to develop their own rules . The vote clears the way for the SEC and other big conferences to provide student-athletes additional money to help cover the costs of attending college. Opponents say this will lead to a bigger gap between schools in the SEC and leagues like the Sun Belt and Conference USA.

McNeese State begins fall camp at 4:30 today. The Cowboys return 16 starters from a team that went 10-and-3 last season. Coach Matt Viator has yet to decide on a starting quarterback. Kansas State transfer Daniel Sams, Will Briscoe and Tyler Bolfing are the candidates.

The Ragin Cajuns have set the school’s record for season tickets sold. Just over 12-thousand season tickets have been bought for the upcoming season.

And the nonconference schedule is out for the LSU men’s basketball team. The Tigers will host Texas Tech, UMASS and Southern Miss, while travel to West Virginia and UAB.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles says he supports today’s vote by the NCAA Board of Directors that would give more autonomy to the five major conferences. This means schools in the SEC and other power conferences will have different rules than other Division One schools. Miles says he respects the smaller conferences like the MAC and Sun Belt, but they don’t generate the same level of revenues as SEC schools…
cut 30 (19) “…like rules”
One major change proposed by the power conferences is the ability to offer student athletes not only a scholarship but an allowance to cover expenses outside of college. Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth is on record against the autonomy for the power five.

Players on the defensive side of the football are learning a new defense at Louisiana Tech. Manny Diaz is the new defensive coordinator in Ruston. Diaz says learning the playbook is not the only responsiblity during fall camp. He says developing leaders is also crucial before the season opener…
cut 18 (11) “…going to strike”
Tech opens the season against third ranked Oklahoma.

The UL Lafayette athletic ticket office says they’ve sold 12,276 season tickets for the upcoming football season, which is a new record. The Cajuns home schedule begins August 30th against Southern.

The Saints preseason schedule begins tomorrow night in St. Louis against Rams. Coach Sean Payton hasn’t said if quarterback Drew Brees will play. He’s been out of pads for about a week because of an oblique injury.

The Saints travel to St. Louis for their preseason opener against the Rams tomorrow night. New Orleans will see a familiar face on the Rams sideline as former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is now coordinating the Rams defense. Williams and Saints Head Coach Sean Payton were suspended for the 2013 season as a result of the bounty scandal. Knowing that Williams can be aggressive, Saints tight end Jimmy Graham says they worked on blitz pick-up packages in practice this week.

At LSU’s fall camp, reserve quarterback Jared Foster was seen at practice wearing a walking boot. No word on how serious the injury is, as Foster looks to make the team as a third-string Q-B.

Northwestern State had its football media day and there’s a lot of optimism this season among the Demon players. N-S-U was six-and-six last season.

They are learning a new defense in Ruston as Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is trying to get his players up to speed on their responsibilities. Diaz says his players have to learn quickly, because the season opener is against third ranked Oklahoma….
cut 30 (17) “…day one”
After the game against the Sooners, Tech will visit the Ragin Cajuns.

UL Lafayette Head Coach Mark Hudspeth says he likes what he sees from senior linebacker Jake Molbert. Molbert started several games his freshmen and sophomore seasons, but was a reserve player last year. Hudspeth says he’s Molbert fan and that the Rayne native embodies what a Ragin Cajuns player is. As a right now, Molbert is set to start in the season opener.

Former LSU pitcher Aaron Nola had a successful debut in Class Double-A of the Phillies Minor league system. Nola threw five innings and allowed one run as his team won nine to two over Harrisburg.

Today, the Saints go through their final practices before Friday’s preseason opener against St. Louis. Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan likes the progress he’s seen from the defense and hopes it continues…
cut 18 (11) “…ever been around”
Coach Sean Payton said today a decision hasn’t been made over whether Quarterback Drew Brees will play on Friday night. He was not in pads again today, because of an oblique injury, but Payton says Brees is feeling better.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel says Owner Tom Benson will NOT be at Friday’s preseason game in St. Louis. But Bensel says Benson is back in New Orleans and working in the office after having troubles breathing while watching practice yesterday morning.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette worked with the veterans during the morning practice today. Fournette had been practicing with his fellow freshmen in the afternoon. The first full squad practice is tomorrow.

ULM is working out in full pads today as they get ready to conduct scrimmage on Saturday. Warhawks Head Coach Todd Berry says they are still in the evaluation period of fall camp….
cut 28 (07) “…things look like”

In Lafayette, James Willis says he’s seeing a higher comfort level with the players in his second season as the Ragin Cajuns defensive coordinator…
cut 29 (11) “….in the system”
On the other side of the football….sophomore Brooks Haack is taking snaps as the number two quarterback. Coach Mark Hudspeth says he has confidence in Haack, if Terrance Broadway went down with an injury.

The Saints are back at it today in West Virginia as they get closer to Friday’s preseason opener in St. Louis against the Rams. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been impressed with veteran cornerback Keenan Lewis. He thinks Lews is on the cusp of becoming an annual Pro-Bowl player. In fact, Ryan believes Lewis should have made the Pro Bowl last year…
cut 17 (13) “….knows that”

Quarterback Drew Brees was not in pads today as he continues to recover from an oblique injury. Coach Sean Payton says Brees is feeling better, but they’ve yet to decide if he’ll play Friday. And Saints spokesperson Greg Bensel says owner Tom Benson has returned to New Orleans after he was hospitalized yesterday for having trouble breathing. Bensel says Benson is feeling better.

The LSU Tigers hold their final day of split squad practices. Most of the freshmen class are working the afternoon and Coach Les Miles likes what he’s seen from the 2014 recruiting class…
cut 29 (12) “…than later’
Today, running back Leonard Fournette was working out with the veteran players. He highlights the 2014 recruiting class, which was ranked as high as second in the country on national signing day.

It’s in the early stages of preseason camp, but Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz can already he has more talent than last year’s team. Holtz says he can see as the team goes through its passing drills…
cut 30 (12) “…accuracy”
Today’s practice will be the first in shells for the Bulldogs, while Friday the team will put the pads on.

Saints owner Tom Benson was taken to a hospital in West Virginia during practice today. Michelle Southern has more…
cut 2 (27) “….reporting”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees was not in pads again today because of that oblique injury, but he was seen throwing a football during the afternoon walk-through. Coach Sean Payton is not ready to say if Brees will play in Friday’s preseason opener…
cut 30 (07) “…smart though”
===================================

LSU freshman quarterback Brandon Harris worked out with the first-team offense this morning. Anthony Jennings worked out in the afternoon with the newcomers. Yesterday the roles were reveresed, as Jennings practiced with the vets in the morning and Harris was with his freshmen classmates in the afternoon. Neither quarterback is available to reporters, until Sunday’s media day, and Head Coach Les Miles explains why….
cut 29 (11) “…play football”

In Ruston, Head Coach Skip Holtz says redshirt freshman Ryan Higgins has an advantage over the other quarterbacks, becuase he started six games last season. But Holtz also said Cody Sokol, a transfer from Iowa, has shown he’s picking up the offense and he’s throwing the ball well.

In scheduling news…the Ragin Cajuns football program announces they’ll play at Texas A-and-M during the 2017 season. The ULM men’s basketball schedule is out. The Warhawks will visit Florida on November 21st.