With Whit Weeks out for the foreseeable future, LSU junior linebacker Davhon (DAY-von) Keys is expected to replace Weeks in the starting lineup. Keys has plenty of experience, as he started five games his freshman year and filled in for Weeks when he was injured last year. Keys says Weeks brought a lot of energy to the defense, and he needs to do the same.

Cut 16 (11) “…and speak up.”

The Tigers kick off against McNeese at 6:45 on Saturday.

The Pelicans held their first day of practice yesterday. After winning only 26 games last season, New Orleans welcomed former Magic head coach Jahmal Mosley to lead the team. Forward Zion Williamson says he has already developed a great relationship with the team in the offseason.

Cut 21 (11) “…mean a lot.”

The Ples tip off the season against the Pacers October 21.

ULM fell to 0-and4 after a 53-17 loss to FAU and has now lost 12 straight. The Warhawks open Sun Belt play at South Alabama this Saturday. The Jaguars hung around with Kentucky in a 45-21 loss last week. ULM head coach Bryant Vincent says the team needs to clean up its mistakes as a new season kicks off.

Cut 20 (12) “…South Alabama team.”

Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Louisiana is the first state to have a special black-bellied whistling duck season, which opens Saturday and runs through October 11^th. Shooting hours will be sunrise to sunset, and there is a bag limit of four and a possession limit of 12. LDWF Assistant Secretary Tommy Tuma says all hunters participating in the season will be required to have a free, black-bellied whistling duck hunting permit from LDWF.

Cut 9 (09)  “…whistling duck permit.”

Hunters are required to report effort and harvest within 15 days of the season’s closure.

Weeks broke his leg in the 35-6 win over Texas A&M. Coach Lane Kiffin says he will miss a lot of time after undergoing surgery yesterday. He says it is a devastating blow for the defense and for Weeks, who chose to return for his senior season instead of going to the NFL draft.

Cut 17 (13) “…rolling into you.”

Junior Davhon Keys will be the starter next to TJ Dottery with Weeks out. Keys came into the game against the Aggies and helped make a stop on fourth-and-one. He says he had to stay ready to back up his teammate.

Cut 20 (15) “…ride for him.”

The Protect College Sports Act is headed to the House after passing through the Senate yesterday. The bill gives antitrust protection to the NCAA, caps conference membership at 20 schools, helps regulate N-I-L and revenue-sharing and ends unlimited transfers for athletes. Opponents of the act argue that it unfairly limits the earning potential of athletes without the same limits on coaches or schools’ revenue.

The Saints will look to bounce back from a disappointing 35-27 loss to the Raiders in their first divisional game versus the Falcons on Monday. New Orleans blew an 11-point second-half lead versus the Raiders with four fourth-quarter turnovers. Tight end Juwan Johnson says that has to change.

Cut 21 (12) “…or you learn.”

The Saints and Falcons kick off on Monday at 7:15 in an anniversary game for the 2006 Domecoming, celebrating 20 years since Steve Gleason’s iconic blocked punt.

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks underwent successful surgery on his fractured leg yesterday and is expected to be sidelined at least six weeks. The Tigers will turn to junior Davhon Keys at linebacker. Coach Lane Kiffin says he will need to do that again this year.

Cut 18 (15) “…to step up.”

The Senate voted 77-22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act, so the bill will now head to the House. The act provides N-I-L guardrails, limits athletes to just one transfer without having to sit out a season, and gives the NCAA antitrust protection to enforce rules. Louisiana senator John Kennedy voted in favor of it but says it favors the universities.

Cut 8 (10) “…athletes can make.”

The Saints yet again found themselves on the wrong end of controversial officiating during their 35-27 loss to the Raiders on Sunday. In a play that reminded many fans of New Orleans’ reversed forced fumble against the Lions, quarterback Tyler Shough was strip-sacked on a crucial third down, and the Raiders took the lead after the turnover. Shough says he disagreed with the decision to let the call stand.

Cut 19 (12) “…get it done.”

The Pelicans are a week away from tipping off the preseason under new head coach Jahmal Mosley. Star forward Zion Williamson says he is not where he wants to be in his NBA career, but he emphasized expanding his shot selection this summer.

Cut 22 (16) “…going in.”

LSU senior linebacker Whit Weeks broke his leg during the Tigers’ 35-6 domination of Texas A&M, and head coach Lane Kiffin did not have an update on his return after he underwent surgery. But Kiffin says he will miss a lot of time, if not the rest of the season. It is a major loss for a defense that already lost starting defensive back Dashawn Spears to a season-ending injury. Star tight end Trey’Dez Green is also sidelined for significant time. Kiffin says the injuries are piling up.

Cut 9 (07)  “…step up.”

Wide receiver Jackson Harris did. He set a career high with 163 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns. On defense, D-tackle Deuce Geralds was named SEC Freshman of the Week after sacking Marcel Reed twice.

After unlikely fourth-quarter comebacks in the first two games, the Saints got a taste of their own medicine in a 35-27 loss to the Raiders. New Orleans gave up 13 points and turned the ball over four times in the final quarter to fall to 1-and-2. The black and gold will host the Falcons on Monday night next week.

UL Lafayette defensive back Brent Gordon Jr. was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week. The sophomore racked up seven tackles, a TFL, two pass breakups, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the Cajuns’ 34-7 win over Charlotte.

McNeese linebacker Landon Barrett as the Southland Conference defender of the week.  He made his first career interception and tallied a season-high 11 tackles in the Cowboys’ 27-24 win over East Texas A&M.

Northwestern State lost its 16th in a row on Saturday, falling to Southeastern Louisiana 52-21. Even though the losses keep coming, Demons coach Blaine McCorkle believes the program is heading in the right direction.

Cut 19 (12) “…every single day.”

ULM dropped its 12th straight game with a 45-17 loss to FAU.

Tulane notched its second win against the Sun Belt this season with a 24-21 comeback victory against Southern Miss.

LSU got back in the win column, cruising past Texas A-and-M, 35-6. Head Coach Lane Kiffin was especially pleased with how his team dominated on both sides of the ball, outgaining A-and-M 506 yards to 197.

Cut 13 (08)  “…prepared really well.”

The Tigers improve to 3-and-1 and will host McNeese in their final non-conference game Saturday. The Cowboys earned their second win of the season with a 27-24 result over East Texas A&M.

Southern lost to Jackson State 35-17 as the Jaguars’ losing streak against Jackson State extends to eight games, the longest in the history of the Boombox Classic. Head coach Marshall Faulk says the Jags did not play to their standard.

Cut 21 (11) “…are right now.”

Southern hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Saturday.

The Saints fell to 1-and-2 after a disappointing 35-27 loss to the Raiders in a game that New Orleans led by 11 points in the third quarter. Coach Kellen Moore wishes they could have won the home opener for Who Dat Nation…

Cut 17 (16) “…it done together.”

Southeastern Louisiana beat Northwestern State 52-21 for a 16^th straight W against the Demons. The Lions led 31-14 at halftime after scoring on five of their six possessions. Head coach Frank Scelfo still says it was a sloppy first half, but they cleaned up those mistakes…

Cut 20 (15) “…second half.”

LSU hosts Texas A&M tomorrow night as the Tigers look to bounce back from a loss to Ole Miss last week. The Tigers’ offense struggled on the road as the Rebels’ pass rush disrupted the passing game. Coach Lane Kiffin said on his LSU Radio coaches show that needs to be fixed.

Cut 12 (14) “…our offense.”

Southern kicks off SWAC play tomorrow at 6:00 with a road trip to Jackson State. The Tigers are 3-and-0 to start the season. Grambling will also have a tough matchup as they head to Dallas to face defending conference champion Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic.

In the Sun Belt, UL Lafayette is visiting winless Charlotte at 5:30. ULM hosts FAU in its homecoming game as the Warhawks search for their first win. Kickoff in Monroe is at 7:00.

And in the Southland, Nicholls hosts Lamar at 3:00, and Southeastern Louisiana visits Northwestern State and McNeese welcomes East Texas A&M at 6:00.

The Saints host the Raiders for their home opener on Sunday. The Raiders are 2-and-0 under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley says Cousins has made a big difference on a team that had the worst record in the NFL last season.

Cut 20 (18) “…the right way.”

Wide receiver Barion Brown has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and defensive tackle Christen Miller is also out a second straight week with a toe injury. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is questionable.

An LSU icon passed away this week. Basketball Legend Bob Pettit died at the age of 93. He led the SEC in scoring while at LSU and led the Tigers to their first Final Four. In the NBA, he was an 11-time All-Star and two-time MVP.

LSU basketball legend Bob Pettit passed away at the age of 93 on Wednesday. Pettit led the SEC in scoring all three seasons at LSU and became just the second major college player ever to average over 30 points per game in a season. He led LSU to its first Final Four in 1953, and LSU basketball SID Kent Lowe says Pettit will never be forgotten.

Cut 4 (13) “…of the program.”

Tenth-ranked LSU and 23rd-ranked Texas A-and-M face off in Tiger Stadium tomorrow night. Both find themselves 0-and-1 to start SEC play after losses last week, so there is a lot of pressure to get a win and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. LSU safety Ty Benfield says none of that matters on the field.

Cut 18 (08) “…Aggies right now.”

Former LSU Heisman winner Jayden Daniels will not be placed on injured reserve after dislocating his left elbow against the Cowboys last week. ESPN reports he is considered week-to-week, and he will try to return as soon as possible.

UL Lafayette visits Charlotte tomorrow. The 49ers are 0-and-3 on the season, coming off a close loss to Appalachian State last week. Cajuns head coach Michael Desormeaux says they have a good defense and an experienced offensive line, but this is a massive opportunity for the Cajuns.

Cut 17 (15) “…moving forward.”

ULM looks for its first win as the Warhawks host F-A-U for homecoming.

SWAC play starts tomorrow, Southern hit the road hoping to break Jackson State’s seven-game win streak against them. Grambling will take on defending conference champion Prairie View A-and-M in the State Fair Classic in Dallas.

In the Southland, Nicholls hosts Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana visits Northwestern State and McNeese welcomes East Texas A&M.