Tuesday was the final day for LSU Tigers baseball players to enter the transfer portal and two of them decided to get in, including right-handed pitcher Thatcher Hurd. Hurd was the Tigers opening day starter in 2024 but struggled through most of the year and ended up with a 6.55 ERA.

MLB-dot-com ranks him as the 114th best prospect in this month’s Major League Baseball draft. ESPN 104-5 in Baton Rouge sports talk show host Hunt Palmer says getting in the portal gives Hurd options in case he falls in the draft or the signing bonus is not what he’s looking for…
cut 20 (20) “…to do”
Backup Shortstop Ryan Kucherak also entered the transfer portal. He was one of the top shortstops in Arizona coming out of high school, but barely played his freshman season at LSU.

Former LSU star Angel Reese is a WNBA All-Star as a rookie. Reese got emotional as she talked about the achievement with reporters…
cut 19 (12) “…believed”
Reese is averaging 13 points a game and close to 12 rebounds a contest. She leads the WNBA in rebounds per game. Reese also has 11 straight double-doubles and she’s one away from tying Candace Parker’s record for consecutive double-doubles.

Former LSU baseball stars Dylan Crews and Tre Morgan will play in the MLB All-Star Futures game on July 13th at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Crews was promoted to Triple-A a couple of weeks ago and he’s hitting .259 with two home runs and seven RBIs for Rochester. Morgan was a third round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays last year and the talented first baseman is hitting .340 with four home runs and 34 RBIs in A Ball.

LSU pitcher Thatcher Hurd has entered the transfer portal according to on3sports.com. There was a good chance Hurd was not returning anyways as he’ll likely be selected in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft. The transfer portal could be a fallback plan for Hurd if he doesn’t get the signing bonus he’s seeking from the team that selects him the draft.

Southeastern Louisiana athletics director Jay Artigues has been named the chairman of the of the NCAA Division One-Baseball Committee. The committee is responsible for selecting, seeding, and bracketing the entire 64-team NCAA Tournament field, as well as recommending rule changes. Artigues says it’s not an easy job, but rewarding…
Cut 18 (11) “…and as the host.”
Artigues has served on the committee for the last three years.

Former LSU baseball stars Dylan Crews and Tre Morgan have been named to the Major League Baseball All-Star Futures rosters. They will play in the futures game on July 13th at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The Washington Nationals used the second overall pick to take Crews in last year’s Major League Baseball Draft. The 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner was promoted to Triple-A a couple of weeks ago and he’s hitting .259 with two home runs and seven RBIs for Rochester.

Morgan was a third round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays last year and the talented first baseman is performing well in A ball. He’s hitting .340 with four home runs and 34 RBIs.

LSU will take over the SEC Network for 24 hours starting tonight at 11 PM as the SEC Network will re-air the Tigers come from behind win over Texas A-and-M in the regular season finale last year. Tomorrow night, the network will re-air the gymnastics team winning the national championship and Jayden Daniels’ record-breaking performance against Florida where he accounted for 606 yards of total offense.

The Saints released their training camp schedule. The first practice will be at U-C Irvine in California on July 24th. The Black And Gold will return to New Orleans on August 19th and hold a practice at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium on the 20th and there will also be a practice at the Superdome on August 23rd. Both of those practices I just mentioned in New Orleans will be open to fans.

LSU’s Will Campbell and Harold Perkins have been named to the Walter Camp Preseason All-American Team. Campbell received first-team recognition as the Monroe native is a two-year starter at left tackle. Perkins was selected to the second team. He has 13 sacks in two seasons at LSU.

Louisiana Tech has announced changes to tailgating and parking for the upcoming football season. There will be three sections of free tailgating around Joe Aillet Stadium. And the biggest parking change is the bisecting of the White Lot which will now have a carved-out section for free public parking.

Former LSU catcher Brady Neal has found a new home in the Southeastern Conference. Neal has announced he’s transferring to Alabama after two seasons with the Tigers. Neal was one of the top prep catchers in the country coming out of high school, but lost playing time last season as he struggled to hit SEC pitching.

Southeastern Louisiana athletics director Jay Artigues has been given an important job. He’ll serve as the chairman of the NCAA Division One baseball committee, which is responsible for selecting, seeding and bracketing the entire 64-team NCAA Tournament field. Artigues has been serving on the committee for the last three years, but now he’s the chairman…
cut 17 (12) “….everyone involved”

NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning says he enjoyed watching LSU starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at last week’s Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux. After waiting his turn since arriving at LSU in 2021, Nussmeier finally gets a chance to start. The Lake Charles native credits the strong bond he’s developed with co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan for his development…
cut 20 (19) “….apart”

The Saints released their training camp schedule today. The first practice will be at U-C Irvine in California on July 24th. The Black And Gold will return to New Orleans on August 19th and hold a practice at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium on the 20th and there will also be a practice at the Superdome on August 23rd.

Texas and Oklahoma officially joined the Southeastern Conference today. SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent says one of the challenges of increasing their membership to 16 schools is football scheduling…
cut 19 (12) “…finalized”
Men’s basketball is sticking with an 18-game schedule, while baseball is staying at 30.

Former LSU baseball players who entered the transfer portal following the 2024 season are finding new homes. Pennsylvania native Paxton Kling says he’s committed to Penn State. Relief pitcher Aiden Moffett has committed to Texas and catcher Brady Neal announced today that he plans on attending Alabama.

The Pelicans starting center the last three years, Jonas Valanciunas has signed a three-year, 30-million dollar deal with the Washington Wizards. And reserve forward Naji Marshall is signing with Dallas and so is four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson who is leaving Golden State.

LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier still expects the Tigers offense to be explosive this season. Nussmeier is replacing a Heisman Trophy quarterback and LSU also has to replace two first round picks at receiver. But Nussmeier says LSU’s receiver group still has a bunch of dogs…
cut 17 (18) “…the ball”

Former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell is facing a lawsuit as he’s accused of taking a 74-thousand dollar check that was meant as a donation for Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama. Russell has also been fired as a volunteer coach at Williamson. A local businessman claims his 74-thousand dollar check for new weight room equipment ended up in Russell’s bank account.

Today Southeastern Conference officially welcomes Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC making it a 16 league team. SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent says Texas and O-U officially accepted invitations into the SEC in July of 2021, so the league has had plenty of time to prepare…
Cut 10 (08) “…teams.”
One big change will be the SEC Baseball Tournament. All 16 teams will go to Hoover, Alabama for the tourney and it will be single elimination throughout. Football is also staying with an eight-game league schedule, through at least 2025.

Conference USA officially welcomed Kennesaw State as its tenth member today. The Owls won three Big South championships in the program’s first five seasons at the Division One level.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley officially joined the Southland Conference today and Stephen F Austin is back at the Southland giving the league twelve teams.

Texas and Oklahoma officially join the Southeastern Conference today. SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent says the NCAA’s best conference just got better…
cut 12 (12) “…coming in”
This expansion gets rid of divisional play so say goodbye to what has been considered the most difficult division in all of football, the SEC West.

It’s Garrett Nussmeier’s time. The Lake Charles native has been at LSU since 2021 and he heads into the 2024 season as the Tigers starting quarterback. LSU is coming off back-to-back ten win seasons and Nussmeier says the team is determined to get in the twelve team playoff…
Cut 16 (13 “…as well.”
Nussmeier spoke at the Manning Passing Academy.

Texas A-and-M has named Michael Earley as the Aggies new baseball coach. He has been the hitting coach at College Station for the last three seasons. He’s hired former LSU pitching coach Jason Kelly as his pitching coach. Kelly is leaving Washington after two seasons as head coach.

Two former LSU baseball players have found new homes. Center fielder Paxton Kling is returning to his home state and will play for Penn State. Relief pitcher Aiden Moffett has committed Texas, left-hander Cam Johnson has officially said he’ll play at Oklahoma next season.

The Pelicans need to find a new starting center as Jonas Valanciunas has signed a three year deal for 30 million dollars with the Washington Wizards. In his three seasons in New Orleans, Valanciunas played in nearly every game and averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Pelicans have also lost forward Naji Marshall in free agency. Marshall has reportedly agreed to a three-year, 27 million dollar contract to the Mavericks. He averaged eight points a game last season and shot a career best 39-percent from three point territory.

The Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese has become the first WNBA player to record ten consecutive double-doubles. Reese had 10 points and 16 rebounds yesterday in a 70 to 62 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.

The Pelicans have traded for an All-Star point guard. New Orleans has reportedly acquired 27-year-old Dejounte (di-JHOHN-tay) Murray from the Atlanta Hawks for Larry Nance Junior, Dyson Daniels, E-J Liddell and two first round picks, one in 2025 and the other in 2027. Murray averaged 23 points, five rebounds and six assists last season for a bad Hawks team. Murray also shot 36-percent from three-point territory last season. He also previously won NBA All-defensive honors and led the league in steals in 2022.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball has announced the signing of Kaden Cooper a transfer from Oklahoma. He’s six-foot-five, 190 pounds and appeared in 15 games with the Sooners as a freshman, averaging two points and one rebound a game. He was ranked as the 60th best high school player in the country by Rivals 2023.

And on Monday, Texas and Oklahoma officially join the Southeastern Conference. The SEC will be 16 teams strong.

_______________________________________________________

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved contract extensions for several LSU coaches. For winning a national championship, gymnastics coach Jay Clark has received a four-year contract extension and a 125-thousand dollar raise. LSU track head coach Dennis Shaver received a five-year contract extension and Coach Beth Torina gets two more years added to her deal.

Hometown hero Alyson Habetz was introduced as U-L Lafayette’s new head softball coach. Habetz helped lead the Cajuns to the Women’s College World Series in 1993 as a player and won a national championship in 2012 as Alabama’s associate head coach. She takes over a program that’s dominated the Sun Belt Conference but has not been to the W-C-W-S since 2014…
cut 13 (11) “…(applause).”
Habetz replaces Gerry Glasco who is now at Texas Tech.

The Pelicans introduced on Friday their draft picks from the 2024 NBA draft, former Baylor big man Yves Missi and three point specialist Antonio Reeves, who shot 45-percent from three-point territory, while averaging 20 points a game at Kentucky. Reeves talked about his shooting ability…
cut 30 (07) “…as I got older”
Missi and Reeves will play on the Pelicans Summer League Team, which will begin play on Friday July 12th against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Las Vegas.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball has announced the signing of Kaden Cooper a transfer from Oklahoma. He’s six-foot-five, 190 pounds and appeared in 15 games with the Sooners as a freshman, averaging two points and one rebound a game. He was ranked as the 60th best high school player in the country by Rivals 2023.

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved contract extensions for several LSU coaches. For winning a national championship, gymnastics coach Jay Clark has received a four-year contract extension and a 125-thousand dollar raise. LSU track head coach Dennis Shaver received a five-year contract extension and Coach Beth Torina gets two more years added to her deal.

Hometown hero Alyson Habetz was introduced as U-L Lafayette’s new head softball coach. Habetz helped lead the Cajuns to the Women’s College World Series in 1993 as a player and won a national championship in 2012 as Alabama’s associate head coach. She takes over a program that’s dominated the Sun Belt Conference but has not been to the W-C-W-S since 2014…
cut 13 (11) “…(applause).”
Habetz replaces Gerry Glasco who is now at Texas Tech.

Former Saints safety and icon Steve Gleason will be honored with the 2024 Authur Ashe Courage award at the ESPY’s for his work with Team Gleason which he and his wife Michel founded after being diagnosed with ALS in 2011. Their mission is to improve life for others living with ALS by providing technology, equipment, and support services. Gleason’s publicist Claire Durett believes through this award others will be encouraged by Gleason’s ability to be purposeful and productive.

Cut 9 (10) “…this region.”

This year’s ESPYS will air live on Thursday, July 11 at 7 PM.

The NFL will owe more than $4.7 billion in damages after a jury ruled the league violated antitrust laws in its distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket. The lawsuit claims the NFL offered the out-of-market games at an inflated price encouraging potential users to tune in to national and local broadcasts. The league could also be forced to change its pricing and offering of Sunday Ticket and plans to appeal the verdict.

Nicholls introduced new head baseball coach Brent Haring yesterday. Haring spent 10 years as an assistant coach at BYU and last season as the Director of Baseball Operations for LSU. Haring said he tried hard to get the Colonels coaching job in 2021 before the school hired Mike Silva. He says he’s glad he’ll have the opportunity to lead the Red and Gray after three successful seasons under Silva…

Cut 17 (20) “…with you.”

The NBA draft concluded yesterday and the Pelicans come away with two new additions. 21st overall pick, Baylor center Yves Missi and 47th overall pick, Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves who New Orleans acquired from the Magic in a trade for two future second round pick swaps.

Nicholls introduced new head baseball coach Brent Haring yesterday. Haring spent the 2024 season as the Director of Baseball Operations for LSU and has spent more than 22 years in baseball. 10 of those seasons were as an assistant coach at BYU where he was named assistant head coach in 2022. Haring says Nicholls has stood out to him since a 2014 visit the Cougars made to Thibodaux…

Cut 16 (21) “…(laughter).” 

Former New Orleans Saints Safety, Steve Gleason will be honored with the 2024 Authur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS.  The award is granted to those whose contributions transcend sports.  Like Ashe whose work to improve the lives of people with HIV began after his own diagnosis, Gleason, diagnosed with ALS in 2011, founded Team Gleason to improve life for those living with ALS.  Gleason’s publicist, Clare Durrett …

Cut 7 (10) “…able to do.”

The Pelicans traded into the 2nd round of the NBA Draft to acquire Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves with the 47th overall pick from the Orlando Magic. The Pels gave up two second round pick swaps in 2030 and 2031 for the 23-year-old who averaged 20 points a game on nearly 45-percent from three last season for the Wildcats.

LA Tech star forward Isaiah Crawford went undrafted but signed with the Sacramento Kings after averaging 16 points, 6 boards, and almost 4 stocks a game last season.