LSU Catcher Alex Milazzo told Tiger Rag radio last night that he plans to suit up for the Purple and Gold one last time. Milazzo appeared in 53 games last season before fracturing his fibula in the final game of the championship series, but the Zachary native says he’s not done yet

Cut 12 (13) “…play here.” 

The SEC’s single-season strikeout leader has etched his name in the record books yet again. After being selected No. 1 overall in the MLB draft, LSU pitcher Paul Skenes agreed to a deal with the Pirates that includes a $9.2 million signing bonus, the highest for a draft pick in MLB history. Skenes says signing the deal didn’t take much convincing…

Cut  14 (10)  “..to take”

SEC Media Days in Nashville continued with Nick Saban and Alabama today. The Crimson Tide have one of the least experienced rosters in the SEC with only 9 starters returning. The first issue the Tide will have to address is losing Heisman winning quarterback Bryce Young. It’s a three horse race for the job, but Saban says he’s in no rush to name a starter…

Cut 20 (24) “…separates themselves.”

Many believe the three candidates to be junior Jalen Milroe, redshirt freshman Ty Simpson, or redshirt sophomore Tyler Buchner. LSU will visit Tuscaloosa November 4^th. Also featured in Nashville today were Arkansas, Florida, and Kentucky.

Catcher Hayden Travinski announced he plans to return to LSU next season for his final year of eligibility after going undrafted in this year’s MLB draft. The Shreveport native played in 41 games this season batting .356 with 30 RBI and 10 home runs. He’ll join catcher Alex Milazzo who also announced his return to Baton Rouge on Tiger Rag Radio Tuesday night. Milazzo, who’s spent the last four years at LSU started 25 games last year and appeared in 53. They’ll join sophomore Brady Neal who started 26 games last season.

New Mississippi State Head Coach Zach Arnett got the chance to speak to reporters at SEC Media Days yesterday. While the Bulldogs may be experiencing some major coaching changes, Arnett says they have many returning starters this year including the top two tacklers in the SEC, linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson…

Cut 20 (14)  “…they didn’t”  

LSU opens SEC play in Starkville September 16^th.

After setting the SEC single-season strikeout record, LSU Pitcher Paul Skenes isn’t done yet. The first overall pick has agreed to a $9.2 million dollar deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates making him the highest paid MLB draft pick ever. He passes the mark previously set by 2020 top pick Spencer Torkelson who inked an $8.4 million deal with the Tigers. Skenes will begin his pro career in the Florida Complex League.

First year auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze spoke to media about his plans to turn the program around after two losing seasons. The first step for Freeze has been in recruiting, adding 42 new players to the roster since last season ended. Freeze says the resource at Auburn have made recruiting easy, but he doesn’t underestimate the challenge of coaching a new roster…

Cut 18 (17) “…to this” 

LSU will host Auburn October 14^th.

After an All-American season where he helped guide LSU baseball to the NCAA Championship, it’s no surprise that pitcher Paul Skenes has inked a massive rookie contract. The No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft signed a record contract with the Pittsburg Pirates, a $9.2 million dollar signing bonus.

From film study to Moneyball, sports analysis is always changing, and LSU Coach Brian Kelly says AI could be the next step in LSU’s recruiting process. Kace Kieschnick has more…:
Cut 21 (33) “….I’m Kace Kieschnick”

After hearing from LSU Monday at SEC Media Days, New Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze spoke yesterday. He says he’s hoping to rebuild the Auburn program after two losing seasons, but it starts with one position…:
CUT 17 (20) “that spot”

Mississippi State’s new Head Coach Zach Arnett also took the podium Tuesday. The Bulldog’s former defensive coordinator has the tall task of replacing the late Mike Leach who was known for his iconic Air Raid offense. Arnett says new coordinator Kevin Barbay brings a different approach…:
Cut 19 (21) “what they do”

The LSU offense is poised to be one of the best in the SEC this year with many of its key players returning including the entire offensive line. Fifth-year senior quarterback Jayden Daniels may have a season under his belt and Heisman aspirations, but Coach Brian Kelly says that doesn’t mean he can relax now with sophomore Garret Nussmeier getting better every day…

Cut 16

Nussmeier went 11-of-15 for 173 yards and two touchdowns in LSU’s 63-7 Citrus Bowl victory last year.

LSU Catcher Hayden Travinski announced he’ll be returning to LSU for his final season of eligibility after going undrafted in the MLB draft. Travinski exploded offensively late into the season batting .356 on the year with 30 RBI and 10 homers. He’ll join fellow catcher Alex Milazzo who is also expected to return after suffering an injury during the final game of the championship series against Florida.

Auburn was one of four teams to be featured at the SEC Media Day in Nashville today. First-year coach Hugh Freeze spoke to reporters about the challenges of rebuilding a football program as he has at Arkansas St, Ole Miss, and Liberty. With 42 new players on this year’s roster, Freeze says it all starts with one position…

Cut 17

LSU Pitcher and No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes signed a contract with the pirates that includes a record-setting $9.2 million signing bonus. The deal breaks the record previously set by 2020 top pick Spencer Torkelson and the Detroit Tigers. Skenes will begin his pro career at the Florida complex League in Bradenton. 2^nd overall pick Dylan Crews has yet to ink a deal.

Expectations are high for the LSU football team during this year’s Sec Media days in Nashville. After a ten win season and SEC Championship appearance and the recent trend of second year coaches at LSU taking their teams all the way, many fans are hoping to compete for a title in Brian Kelly’s second season. Returning quarterback Jayden Daniels is set to take another step forward after transferring to LSU from Arizona St. last year. He’s been named one of the favorites t win the Heisman trophy, but the fifth-year senior is more focused on winning than trophies…

Cut 17 (14) “…with it”

Schools taking the podium today are Auburn, Mississippi St, Vanderbilt and defending national champs Georgia.

Louisiana Tech Men’s Basketball unveiled its conference schedule for the upcoming season. The Bulldogs will face off in 16 league matchups beginning on January 6 as they visit new Conference USA member Sam Houston. They’ll play each conference opponent twice and wrap up the conference schedule at home March 9 versus Middle Tennessee. The conference championship is set for March 12-16.

LSU outfielder Brayden Jobert announced he’s heading to the MLB. The redshirt junior announced he’ll be signing with St. Louis after being selected in the 12^th round by the Cardinals. Jobert hit .301 for the Tigers this season with 14 homers including a team-leading three in the College World Series for the national champion tigers.

LSU alums Aliyah Andrews and Sahvanna Jaquish helped the top-ranked U.S. Women’s National Team  solidify its position in the 2024 World Cup Finals after a dominating performance at the XVII World Cup Group A event where they outscored its opponents 28-0.

The World Cup Finals will be held in Italy July 15-21, 2024.

LSU Coach Brian Kelly was the first to speak at SEC Media Days in Nashville which kicked off Monday, and he indicated right off the bat that he knows the bar has been set high by his colleagues in terms of winning championships in year two of the job. Jay Johnson and LSU Baseball won a College World Series, and Kim Mulkey and LSU women’s basketball won the NCAA Tournament. Kelly knows what’s expected of him:
CUT 18 (09) “in our court now”
Jayden Daniels is back as the starting QB and he’s confident the Tigers can have one of the top offenses in the country…:
Cut 15 (15) “make plays”
The Tigers kick off the season September 3rd against Florida State in Orlando.

LSU Coach Brian Kelly was also asked at SEC Media days whether his program would be looking for ways to take advantage of AI technology, and he responded that it’s an intriguing opportunity they’ll be looking to make room for. He said he believes AI could create a model for them to know what kind of player they need to go after in terms of what the team is looking for.

LSU Baseball outfielder Brayden Jobert won’t be back as a Tiger in 2024 as the former Northshore High, Nicholls and Delgado standout says he intends to sign with St. Louis instead. The Cardinals selected Jobert in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Jobert hit .273 with 21 doubles, three triples, 32 homers, 107 RBI and 86 runs over the past two seasons at LSU including .301 this past season with 14 homers including a team-high three bombs in the College World Series for the national champion Tigers.

SEC Football Media Days begin today in Nashville. The defending SEC West champion Tigers are one of three schools set to be featured today. Coach Brian Kelly and players Jayden Daniels, Josh Williams and Mekhi Wingo will face hundreds of reporters as they look forward to a highly anticipated season after the team exceeded expectations in Kelly’s first year. Coming off a ten-win season and trip to the Sec championship, many fans will hope to improve and compete for a national title. Host of the Locked On LSU podcast Caroline Fenton says even of the Tigers fall short of their lofty goals, it doesn’t mean the program has taken a step back…

Cut 18 (20) “…strides forward” 

Kelly has even said in an interview with USA Today that with another year of recruiting, 2024 is a more realistic year to make a title run.

Veteran free agent wide receiver Deandre Hopkins is expected to sign to a two-year $26 million deal with the Titans. Hopkins was cut by the Cardinals earlier this offseason due to his contract’s over 30 million dollar expected cap hit. After months of speculation and visits to potential teams, the 31 year-old receiver will be joining Tennessee as the number one wide out across from second year wide receiver Treylon Burks. Hopkins, who has consistently been one of the league’s top receivers since being drafted by the Texans in 2013, will visit New Orleans in week one as the Saints open the season in the dome September 10^th.

Saints linebacker Demario Davis held the first graduation of his Devoted Dreamers Academy this weekend. Founded by Davis and his wife Tamela in 2013, the academy provides college prep and business of sport experience labs for 8^th through 12^th grade students.

The Summer League has wrapped up for the New Orleans Pelicans after falling to the 76ers last night 117-114. The next time New Orleans will be on the court will be in Smoothie King Center for their preseason home opener October 10th.

SEC Football Media Days begin today in Nashville. The LSU Tigers are one of three schools that will be featured today as Coach Brian Kelly and players Jayden Daniels, Josh Williams and Mekhi Wingo will speak with hundreds of reporters. Host of the Locked-on LSU podcast, Caroline Fenton, says the expectations for the Tigers are much higher heading into the second year of the Brian Kelly era…:
Cut 17 (26) “…this year”
Even Kelly said in an interview with the USA Today that with another year of recruiting, 2024 is a more realistic goal to win a national title.

The Summer League has wrapped up for the New Orleans Pelicans after falling to the 76ers last night 117-114. The next time New Orleans will be on the court will be in Smoothie King Center for their preseason home opener October 10th.

Former LSU Star and Houston’s All-Star third baseball Alex Bregman delivered the biggest hit of 2023 in the Astros 9-8 win over the Los Angeles Angels last night. Bregman smacked a go-ahead, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth which gave the Astros a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Starting today, private recreational offshore fishermen will have an additional red snapper added to their daily limit, as LDWF increased it from 3 to 4. Spokesman Jason Adriance says they are happy to relax regulations…:
CUT 6 (09) “the freezer”
He says the increase is the result of a lower-than-expected harvest rate.

SEC Football Media Days begin next week in Nashville. The LSU Tigers are one of three schools that will be featured Monday as Coach Brian Kelly and players Jayden Daniels, Josh Williams and Mekhi Wingo will speak with hundreds of reporters. Host of the Locked on LSU podcast, Caroline Fenton, says the expectations for the Tigers are much higher heading into the second year of the Brian Kelly era…
Cut 17 (26) “…this year”
The SEC Media poll could select LSU as the favorite to win the SEC West over Alabama.

LSU baseball has landed an All Pac-12 outfielder out of the transfer portal. Mac Bingham will be a fifth year player next season after hitting 10 home runs and hitting .319 for the Arizona Wildcats last season. Bingham played two seasons for Coach Jay Johnson, before Johnson left the Wildcats for LSU.

Good news for Louisiana Sportsmen as the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has increased the red snapper daily creel limit from three to four fish, starting on Monday. LDWF fisheries biologist Jason Adriance says the new daily creel limit of four red snappers also applies to federal waters off of Louisiana, except for federally permitted charter boats…
Cut 28 (11) “…federal waters.”
Adriance says the increase is the result of a lower than expected harvest rate.

Football season is around the corner but former LSU Coach Ed Orgeron does not have that itch to coach again. Orgeron told the Advocate Newspaper he’s likely done coaching as the 61-year-old is enjoying his free time since he was fired from LSU in 2021. Orgeron’s name was connected to the vacant head coaching job at Northwestern, but he’s not sure how those rumors started.

Six-foot-five left-handed pitcher Cameron Johnson says he plans on attending LSU after he was selected in the 20th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Johnson pitched for IMG Academy last season and he’s ranked as the 42nd best prospect going into the draft according to M-L-B-dot-com.

Also, right-handed pitcher Christian Little says he will return to LSU next season after he was drafted in the 19th by the New York Mets. Little struggled with a 7.79 ERA last season after transferring in from Vanderbilt.

The Pelicans raced out to an 18-0 lead last night and defeated the Hornets 89 to 83 in Summer League Action. Dereon Seabron had 20 points as he was nine of 13 from the field. Dyson Daniels added 16 points and E-J Liddell had 11 points in 20 minutes. New Orleans is now 3-and-1 and will play one more game this weekend.

LSU men’s basketball will play at least three exhibition games in the Bahamas next month as the Tigers look to have a much better season next year, year two for head coach Matt McMahon. The Tigers will be in the Bahamas from August 6th to the 12th. College teams are allowed to make an international trip every four years.

There is some sad news to report involving the LSU women’s basketball program. Former All-SEC women’s basketball player Danielle Ballard has died at the age of 29 after she was hit by a car at an intersection in Memphis early Thursday morning. The five-foot-nine guard averaged 12 points and seven rebounds during her career from 2012 to 2015.