Saints great Drew Brees will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame tomorrow. Brees thought his NFL dreams might be over after an injury to his throwing shoulder ended his career with the Chargers in 2005. Instead, he led New Orleans to its only Super Bowl title and retired as the NFL’s all-time passing leader. He says he is most looking forward to thanking the people who impacted him along his 20-year career.

Cut 15 (08) “…so much gratitude.”

The enshrinement ceremony begins at 11 a.m. tomorrow. The Panthers won the Hall of Fame game 33-30 over the Cardinals last night on a five-yard touchdown scramble by Georgia Tech rookie quarterback Haynes King on the game’s final snap.

Rivals reports four-star quarterback Colton Nussmeier is transferring to Archbishop Rummel. The brother of former LSU signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier was declared ineligible to play his senior season after officials determined he transferred to Ryan High School in Texas. The Georgia commit faces off against U High and quarterback Knox Kiffin in week one.

Saints rookie tight end Brock Rechsteiner was suspended six games by the NFL. The undrafted free agent is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner. He will be allowed to participate in preseason action but will be suspended if he makes the 53-man roster.

Former LSU wide receiver Barion Brown has made a splash at Saints training camp. Brown was picked in the sixth round of this year’s draft as the last of three receivers selected by the Saints. Despite his strong start, he says he can’t listen to his own hype.

Cut 17 (18) “…to get better.”

UL-Lafayette’s leading receiver last year, Shelton Sampson Jr., missed the first few days of practice with a hyperextended knee, per KATC in Lafayette. Coach Michael Desormeaux previously said he would be relying on a group of young pass catchers to step up behind Sampson.

Saints legend Drew Brees will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame tomorrow. The Super Bowl MVP helped to revive the team and the city of New Orleans when he arrived as a free agent after Hurricane Katrina. He says it was a rebirth for both him and the community.

Cut 14 (12) “…the other side.”

Brees threw for more than 80-thousand yards and tossed 571 touchdowns passes during his career.

The Saints could have a very good receiving corp led by All-pro Chris Olave. There’s also Devaughn Vele (deh-VAWN VEH-lay) and rookies Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance and Barrion Brown. Brown says Olave is a good leader…

Cut 18 (10) “…coaching tips”

The LSU football team practiced last night. Reporters had access for a little over ten minutes and two freshmen defensive tackles were on the first-team during a team drill. Deuce Geralds from Georgia and Richard Anderson from Edna Karr High School in New Orleans could be your starters against Clemson in the season opener. Auburn transfer Malik Blocton and Clemson transfer Stephiylan (STEPH-eye-linn) Green were on the second team and former Acadiana five-star Dominick McKinley is on the third team.

La Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie is expecting the front seven will lead the Bulldogs defense in 2026…

Cut 29 (25) “.,,,is back”

The LSU women’s basketball team will face UCONN in the 2026 espnW Invitational. The two winningest active women’s college basketball coaches, Kim Mulkey and Geno Auriemma, will face off at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on December 20th.

Will Wade and the men now know their opponents for the Acrisure Series in Palm Springs, California. The Tigers face Arizona State and SMU on November 25.

Saints 2025 first-round left tackle Kelvin Banks is looking to build on a strong rookie year. He says Saints defensive end Chase Young is one of the best in the league, and going against him every practice can only help.

Cut 22 (16) “…in practice.”

The Sun Belt announced the conference men’s basketball schedule. UL Lafayette tips off conference play against ULM December 16. The Warhawks have an early opener versus Georgia State on December 5th and close the season hosting the Cajuns February 26th. Louisiana Tech will make its Sun Belt debut December 16 at Troy and end the year at Arkansas State. The Dunkin’ Dogs play ULM January 23rd and February 13th and face ULL February 3rd and 24th.

In football, Warhawks starting quarterback Aidan Armenta returns after throwing for over 16-hundred yards and 12 touchdowns last year. The senior completed just 59-percent of his passes and threw eight interceptions last year, but head coach Bryant Vincent says he progressed in the spring.

Cut 19 (17) “…what you want.”

LSU returned to the practice field for the first time yesterday. Coach Lane Kiffin says the team was able to gel and learn the system over the summer during OTAs. He says this group has had very few discipline issues this offseason, and that reflects the state of modern college athletics.

Cut 17 (15) “…make these mistakes.”

Former Tiger receiver Barion Brown continues to be a star at Saints training camp. The sixth-round pick says he is ready to contribute to the team any way he can.

Cut 21 (11) “…to get better.”

The wait for football is almost over. The Panthers and Cardinals kick off NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame game tonight at 7 p.m.

Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie expects the Bulldogs to compete in the Sun Belt right away, largely because of how much production is back from last year. He says that is most apparent in the linebacker room that features returners Kolbe Fields, Jadon Mayfield and Alonzo Jackson.

Cut 20 (18) “…elevate the group.”

Louisiana hunters who want a chance to participate in the state’s third black bear hunting season since 1987 can apply to the LDWF lottery now. LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks says 42 tags will be issued through the lottery.

Cut 13 (11)  “…go to apply.”

The first preseason practice is in the books for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers. Kiffin told reporters that starting quarterback Sam Leavitt moved around well on his surgically repaired foot. Wednesday marked the first time that five star defensive lineman Lamar Brown from University High participated in an official practice at LSU. Here’s Kiffin’s scouting report on Brown…

Cut 16 (13) “…what it takes”

There are a couple of good position battles at Saints camp. At Linebacker, Danny Stutsman is getting some first-team reps ahead of Pete Werner. At defensive tackle, John Ridgeway is also seeing first-team snaps over veteran Nathan Shepherd. Meanwhile, second round draft pick and defensive tackle Christen Miller missed yesterday’s practice with a toe injury. The severity of the injury is unknown.

ULM kicked off camp yesterday. It’s year three for head coach Bryant Vincent. The Warhawks have just eight wins in the Vincent era due to six- and eight-game losing streaks to close out each of his first two seasons. Vincent says this team is learning from those mistakes.

Cut 18 (19) “…of this team.”

Sportsmen with a Black Bear hunting license can now enter a lottery to receive one of the 42 tags that will be handed out for the black bear hunting season in December.  LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks …

Cut 15 (10) “…more that that’

Visit Louisiana-outdoors-dot-com-slash-lottery-applications.

College football practice is kicking off around the country. At LSU, sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett switched his number from three to five. He is the first player to wear the number since Jayden Daniels. LSU coach Lane Kiffin says the number was promised to him by the previous staff during his recruitment.

Cut 19 (07) “…he was told.”

Kiffin says they have the pieces to be a really good team. Quarterback Sam Leavitt was a full go for the first day of camp, and Kiffin says the simple language of his offense helps transfers get up to speed fast.

Former LSU receiver Barion Brown has stood out at Saints training camp after New Orleans drafted him in the sixth round. Head coach Kellen Moore says they knew he could be a productive receiver from his time in the SEC.

Cut 16 (11) “…and play.”

UL-Lafayette started practice today. The Cajuns’ receiver room is led by redshirt junior Shelton Sampson Jr., who made 32 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns last year. Behind him, coach Michael Desormeaux says he’s relying on a group of inexperienced pass catchers to take the next step.

Cut 18 (11) “…of them to.”

Louisiana Tech kicked off its first practice as a Sun Belt Conference school. Coach Sonny Cumbie says the Bulldogs have a lot of returning production and are ready to surprise a new conference. He says the strength of his defense is the front seven, but the secondary is experienced as well.

Cut 21 (09) “…created takeaways.”

Tech lost almost all of its starting secondary from last year before the bowl game. The Bulldogs beat Coastal Carolina 23-14 in the Independence Bowl.

The first LSU fall camp under Lane Kiffin has officially begun. The Tigers hit the practice field this morning as they prepare a completely revamped roster. Preston Guy with Tiger Bait-dot-com says there are a lot of questions surrounding Kiffin’s first LSU team, most of which deal with chemistry.

Cut 13 (11)  “…to the team (2x).”

LSU was ranked number-13 in the preseason coaches poll and has a ranked week one matchup with 23^rd-ranked Clemson September 5.

LSU Baseball coach Jay Johnson told Tiger Rag Radio he thought there was a zero-point-one-percent chance second-round MLB draft pick and top signee Logan Schmidt made it to campus, but he is thrilled that he did.

Cut 20 (13) “…by trade.”

Schools around the state are kicking off fall camp today. UL-Lafayette finished 6-and-7 last year but closed the regular season on a four-game win streak. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says preseason camp is when he finds what his players have to offer and establishes an identity.

Cut 16 (14) “…the football part.”

The Cajuns open their season at home against Lamar.

LA Tech is preparing for its first season in the Sun Belt Conference. The Bulldogs were 8-and-5 in their first winning season under head coach Sonny Cumbie last year. Starting quarterback Blake Baker returns from a season-ending ACL injury last year and says he’s setting out to prove one thing entering a new conference.

Cut 19 (07) “…big-time player.”

The Bulldogs host Northwestern State to kick off the season.

LSU is ranked 13^th in the preseason coaches poll and the Tigers will face six teams that are ranked in the Top 25, starting with the season opener against 18^th ranked Clemson.

LSU struggled along the offensive line last season and Preston Guy with Tiger-Bait-dot-com is not sure the addition of Jordan Seaton will be the game changer that many are hoping for

Cut 14 (10) “…all those problems”

Seaton has been named to the preseason Outland Trophy Watch list. He was a second-team all-Big 12 selection at Colorado last season and if he has a good season this year, could be a potential first round draft pick.

Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees will work his first full season with Fox this season as a color analyst. He’ll work in the booth with Adam Amin and his first assignment is the week one game between the Bears and the Panthers. Drew will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

________________________________________

LSU is not the only team that starts preseason practice today. The Ragin Cajuns get started today and they return starting quarterback Lunch Winfield, who is a big reason U-L Lafayette turned its season around last year and played in a bowl game. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says Winfield has put in a lot of work in the offseason.

Cut 17 (17) “…off for you.”

Winfield has held numerous throwing sessions with a receiver room led by redshirt junior Shelton Sampson Jr., who made 32 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns last year.

Sad news out of the world of horse racing. Lafayette native Robbie Albarado, who won more than five thousand races as a jockey passed away Tuesday at the age of 52 after undergoing a heart procedure last week. Aboarado retired in 2021.

LSU was ranked 13^th in the US LBM preseason coaches poll. The Tigers play six teams in the top 25. Their week one opponent, Clemson, was ranked 23rd. Texas is number four. Texas A&M is eighth, Ole Miss tenth, Alabama 11th and Tennessee 18th. Ohio State finished number one and received over half of the first-place votes.

LSU kicks off practice under head coach Lane Kiffin tomorrow, and one key position group to watch will be the wideouts. Kiffin brought in nine transfers and three freshmen wide receivers this offseason. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says one or two of the newcomers in that crowded, talented room are going to separate themselves.

Cut 17 (17) “…be thinking about.”

UL-Lafayette head coach Michael Desormeaux spoke to the media before practice kicks off tomorrow. He says he has been proud of how his team has prepared this summer.

Cut 20 (17) “…about this group.”

Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is the highest-paid halfback in NFL history. The 2023 eighth-overall pick signed a three-year, 75-million-dollar extension. Robinson racked up nearly four-thousand rushing yards and two-thousand receiving yards and scored 34 touchdowns in his first three seasons.

Falcons linebacker Jalon Walker was carted off the field at practice today and is believed to have suffered a torn ACL. Walker was the 15^th-overall pick in last year’s draft and had 36 tackles and 5-and-a-half sacks as a rookie in snaps at both edge rusher and outside linebacker last season.

LSU was ranked 13^th in the US LBM preseason coaches poll. Ohio State was ranked number one, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame. There are nine SEC teams in the top 25. Texas A-and-M is eighth with Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Alabama directly behind them. Tennessee is number 18, and Missouri landed at 25.

LSU players report for coach Lane Kiffin’s first fall camp in Baton Rouge today. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says LSU’s roster is as talented as any on paper, and Kiffin is a genius. But Tiger fans can’t expect a perfect season with how difficult LSU’s schedule is. The Tigers have back-to-back matchups with Ole Miss and Texas A-and-M in September, and Alabama and Texas in November.

Cut 18 (17) “…to be better.”

Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt was named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watchlist. The honor goes to the college football player of the year each season. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the award last year, and Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels both won at LSU.

Linebacker Whit Weeks and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen were named to the Nagurski Trophy preseason watchlist for the top defensive player. Offensive tackle Jordan Seaton made the Outland Trophy preseason watchlist for the best interior lineman.

The Atlanta Falcons have made two-time Pro Bowl running back Bijan Robinson the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Robinson signed a three-year extension worth up to 75-million-dollars, with 51-million of that guaranteed. His new 22.5-million-dollar-per-year mark surpasses Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s 20.6-million-dollar-per-year contract.

Former McNeese and Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Tommy McClelland is being hired to take the same job at Purdue. McClelland has spent the last three years at Rice and served six years in Lake Charles and eight in Ruston, where he infamously asserted that the Bulldogs’ Conference USA was superior to the Sun Belt Conference.