11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Ragin Cajuns will face Cincinnati tomorrow night in the opening round of the Starkville Regional. Coach Matt Deggs calls the Bearcats a dynamic baseball team.

Cut 16 (20) “…very well coached.”

Deggs was talking about Cincinnati first baseman Quinton Coats, who is tied for fourth nationally with 28 home runs and is fifth in RBIs with 78 and third in the Big 12 with a 764 slugging percentage.

The Women’s College Series gets underway today in Oklahoma City. Texas Tech versus Mississippi State is the first game and the fourth and final game of the day is Arkansas versus Nebraska. Top seeded Alabama is the first seed.

 

Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell have filed legislation that’s designed to fix college sports . It would regulate payments to players, allow athletes to transfer once without having to sit out a season and there’s also the Lane Kiffin rule to prevent what happened last season, Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU before the Rebels season ended. It will need 60 votes to pass.

The Saints have signed linebacker Jackson Sirmon, he’s the son of Saints linebackers coach Peter Sirmon. The 26-year-old Jackson Sirmon spent the last two seasons with the Jets, mostly spent on their practice squad. Sirmon provides more depth at the linebacker position as the Black and Gold have just five linebackers.

The Saints have finalized their preseason schedule as New Orleans will host Jacksonville on August 15th and they will visit the Rams on August 22nd and the Cowboys on August 28th.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Legislation that would bring much-needed rules and regulations to college athletics has been filed in the U-S Senate. The bipartisan bill authored by Texas Republican Ted Cruz and Washington Democrat Maria Cantwell has several key reforms, including a five-year eligibility clock, a one-time transfer allowed without having to sit out a year, the option to pool media rights to generate more TV revenue, and the Lane Kiffin rule. The Kiffin rule would prohibit a school from hiring a coach from another school or a coach leaving for another school before the season ends. The “Protect College Sports Act” will need 60 votes to pass the Senate.

The Saints have signed linebacker Peter Sirmon as OTAs are underway. Sirmon played 51 college football games between Cal and Washington. He has mostly spent the last two seasons on the Jets’ practice squad, appearing in just one game last season.

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The Ragin Cajuns get to practice today at Dudy Noble Field, the home of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the host school of the Starkville Regional. U-L Lafayette is the three-seed in the Regional and Coach Matt Deggs believes his guys can be a Cinderella in the tournament, because they refuse to lose…

Cut 17 (18) “…long time”

U-L Lafayette hosts Cincinnati on Friday night.

LSU center fielder Derek Curiel told Matt Moscona of ESPN Baton Rouge Radio that he broke his ankle last November and only had three weeks to get ready for the regular season, which explains why he got off to a slow start. Curiel finished the season strong and is a draft-eligible sophomore, but he’s keeping the door open to possibly returning for his junior season. Curiel could be a first-round draft pick.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

At the SEC Spring Meetings, LSU Coach Lane Kiffin was asked about the highly anticipated return to Oxford when the Tigers play the Ole Miss Rebels on September 19th. …

Cut 8 (09) “…at it”

Kick-off times for the first three weeks of the college football season were announced today. LSU’s first three games will have the same kick-off time of 6:30, including the home game against Louisiana Tech on September 12th.

The Ragin Cajuns home games against Lamar and UAB in September will kick off at 7 PM. When the Cajuns visit USC on September 12th. That game will start at 10 PM central time and it will be televised by the Big 10 Network.

Also the ULM-UL Lafayette game on Thursday November 12th will kick off at 8 PM.

The Warhawks open the season against Mississippi State on September 5th and that game will kick off at 7:30 PM in Starkville.

 

The Pelicans new head coach Jamahl Mosley met with the local media yesterday for the first time. Mosley spent the last five seasons in Orlando, leading the Magic to the playoffs the last three seasons; this year, they nearly knocked off the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the Detroit Pistons. Mosley says he likes what he sees in his new team.

Cut 14 (09) “…says a lot.”

Getting Zion Williamson to play like a superstar is one of Mosley’s top priorities.

Public money that universities pay directly to college athletes will be concealed from public view under legislation one vote away from final passage. The measure passed the Senate on a 22-13 vote. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell voiced her opposition to the legislation while questioning one of the co-sponsors of the bill Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil.

Cut 30 (12)  “…for state funding.”

Foil argues that this is not taxpayer dollars. It’s money generated by the athletic department through ticket sales and TV contracts.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU Football Coach Lane Kiffin spoke for about ten minutes at SEC Media Days and explained why he added former head coach Ed Orgeron to his staff…

Cut 19 (18) “…about it”

Kiffin and Orgeron have worked previously together at Tennessee and U-S-C.

Kiffin was also asked about returning to Ole Miss for the game on September 19th. He says he’s more focused on getting ready for the season opener against Clemson. Kiffin also described his experience at LSU as awesome.

Former LSU pitcher Gage Jump made his major league debut last night, but it didn’t go well as the left-hander gave up four runs in five innings as the As lost the Mariners four to one.

 

New Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley talked a lot about playing great defense during his introductory press conference. Mosley says for New Orleans to be a consistent winner, the Pels will need to play better defense…

Cut 16 (12) “…high level”

A proposal to shield the public from seeing the revenue share contracts between universities and their athletes has received approval from the Senate on a 22-13 vote. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil says if other SEC schools know how much LSU is giving to a particular player, it could result in other universities offering that athlete more money to play at their school.

Cut 7 (09) “…are doing it.”

Opponents argue this is public money and the public should know who is getting what. The measure is one full House vote away from final passage.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

A year after finishing with a losing record, U-L Lafayette is back in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years. The Cajuns secured their spot in a Regional by winning five games in six days, at two different ballparks, at the rain-soaked Sun Belt Tournament. Coach Matt Deggs says he’s been impressed with the determination of this team.

Cut 16 (13) “…that’s the expectation.”

U-L Lafayette is the three seed in the Starkville Regional and will play second-seeded Cincinnati Friday night.

Former LSU pitcher Gage Jump has received the call to the big leagues. Jump will get the start for the As tonight as they take on the Seattle Mariners. Jump has struck out 56 hitters in 38 innings in Triple-A.

Former McNeese star Will Dion is also headed to the Majors as he’s been called up By the Cleveland Guardians. Dion has been pitching out of the bullpen and has struck out 36 in 26 innings.

 

At the SEC Spring Meetings, Commissioner Greg Sankey said the league will not take a firm stance this week on expanding the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams. Sankey says any position that the SEC takes on this issue, will be after school leaders and coaches receive all of the information…

Cut 7 (12) “…moving forward.”

New Pelicans Coach Jamahl Mosley met with the media today and was asked how he plans to use Zion Williamson’s skill set…

Cut 17 (16) “…healthy”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The NCAA Baseball Regionals are set and the Ragin Cajuns are the only team from Louisiana to be in the Field of 64. U-L Lafayette is a three-seed in the Starkville Regional and will play Cincinnati on Friday night. Mississippi State is the host school and Coach Matt Deggs says the Bulldogs home park is one of the best in college baseball…

Cut 18 (13) “…a great Regional”

LSU is not in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. They are the seventh team to fail to make a Regional after winning the College World Series the season before.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan is reporting former LSU pitcher Gage Jump is getting called up to the big leagues. The left-hander has been a strikeout machine for the Oakland As Triple-A team as he’s struck out 56 in 38 innings.

 

At the SEC Spring Meetings, Commissioner Greg Sankey said the league will not take a firm stance this week on expanding the College Football Playoff from 12 to 24 teams. Sankey says instead, they will use the meetings to brief university leaders and coaches on the pros and cons of an expansion…

Cut 6 (10) “….time”

College football leaders have until December 1st to decide if they want to expand the C-F-P to 24 teams, 16 teams or stay at 12 for the 2027 season. Sankey has been vocal in his opposition to a 24-team playoff, because it would devalue the regular season.

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin could be reprimanded for what he told Vanity Fair. Kiffin told the magazine that when he was coaching at Ole Miss, recruits told him their grandparents did not want them to live in Oxford because of it’s ties to the Confederacy. Kiffin has defended his comments by saying that people are not reading what he actually said.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Ragin Cajuns are Louisiana’s lone team in the NCAA Tournament as they are a three-seed in the Starkville Regional and will play second-seeded Cincinnati on Friday night. Coach Matt Deggs expects a lot of Cajun fans in Starkville…

Cut 17 (16) “…for a reason”

Mississippi State is the host school and the Bulldogs face Lipscomb on Friday.

LSU is not in the field of 64 for the first time since the 2011 season. The Tigers are the seventh program to fail to make a regional a year after winning a national title.

Louisiana Tech’s top hitter this season, Trey Hawsey, announced on his Instagram is leaving the Diamond Dogs. Hawsey hit 3-35 with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.

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The future of the College Football Playoff will be one of the main topics as the SEC spring meetings get underway today in Destin, Florida. The Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 want the College Football Playoff expanded from 12 to 24 teams starting in 2027, but USA Today national college football writer Matt Hayes says SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is only willing to expand to 16 teams.

Cut 7 (07) “…end of story.”

Sankey told reporters last night that expanding the C-F-P from four to 12 was justifiable and college football leaders should be careful with how far it goes.

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin could be reprimanded for comments he made to Vanity Fair. Kiffin told the magazine that when he was coaching at Ole Miss, recruits told him their grandparents did not want them to live in Oxford because of it’s ties to the Confederacy. Kiffin has defended his comments by saying that people are not reading the actual words in the article.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Ragin Cajuns are the lone representative from Louisiana to make the 64-team NCAA Baseball Tournament. UL Lafayette is headed to the Starkville Regional. Mississippi State is the host school and a 14-national seed and they will be playing Lipscomb out of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The Cajuns are the three-seed in the Regional and will play Cincinnati on Friday night at 6 PM. The Bearkats went 37-20 overall and 17-13 in the Big 12. Cincinnati has one of the top home run hitters in college baseball. Sophomore Quinton Coats has 28 home runs with 78 RBIs and his batting average is .346.

A record number of Sun Belt teams made the NCAA Tournament as five teams get in from the Fun Belt! Southern Miss is hosting a regional. Coastal Carolina is headed to Tallahassee, Texas State is headed to College Station and Troy gets in and the Trojans are in the Gainesville Regional.

LSU misses out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive seasons in the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers are also the seventh team to miss the NCAA Baseball Tournament after winning the College World Series the season before.

Vanderbilt also misses the tournament for the first time since 2005. That snaps a streak of 19 straight seasons.

Florida now has the longest active streak of making the NCAA Tournament at 18.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

It’s selection Monday in college baseball and while the LSU Tigers will not be in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, the Ragin Cajuns are likely headed to a Regional after a remarkable run through the Sun Belt Tournament. U-L Lafayette played seven games in six days at two different ball parks because of all of the rain in Alabama, before finally losing in the Sun Belt Tournament Championship game to Southern Miss. Coach Matt Deggs…

Cut 27 (14) “…caught up to us a little bit”

The Cajuns lost to eighth ranked Southern Miss 11 to seven yesterday. U-L Lafayette got to the championship game by beating Texas State twice on Saturday.

The Cajuns are expected to be a three-seed in a regional. Baseball America has U-L going to Gainesville, while D-1 Baseball has the Cajuns in Austin.

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No LSU Tigers in the NCAA Baseball Tournament for the first time since 2011. Tigers Coach Jay Johnson says he never wants the program in this situation again…

Cut 20 (14) “…we can”

A change has been made at the bottom of the depth chart for LSU at the quarterback position. Walk-on Emile Picarella from University High School has left the program and Middle Tennessee quarterback Kaden Martin has transferred in. Martin is the son of former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin, who is now on Lane Kiffin’s staff as an offensive analyst. Martin did not appear in a game for Middle Tennessee this past season. He started his college career as a baseball player at Miami.

7:30 LRN Sportscast

The Ragin Cajuns might have punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament last night with a five to four win over Coastal Carolina. It’s U-L Lafayette’s fourth win over Coastal in five games over the last eight days.

On Thursday night, the Cajuns could not hold on to a three to nothing lead in in the ninth inning and lost to Texas State four to three. Last night, U-L Lafayette jumped out to a 5-to-nothing lead and had to hold on for dear life.

Offensively Colt Brown had a two-run double and Drew Markle had a two-run single. Andrew Hermann pitched five innings out of the bullpen for his seventh win and Cody Brasch pitched the ninth inning for his sixth save.

UL Lafayette will play Texas State this morning at 9 AM and will have to win twice to reach the Sun Belt Finals.

McNeese lost two to one to Lamar last night as the Cardinals win the Southland Tournament Championship Series two games to nothing.

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It was all Alabama in the first game of the Super Regional Series against LSU as the Crimson Tide rolled last night seven to nothing. The Tigers had just one hit, a leadoff double by Jalia Lassiter and that was it. LSU’ s starting pitcher Paytn Monticelli suffered the loss as she gave up six runs. The Tigers will try to stave off elimination and even up the series at one game a piece when the two teams play at 2 PM today.

Louisiana Tech played its last Conference USA game yesterday. A six to nothing loss to Liberty in the Conference USA Tournament. Coach Lane Burroughs not happy with the season. Tech finished with a 33-and-25 record and Burroughs says they have to get better as the Dogs move into the Sun Belt.

Today is the memorial service for legendary McNeese football coach Bobby Keasler, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 80. Public viewing is at 10 AM at Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles and the Memorial Service is at 1 PM.