LSU will unveil a statue of Pete Maravich tonight next to the statues of other LSU basketball legends, Shaquille O’ Neal and Bob Petit. Pistol Pete is the all-time scoring leader in NCAA Division One College Basketball and LSU’s Chief Brand Officer Cody Worsham says he’s one of the best to ever play the game…
Cut 13 (08) “…we’re excited.”
The unveiling of the statue will be around 6:30 in the plaza of the LSU Basketball Practice facility.

Here’s how it sounded on NBC sports when former LSU pole vaulter and Lafayette native Mondo Duplantis broke his own world record at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon…
cut 30 (10) “….done it'”
Mondo is the Michael Jordan of pole vaulting.

LSU football received its fourth verbal pledge for the 2024 recruiting class as tight end Tayvion Calloway of Ohio announced he plans on playing for the Tigers. He’s a four-star prospect and 24-7 sports ranks Calloway as the fifth-best tight end in the Class of 2024.

LSU linebacker Mike Jones Junior is on the Butkus Award watch list. Devin White won the award in 2018 which goes to the best linebacker in college football.

Tomorrow, the Saints veterans report for training camp. We will hear from general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Dennis Allen tomorrow afternoon. The Saints first preseason game is August 13th in Houston to take on the Texans.

Houston rookie wide receiver John Metchie the Third has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to play this season.

The Sun Belt Conference has announced that commissioner Keith Gill’s contract has been extended through 2030. He’s been on the job since 209 and the league expanded to 14 schools this year.

LSU will unveil a statue of Pete Maravich tonight that will stand next to the statutes of two former Tiger legends, Shaquille O’ Neal and Bob Petit. The unveiling of the statue will take place at 6:30 in the plaza of the LSU Basketball Practice facility which is connected to the PMAC. LSU’s Chief Brand Officer Cody Worsham says members of Maravich’s family will be on hand along with some of the great players of LSU’s basketball past…
Cut 15 (13) “… of that program”

Former LSU pole vaulter and Lafayette’s Antoine Duplantis broke his own world record as the world championships ended in Eugene, Oregon. Duplantis cleared 20-feet, 4.5 inches on his second attempt to win the gold at his second world championships.

LSU football received its fourth verbal pledge for the 2024 recruiting class as tight end Tayvion Calloway of Ohio announced he plans on playing for the Tigers. He’s a four-star prospect and 24-7 sports ranks Calloway as the fifth-best tight end in the Class of 2024. Calloway stands at six-foot-six, 230-pounds.

Tomorrow, the Saints veterans report for training camp. We will hear from general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Dennis Allen tomorrow afternoon. The Saints first preseason game is August 13th in Houston to take on the Texans.

Houston rookie wide receiver John Metchie the Third has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to play this season. Metchie said in a statement that he has A-P-L, which he says is the most curable form of Leukemia. The former Alabama star is a second round draft choice.

In college baseball news….Tulane outfielder Ethan Goff announced he’s transferring to Ole Miss. Goff hit .404 with nine home runs before a fractured his thumb ended his season in late April.

The media picks LSU to finish fifth in the SEC West, considered the toughest division in all of college football. Tiger Rag Editor Tim Buckley says LSU’s ranking is the result of not having an established starter at quarterback, the offensive line is inexperienced, unproven running backs and only one established player at wide receiver Kayshon Boutte…..
Cut 10 (08) “…preseason teams”
Alabama is the media’s pick to win the SEC West. Then it’s Texas A-and-M, Arkansas, Ole Miss and then LSU. Over in the East, Georiga is the preseason favorite, then Kentucky, followed by Tennessee.

An NCAA notice of allegations finds Tennessee committed 18 Level one violations under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt. The Knoxville News Sentinel says players and families received 60-thousand dollars in cash and gifts from Pruitt, his wife and members of the coaching staff. Pruitt was fired for caause in January of 2021 and since the university self-reported the violations and cooperated with the investigation, Tennessee might not be punished.

SWAC coaches and sports information directors pick Southern to win the league’s west division. Southern has two all preseason SWAC performers on the defensive line, Jordan Lewis and Jason Dumas. Lewis was the SWAC defensive MVP last season and Dumas is a transfer from Prairie View. Southern defensive defensive tackle Cameron Peterson is excited about the addition of Dumas…
Cut 17 (20) “…very fortunate.”
Grambling is picked to finish fourth in the SWAC West Division. Grambling offensive lineman Tyler Thomas says the Tigers are ready to surprise some folks this year…
Cut 18 (12) “ …be seen”
Jackson State is the favorite in the East Division.

The media that attended Media Days picked L-S-U to finish in fifth place in the SEC West. Alabama is the preseason favorite, receiving 177 first place votes. Texas A-and-M is picked to finish second with three first place votes and then Arkansas is picked to finish third and the Razorbacks are getting one first place. Ole Miss is picked to finish fourth and then it’s LSU. In the East, Georgia is the preseason favorite, Kentucky picked to finish second, Tennessee third and Florida fourth.

The Saints begin training camp next week and wide receiver Michael Thomas and defensive end Marcus Davenport will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. Thomas has missed most of the last two seasons because of ankle injuries. Davenport had offseason shoulder surgery and part of his left pinky finger amputated because of an infection. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The Southern Jaguars have been picked to win the SWAC Western division based on a preseason poll released by the conference. Center Dallas Black was named to the All-SWAC preseason first-team…
Cut 16 (08) “…of the season”
Grambling is picked to finish fourth in the West Division. First-year head coach Hue Jackson hopes future schedules feature more games at Eddie Robinson Memorial Stadium…
cut 19 (21) “….our university”
Grambling opens the season on September 3rd in Jonesboro versus Arkansas State. Week Two the Tigers are in Shreveport to face Northwestern State at Independence Stadium.

The Saints begin training camp next week and wide receiver Michael Thomas and defensive end Marcus Davenport will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. Thomas has missed most of the last two seasons because of ankle injuries and did not participate in any of the team’s offseason workouts. Davenport had offseason shoulder injury and part of his left pinky finger amputated because of an infection. Davenport is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

An LSU spokesperson says linebackers Antoine Sampah and Phillip Webb are no longer with the program because of medical reasons. The two combined to play in only nine games over the last two seasons. Both were top 100 recruits in the Class of 2020. During the offseason, LSU added four scholarship linebackers, including five-star recruit Harold Perkins and Kolbe Fields a transfer from South Carolina.

The Southern Jaguars have been picked to win the SWAC Western division based on a preseason poll released by the conference. Center Dallas Black was named to the All-SWAC preseason first-team…
Cut 16 (08) “…of the season”
Grambling is picked to finish fourth in the West Division. First-year head coach Hue Jackson hopes future schedules feature more games at Eddie Robinson Memorial Stadium…
cut 19 (21) “….our university”
Grambling opens the season on September 3rd in Jonesboro versus Arkansas State. Week Two the Tigers are in Shreveport to face Northwestern State at Independence Stadium.

Saints veterans report for traning camp next week and today we learned the Black and Gold have placed wide receiver Michael Thomas and defensive end Marcus Davenport on the physicaly unable to perform list. Thomas is not a big surprise as Ian Rapoport reported earlier that Thomas should be ready to return to the field early in training camp, but not at the start. Davenport has dealt with injuries during his entire career and revealed last June he actually had part of his left pinky finger amputed. There’s no word on what Davenport’s injury could be that would keep from participating at the start of training camp. But this is a big season for him as it’s a contract year.

The Southern Jaguars are predicted to finish in first place in the SWAC West Division according to the preseason poll released by the league today. Grambling State is picked to finish fourth. Jackson State is picked to win the SWAC East.

LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is on the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list which goes to the best receiver in college football. Many are expecting a big year out of Boutte after an ankle injury cut his sophomore season short.

LSU has updated its football roster and two linebackers are no longer on it. Antoine Sampah and Phillip Webb. Sampah was a four-star recruit out of Virginia and played in six games over the last two seasons. Webb was a four-star recruit from Georgia and played in three games for LSU. According to Wilson Alexander at the Advocate, both players missed most of spring.

The Division One Council is proposing that college football players would have two windows during the calendar year to enter the transfer portal. One period would be in spring and the other would be winter. The recommendation needs the approval of the Division One Board.

Southeastern Louisiana is picked to win the Southland Conference in football this season. Last season’s Southland Champion UIW is picked to finish second and Nicholls finished third in the preseason poll. The Colonels missed the F-C-S playoffs last season with a six and five record. Coach Tim Rebowe says he likes the determination he’s seen from his team this offseason…
cut 17 (19) “…to go”
McNeese is picked to finish fourth. Northwestern State is picked to finish in fifth place.

In NFL news….the Tampa Bay Bucs have signed tight end Kyle Rudolph as a possible replacement to Rob Gronkowski. Rudolph is 32-years old and two-time Pro Bowler. He played last season with the Giants and was released this offseason.

And the Cardinals have signed Quarterback Kyler Murray to a five-year extension worth 230-million dollars that includes 160-million in guaranteed money.

Southeastern Louisiana is picked to win the Southland Conference in football this season. The Lions are coming off their second postseason appearance in the last three seasons, but they have to replace All-American quarterback Cole Kelley. Lions Coach Frank Scelfo says Cephus Johnson and Coby Suits are battling to be the starter this year..:
Cut 16 (13) “…looking forward to it”
McNeese is picked to finish fourth. First-year head coach Gary Goff is working on establishing a winning culture at McNeese..:
Cut 18 (20) “ …hoping to win”
The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team is set to play in Peurto Rico during a summer event in preparation for the 2022-23 season. The Bulldogs will get 10 days of practice leading up to the trip in August where they will play in three games. The NCAA allows basketball programs to take a summer tour every four years.

Out at SEC Media Days, Florida Coach Billy Napier said Wednesday he plans to repeat the success he saw at UL-Lafayette with the Gators program. Napier won 40 games in four seasons in Lafayette and transformed the Ragin Cajuns into a nationally ranked program. He told reporters yesterday that he cherished his time in Lafayette.

The Saints have signed their second-round draft pick. Cornerback Alontae Taylor who had four career interceptions at Tennessee. Rookies have already reported for training camp.

LSU football has its share of question marks heading into the 2022 season. How will the offensive line perform, what kind of play will they get from the quarterback position and can the defensive secondary come together quickly with so many new faces. While, The strength of LSU’s 2022 football team appears to be the defensive line. Edge rusher B-J Ojulari says there’s a lot of talent with that position group…
cut 17 (22) “….D-Line chemistry’

The Saints have signed their second-round draft pick. Cornerback Alontae Taylor who had four career interceptions at Tennessee. Rookies have already reported for training camp.

Southeastern Louisiana is picked to win the Southland Conference football title this season. They were the preseason favorites last season as they returned quarterback Cole Kelley, who was named the top player in the F-C-S by winning the Walter Payton Award for the spring of 2021. Kelley has moved on to the NFL and Lions Coach Frank Scelfo says they may run the ball more this year…
cut 20 (19) “….stand point”
U-I-W, who won the conference last year, is picked to finish second in the preseason poll, followed by Nicholls, McNeese and Northwestern State is picked to finish fifth in the eight-team league.

N-I-L has been around for over a year in college athletics as players are now able to receive cash for endorsement deals. That means some players are making more than others, but wide receiver Jack Bech says that does not create any dissension…
Cut 18 (18) “ …gets in our way”
Alabama Coach Nick Saban says his players made three million dollars on NIL deals.

It appears LSU pitcher Paul Gervase will end his college career and sign with the Mets after New York selected him in the 12th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Shortstop Jack Pineda who announced he was transferring to LSU from Baylor also was picked in the 12th round and is expected to join the Royals organization.

For the second straight year, Southeastern Louisiana is the preseason favorite for the Southland Conference football season. The Lions received 90 total points, edging out U-I-W who is the defending champs. Nicholls is picked to finish third, McNeese fourth and Northwestern State is expected to finish in fifth place.

The Southland Conference a year ago was on the verge of falling apart with several Texas schools leaving the league. But with U-I-W staying and Lamar returning, plus the addition of Texas A-and-M Commerce, first year commissioner Chris Grant says the league is in great shape…
cut 19 (16) “…will rise”
The Southland is celebrating its 60th year in existence.