During his time before reporters at SEC Media Days, Coach Ed Orgeron talked about how 2021 will be different than the 5-and-5 campaign the Tigers had in 2020. LSU didn’t have the chemistry as they did when they won the national championship in 2019. Orgeron believes this team is more together and the lines of communication are open
cut 19 (25) “…..this year”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says they will not reschedule football games this season if a team is hit with a COVID outbreak. This was his message to SEC athletes.
Cut 8 (05) “…throughout the year”

A historic vote took place at the Louisiana capitol today involving a bill that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in girls sports. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of that legislation, despite concerns it could lead to the NCAA yanking the men’s 2022 final four from New Orleans. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says 400 major businesses put out a statement calling this bill discriminatory…
cut 16 (12) “….law”
But Houma Senator Mike Fesi says money shouldn’t factor into this decision…
Cut 17, 11 seconds, morals”
Now it’s up to the Louisiana House to vote on overriding the governor’s veto. It will take 70 votes for that to occur. A vote in the lower chamber is expected either tomorrow or Thursday.

Orgeron would not comment on the scandal involving the previous mishandling of the sexual assault complaints by the school and the athletic department. He also says most of the players are vaccinated against COVID and he encourages players to profit off of their name, image, and likeness, but it should not be a 24-7 venture.

Cut 18 (13) “football and academics”

Orgeron also mentioned the Tigers’ quarterback battle.  He didn’t hint at who might start but did say the competition is a good thing for the team.

One of the top running backs in the country has committed to LSU. Four-star recruit TreVonte’ Citizen of Lake Charles College Prep selected the Tigers over Auburn, Texas, Texas A-and-M, Arkansas and USC. He’s the son of former McNeese standout running back Tony Citizen. Rivals-dot-com lists Citizen as the second best player at his position in the nation.

Conference USA Media Members have La Tech finishing third in the West Division. UAB is the preseason favorite to win the West, while U-T-S-A is expected to finish second. Marshall was selected to win the East Division.

Louisiana Tech graduate transfer running back Marcus Williams Jr., senior linebacker Trey Baldwin, junior offensive lineman Joshua Mote, sophomore defensive back BeeJay Williamson and sophomore punt returner Smoke Harris were named to the 2021 preseason watch list.

The LSU baseball team has received a commitment from left-handed pitcher Robby Snelling for the 2022 class.  Snelling is also an exceptional football player, the Reno, Nevada native is rated as a four-star linebacker and the number seven overall prospect in the state of Nevada in football.

At SEC Media Days, LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is looking forward to the battle at starting quarterback between Myles Brennan and Max Johnson…
Cut 17 (12) …what happens.”
Orgeron says he’s not expecting any of his quarterbacks to run the offense like Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow did in 2019, but he wants to see the same type of plays and adjustments that made them so successful that season. On defense, Orgeron says the key will be limiting explosive plays.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says they will not reschedule games this season because of a COVID outbreak on a particular team. He says if a team is not healthy enough to play, they may have to forfeit that contest. Orgeron did not provide a number on many of his players are vaccinated and he called it a personal choice.

One of the top running backs in the country has committed to LSU. Four-star recruit TreVonte’ Citizen of Lake Charles College Prep selected the Tigers over Auburn, Texas, Texas A-and-M, Arkansas and USC. He’s the son of former McNeese standout running back Tony Citizen. Rivals-dot-com lists Citizen as the second best player at his position in the nation.

Ragin Cajuns Senior Quarterback Levi Lewis has been named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. He’s entering his third season as a starter and last season he threw for 22-hundred yards and 19 T-Ds.

Conference USA Media Members have La Tech finishing third in the West Division. UAB is the preseason favorite to win the West, while U-T-S-A is expected to finish second. Marshall was selected to win the East Division.

Louisiana Tech graduate transfer running back Marcus Williams Jr., senior linebacker Trey Baldwin, junior offensive lineman Joshua Mote, sophomore defensive back BeeJay Williamson and sophomore punt returner Smoke Harris were named to the 2021 preseason watch list.

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron hit on a variety of topics at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama. Orgeron expects a good battle for starting quarterback between Myles Brennan and Max Johnson and he believes it will be healthy for his football team.

Orgeron talked about eliminating explosive plays on defense and wants to see an offense that resembles the one we all saw in 2019. He believes in his two new coordinators, Jake Peetz and Daronte Jones and likes the leadership they are bringing to the football team…
cut 28 (14) “….in that area”
Orgeron was also asked about the scandal involving the school’s mishandling of sexual assault complaints…
cut 29 (07) “….though”

While speaking with reporters at SEC Media Days, Orgeron clarified his comments that he made earlier this year that he didn’t interview some of his 2020 staff. Coach O on the hiring of former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini…
cut 30 (30) “…sure of that”
Orgeron was asked how many players have been vaccinated. He didn’t give a number but said most had been vaccinated. ‘

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says only six out of the conference’s 14 football teams have reached the 80-percent mark for vaccinations and that number needs to grow rapidly. threshold. The commissioner also says the league will not postpone games for COVID-19, which means teams need to be healthy to compete.

The college football talking season begins as SEC Media Days get underway today in Birmingham, Alabama. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron is one of three coaches who will speak today. 24-7 sports college football writer Brandon Marcello says the Tigers could contend for an SEC title this year after a 5-and-5 campaign in 2020

Cut 11

A pair of LSU defensive backs in Derek Stingley Jr. and Elias Ricks have been named to the pre season Bednarik Award watch list, which is given to the best defensive player in college football.  Also on the list is Ragin Cajuns junior safety Bralen Trahan, who led the Cajuns with four interceptions last season.

Also LSU sophomore receiver Kayshon Boutte and ULL senior quarterback Levi Lewis have both been named to the pre-season Maxwell award watch list, presented yearly to the outstanding player in college football.

A couple of more players from Arizona are following new LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson to Baton Rouge. Third-year pitcher Bryce Collins says he’s transferring to LSU. He has not pitched since 2019. And Left-hander Riley Cooper has also made the decision to join the Tigers. He made 29 appearances last season and had 4.88 ERA for the Wildcats.

LSU sophomore outfielder Mitchell Sanford has entered the NCAA transfer portal. While LSU starting pitcher A-J Labas has signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent.

Live Oak catcher Blaise Priester has committed to LSU. He hit .426 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI as a senior. He also threw out 55-percent of the base runners who tried to steal against him.

Lafayette Christian defensive back Jordan Allen has committed to Penn State. 24-7 sports ranks Allen as the 34th best safety in the nation. L-C-A has two players committed to Power 5 schools, Lineman Fitzgerald West Junior has given a verbal pledge to LSU.

In a sign that the football season is right around the corner, SEC Media Days kicks off today in Birmingham, Alabama. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron will speak at 1:40 PM. The Fighting Tigers are coming off a 5-and-5 season and there are questions about Orgeron’s long-term job security, especially if LSU has another mediocre campaign. But LSU beat reporter for the USA Today Network, Glen Guilbeau, says there’s also an expectation among media members that the Bayou Bengals could have a really good season this year…
cut 13 (11) “…pretty high”
Florida and South Carolina will also take the stage at SEC Media Days today.

Collin Morikawa won the British Open yesterday. It’s the second major championship for the 24-year-old from California. He won the PGA Championship eleven months ago.

A couple of more players from Arizona are following new LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson to Baton Rouge. Third-year pitcher Bryce Collins says he’s transferring to LSU. He has not pitched since 2019. And Left-hander Riley Cooper has also made the decision to join the Tigers. He made 29 appearances last season and had 4.88 ERA for the Wildcats.

LSU sophomore outfielder Mitchell Sanford has entered the NCAA transfer portal. While LSU starting pitcher A-J Labas has signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent.

Live Oak catcher Blaise Priester has committed to LSU. He hit .426 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI as a senior. He also threw out 55-percent of the base runners who tried to steal against him.

Lafayette Christian defensive back Jordan Allen has committed to Penn State. 24-7 sports ranks Allen as the 34th best safety in the nation. L-C-A has two players committed to Power 5 schools, Lineman Fitzgerald West Junior has given a verbal pledge to LSU.

The NFL has announced Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata will be suspended without pay for the first six games of the upcoming season. That’s the result of testing positive for a banned substance. In a post on Instagram, Onyemata says he’s never knowingly took anything that could cause a positive test and he’s still trying to figure out what supplement he took that led to it. He will be eligible to return for the Saints’ Week 8 game on October 31st. Onyemata had 6.5 sacks last season.

Former Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn Junior has retired after a 14-year career in the NFL. The former Ohio State standout played for the Black and gold for three seasons, 2017 to 2019. He caught 100 passes for 14-hundred yards and eight touchdowns during that time.

Tonight is Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The series is tied at two games apiece between the Suns and Bucks. Game 5 is in Phoenix at 8 PM.

There’s a lot of LSU baseball news to get to today. A couple of more players from Arizona are following new LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson to Baton Rouge. Third-year pitcher Bryce Collins says he’s transferring to LSU. He has not pitched since 2019. And Left-hander Riley Cooper has also made the decision to join the Tigers. He made 29 appearances last season and had 4.88 ERA.

LSU sophomore outfielder Mitchell Sanford has entered the NCAA transfer portal. While LSU starting pitcher A-J Labas has signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent.

This week, Johnson completed his staff with the hiring of Marc Wanaka, who has been with Johnson for the last eight years at Nevada and Arizona. Johnson says Wanaka will be his volunteer hitting coach…
cut 17 (12) “…of time”

Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata announced on his Instagram page that he will be suspended for part of the upcoming season after testing positive for a banned substance. Onyemata says he’s surprised and disappointed with this news, but he’s responsible for what he puts in his body. He says he never knowingly took anything to cause a positive test. No word on what the substance was or how long he’ll be suspended.

Saints safety Marcus Williams will play the 2021 season on the franchise tag after failing to reach a long-term contract with New Orleans by yesterday’s 3 PM deadline. Williams will make about 13-million dollars this season.

Louisiana Tech has signed men’s basketball coach Eric Konkol to a contract extension that would keep him in Ruston through the 2025-26 season. In six seasons at Tech, Konkol has a 129-and-65 record. The Bulldogs have won 20-plus games in five of those seasons.

Louisianans in 47 parishes can now play online fantasy sports through Draft Kings after the Gaming Control Board approved a license for them. Louisiana Gaming Enforcement Division Trooper Joseph Hall says they conducted a thorough background check of Draft Kings…
Cut 13 (07) “…industry.”
DraftKings launched the first mobile fantasy gaming app in 2013 and is available in 43 states.

Devin Fontenot is one of several LSU Tigers coming back next season to play for new head coach Jay Johnson. Fontenot has served as the Bayou Bengals closer the last couple of seasons, but the right-hander hopes to earn a spot in the starting rotation in 2021….
cut 18 (18) “…better”
There are open spots available. Landon Marceaux and A-J Labas were weekend starters last season are not expected to return.

The Saints and Safety Marcus Williams did not agree on a long-term contract by a Thursday three o’clock deadline and Williams will play this season on a franchise tag. Williams will make 13-million dollars this season and the Black and Gold could place Williams on the franchise tag again next year

The Southland Conference has announced its preseason All-Conference teams and Southeastern Louisiana leads the way with 16 selections. Southeastern quarterback Cole Kelley, the reigning Walther Payton Award winner was named first-team quarterback. Nicholls wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon and Northwestern State running back Scooter Adams were also first-team selections.

Louisiana Tech has signed men’s basketball coach Eric Konkol to a contract extension that would keep him in Ruston through the 2025-26 season. In six seasons at Tech, Konkol has a 129-and-65 record. The Bulldogs have won 20-plus games in five of those seasons.

With The MLB draft in the books, LSU coach Jay Johnson can get a feel for what his roster may look like next season. The Tigers return every starting position player from last year’s team and several key pitchers elected to return to LSU. Johnson says a veteran presence is a positive
Cut 16 (16) “…high level”

In 2018, voters in 47 parishes approved the legalization of online fantasy sports betting and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board yesterday approved a license for Draft Kings to operate in those 47 parishes. State Police Gaming Division Audit Director Jeff Traylor says on how much tax revenue Draft Kings could generate for Louisiana…
cut 14 (06) “…state”

The NBA finals is now tied at two games a piece as the Milwaukee Bucks took down the Phoenix Suns last night 109-103.  Khris Middleton led the way offensively for the Bucks, pouring in a team-high 40 points.  Former Pels guard Jrue Holiday added 13 points with seven rebounds and seven assists.  Former New Orleans star Chris Paul had his worst game of the season, scoring just 10 points and had five turnovers.

D-1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers reports that LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson has hired Marc Wanaka as his volunteer coach. Wanaka has spent the last six seasons at Arizona with Johnson and he’ll assist hitting in Baton Rouge.

Southeastern Louisiana University unveiled a new look as new branding beginning in the 2021 football season.  The new branding was part of a university-wide initiative to enhance the Southeastern image and visual presence.  The school will also have a new turf field at the football stadium.

The Manning Passing Academy will return to the Nicholls State campus this summer after being canceled last year because of the pandemic.  The annual camp put on by the Manning family has several college quarterbacks helping out as counselors.  Nicholls State athletic director Jonathan Terrell says it’s exciting to have the camp back in action.

Cut 10 (13) “university”

LSU quarterbacks Max Johnson and Myles Brennan will both be counselors.

McNeese head baseball coach Justin Hill has signed a three-year contract extension with a fourth-year rollover after guiding the Cowboys to a second consecutive Southland Conference Tournament championship and a NCAA Regional appearance this past season.  In eight seasons with the program, Hill has compiled a 332-192 career record, ranking him second in school history for wins.