One of the first priorities for new LSU Head Baseball Coach Jay Johnson is to hire a staff, including a pitching and hitting coach.

Kendall Rogers of D-1 Baseball-dot-com reports Texas Tech recruiting coordinator and assistant coach J-Bob Thomas is staying in Lubbock.  He’s refused Johnson’s offer to take on the same duties with duties with the Tigers.

Johnson also needs to meet with the players and try to find guys to fill out holes in the roster.  The new coach on what type of team he wants to field.

Cut 18 (17) “than LSU”

Jacque Vaughn has pulled his name out of consideration for the Pelicans head coaching job. Vaughn has been an assistant for the Nets for the last five seasons and according to ESPN Vaughn wants to stay close to his two teenage sons and is no longer seeking any head coaching job.

Adam Schefter reports that Saints offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk is signing a five-year, 90 million dollar contract to stay in New Orleans, 60 million of which is guaranteed.  This deal makes Ramczyk the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL.

Former LSU tiger and longtime NFL left tackle Andrew Whitworth might be ready to hang up his cleats for good.  Whitworth will turn 40 in December and he hinted on Chris Long’s Green Light Podcast that this might be it after reaching that milestone.  The West Monroe native began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006 and spent 11 years with the franchise before signing with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.  He’s played in 224 career games with 220 starts.

The college world series finals comes down to a winner-take-all game three tonight.  Vanderbilt won game one 8-2, then Mississippi State cruised to a 13-2 victory last night.  SEC player of the year Tanner Allen scored four runs for the Bulldogs in the win.  First Pitch for game three will be at 6 pm.

One of the first priorities for new LSU Head Baseball Coach Jay Johnson is to hire a staff, including a pitching and hitting coach. Johnson says he will not rush to hire someone because he wants to make sure he finds the right fit.
Cut 17 (20) …narrow search.”
Kendall Rogers of D-1-Baseball-dot-com reports Johnson tried to hire Texas Tech recruiting coordinator and assistant coach J-Bob Thomas, but Thomas is staying in Lubbock and he’ll get a pay raise.

But Rogers reports Arizona All-American Jacob Berry has entered the transfer portal and there’s a strong likelihood he’ll end up at LSU. Berry hit .352 with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs during his freshman campaign.

LSU Forward Darius Days is returning for his senior season. Days averaged 12 points and eight rebounds a game last season and shot 40-percent from three-point territory. Meanwhile, former LSU Tiger Josh Leblanc announces he has signed at U-A-B.

Jacque Vaughn has pulled his name out of consideration for the Pelicans head coaching job. Vaughn has been an assistant for the Nets for the last five seasons and according to ESPN Vaughn wants to stay close to his two teenage sons and is no longer seeking any head coaching job.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron told an ESPN Baton Rouge radio station that left tackle Dare Rosenthal has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Rosenthal is reportedly leaving LSU after violating a school policy.

The college world series is headed to a winner take all scenario as Mississippi State clobbered Vanderbilt 13 to 2 last night to even the championship series one game apiece. Game 3 is tonight at six o’clock.

New LSU head baseball coach Jay Johnson says LSU is the place to be for college baseball…
cut 16 (15) “…..we have here”
One of Johnson’s first priorities is to fill out a staff. Kendall Rogers of D-1-Baseball-dot-com reports Texas Tech recruiting coordinator and assistant coach J-Bob Thomas is staying in Lubbock. He’s refused Johnson’s offer to take on the same duties with the Tigers.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association has named Louisiana Tech’s Hunter Wells as the hitter of the year. La Tech’s Lane Burroughs received coach of the year honors.

In basketball, LSU’s leading rebounder from last season Darius Days is coming back for his senior season.

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron has been added as a defendant in a Title Nine lawsuit against the university by current and former students who say the school mishandled campus rape and sexual misconduct claims. Advocate newspaper reporter Andrea Gallo says Orgeron’s inclusion appears to be linked to an allegation first reported by USA Today that Orgeron had been told that running back Derrius Guice allegedly raped a student.
Cut 7 (12) “…people.”
When that story was first reported by USA Today, Orgeron said he was not aware of the rape allegations against Guice and that he never said that to the victim’s boyfriend.

Orgeron told an ESPN Baton Rouge radio station that left tackle Dare Rosenthal has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Tiger-Details-dot-com reports that Rosenthal is leaving LSU after violating a school policy.

New Tigers head baseball coach Jay Johnson was introduced publicly for the first to the LSU faithful Monday.
Johnson, the former six-year head coach at Arizona, says helming a program like LSU is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and he relishes the challenge as well as the spotlight…

Cut 7 (10) “come true”

Johnson made two College World Series appearances during his six years as the head coach of the Wildcats.

LSU basketball player Darius Days announced that he is returning for his senior season.  Days averaged 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season.  The six foot seven forward is the most experienced player on a Tigers roster filled with young and talented players.

The 2021 Louisiana Sports Writers Association men’s baseball team has been announced and LSU and Louisiana Tech each placed a state-best six players on the team.  LSU right-hander Landon Marceaux earned LSWA pitcher of the year honors after posting a 2.54 ERA, while fellow tiger Dylan Crews was named freshman of the year.  Tech’s Hunter Wells was named hitter of the year after batting .385 with 14 homers this past season.

There are reports that LSU’s projected starter at left tackle Dare Rosenthal has entered the NCAA transfer portal. The six-foot-seven, 327 pounder has dealt with disciplinary issues during his career at LSU and will reportedly miss most of this season because of a violation of school policy.  Cameron Wire is one of the candidates to replace Rosenthal at left tackle.

LSU-Eunice infielder Jack Merrifield has been named the juco division II defensive player of the year.  Merrifield had a .987 fielding percentage and had a hand in 32 double plays.

New LSU LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson is now leading a program that has won six national championships. Johnson says he never met Skip Bertman, a winner of five national championships, until a few days ago, but was well aware of Bertman’s brilliance when he was a 24-year-old youth coach…
cut 8 (10) “…that was”
The 44-year-old Johnson called Bertman the John Wooden of baseball coaches during his introductory press conference. Johnson says he was also inspired by Paul Mainieri’s team this past season, winning the Eugene Regional despite dropping the first game to Gonzaga.

Vanderbilt is one victory away from repeating as College World Series Champions. The Commodores scored seven runs in the first inning last night and went on to beat Mississippi State eight two.

There are reports that LSU’s projected starter at left tackle Dare Rosenthal has entered the NCAA transfer portal. The six-foot-seven, 327 pounder from Ferriday has dealt with disciplinary issues during his career at LSU and will reportedly miss most of this season because of a violation of school policy. Cameron Wire started at left tackle last season when Rosenthal missed games last year.

Neville defensive tackle Enyce Sledge has committed to Baylor. Sledge also visited Indiana and Purdue before giving a verbal pledge to Dave Aranda and the Bears. 24-7 sports rates Sledge as the 50th best overall prospect in the state of Louisiana for the Class of 2022.

Also, St. Aug offensive tackle Cam East has committed to Mississippi State. He’s ranked as the third-best offensive tackle in the state for 2022. He also seriously considered T-C-U.

A new era of LSU baseball begins today as Jay Johnson is introduced as the new head coach of the Tigers. Johnson succeeds the now-retired Paul Mainieri, who gave Johnson a tour of his new surroundings at Alex Box Stadium. Mainieri says he wants the new coach to succeed
Cut 12 (12) “…tremendous coach”
Mainieri gave Johnson some advice on how to handle one of the most passionate fan bases in America
Cut 14 (12) “…here”
Johnson has signed a five-year contract and he’ll make one-point-two million dollars in his first season.

Tiger Details reports that LSU starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal is expected to enter the NCAA Transfer portal. Rosenthal has been known to violate team rules and played in six games last season. The Rivals report says Rosenthal has committed a violation that could cost him his 2021 season.

LSU All-American and national champion JuVaughn Harrison will be the first person since Jim Thorpe in 1912 to compete at the Olympics in both the long and high jump. He won both events at the U-S Olympic Track and Field Trials. In the long jump, Harrison recorded a personal best leap of 27-feet and 9.5 inches.

New Iberia native and former Ragin Cajun pole vaulter Morgann LeLeaux is also headed to Tokyo as she finished second in the pole vault at the Olympic Trails as she had a personal-best vault of 15-feet, five inches. The Olympics will run from July 23rd to August 8th.

Jay Johnson will be introduced as the new head baseball coach of the Fighting Tigers. An in-person press conference will take place in the Champions club of Alex Box Stadium at 4:30. Fans will be admitted into the Box so they can watch the press conference on the stadium video board. At 5:15, Johnson will participate in a Q-and-A session with the fans.

An All-SEC College World Series finals begins tonight when Vanderbilt takes on Mississippi State. The Bulldogs defeated Texas in walk-off fashion on Saturday night to get to the championship round, while the Commodores advanced after North Carolina State was forced to end their season because of COVID-19 protocols. First pitch tonight is at 6 PM.

LSU All-American track star JuVaughn Harrison is a U-S Olympian after winning both the high jump and a long jump at the Olympic trials. He will become the first man since Jim Thorpe in 1912 to compete at the Olympics in both the long and high jump.

Play-Louisiana-dot-com estimates Louisiana sportsbooks will draw more than 2-point-five billion dollars in annual wagering once the market matures and could generate as much as 30-million dollars in annual taxes for the state. Analyst for the Play-USA-dot-com network, Eric Ramsey, expects New Orleans will be a big winner, especially when they host big sporting events…
cut 16 (11) “…extension”
Currently, 21 states and D-C allow sports betting in one form or another. Lawmakers are hopeful sports betting will be up and running in Louisiana by the start of the football season, but that will depend on how fast the Gaming Control Board moves on approving rules and issuing licenses.

In the NBA playoffs…the Bucks defeated Atlanta 113 to 102 last night to take a two games to one lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Monty Williams and Chris Paul can punch their ticket into the NBA finals tonight if the Suns beat the Clippers.

New LSU Baseball Coach Jay Johnson says coaching the Tigers is an opportunity of his lifetime. The California native is leaving the University of Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to the College World Series twice, including a national runner-up finish in 2016. Publisher of Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Lou Pavlovich says Johnson is a good hire for LSU, who has teams that are productive at the plate. He says Johnson’s biggest challenge will be dealing with Tiger fans’ lofty expectations…
cut 11 (12) “…regularly”
D-1 Baseball-dot-com’s Aaron Fitt says it will help that Johnson takes over a program where there’s plenty of talent…
cut 18 (10) “….very exciting”
Johnson will be introduced to the LSU fan base on Monday afternoon.
The Saints have issued a statement in response to a report the Superdome would require masks at events with 100-percent capacity. The NFL franchise says they will not require proof of vaccination but, they expect masks will not be a requirement once the season begins. That expectation is based on the vaccination rate continuing to improve. The Saints also says 100-percent of the coaches and operations staff are vaccinated. And they rank in the top three in the NFL in player vaccination rates.

Starting on July first, college athletes in Louisiana can begin to make money off of their name, image, and likeness and will not face punishment from the NCAA. U-L System President Doctor Jim Henderson says had this new law been in place before, athletes like former Grambling star Shakyla Hill could have profited from becoming the first college basketball player to record two career quadruple-doubles…
cut 7 (11) “…constructive ways’
Henderson says it will likely take some time before student-athlete endorsements become normalized, especially with no national policy in place.

LSU baseball has made it official, as they announced Arizona Coach Jay Johnson as the new head coach of the Fighting Tigers baseball program. The 44-year-old led Arizona to the College World Series twice in six seasons in Tuscon.  Aaron Fitt from D-1 baseball-dot-com says one of Johnson’s biggest challenges will be dealing with a passionate fan base who expects a trip to the College World Series every year.

Cut 17 (15) “the west”

When he was an assistant coach at San Diego, the Toreros went to the NCAA Tournament six times in eight years. In his first head coaching job at Nevada, The Wolfpack won the Mountain West title in his second season. In his first season at Arizona, the Wildcats finished as national runner-ups to Coastal Carolina.

The Saints have released a statement in response to a report that fans will be required to wear masks at football games in the Dome this season. The NFL franchise says as the vaccination rate continues to improve, they expect masks will not be a requirement once the season begins. The Saints also says 100-percent of the coaches and football operations staff are fully vaccinated. And they ranked third among NFL teams in the player vaccination rate.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will finally get inducted into the Hall on Saturday night during a big ceremony in Natchitoches. The eleven-member class has been waiting for over a year to be inducted. Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland says the inductees have been patient and understanding.

Cut 13 (09) “home state”

LSU’s Adam Miller and Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Lofton Jr. have made the USA’s Under 19 World Cup team.  Miller and Lofton join the 12 man team after solid collegiate seasons.  Miller averaged 8.3 points per game at Illinois last season while starting all 31 games.  Lofton averaged over 12 points per game for the Bulldogs as a freshman to go along with 7.5 rebounds.  Lofton is the first The player to ever earn a spot on the World Cup team.

LSU is expected to name Arizona Coach Jay Johnson as the new head coach of the Fighting Tigers baseball program today. Johnson led Arizona to the College World Series twice in six seasons in Tuscon. He’s also been a head coach at Nevada and spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at San Diego. Aaron Fitt from D-1 baseball-dot-com says Johnson is known as a great hitting coach
Cut 16 (19) “…offensive mind.”
Johnson led Arizona to the College World Series this season as the Wildcats ranked third nationally in hits. His 2016 College World Series squad was fifth in the nation in hits and when he was at Nevada in 2015 that team led the nation in on-base percentage.

The 2020 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction class finally gets enshrined tomorrow after two previously scheduled induction ceremonies were postponed because of COVID. The class features former Ragin Cajun and Chicago Bear cornerback Charles Tillman, outdoorsman Phil Robertson and New Orleans native and former NBA player Kerry Kittles. Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland says the class also features 94-year-old Mackie Freeze. The former football coach at Monroe’s Richwood High School won four state titles in the 1960s and was also a standout pitcher at Grambling…
Cut 14 (12) “…high school football.

WWL Radio in New Orleans is reporting that for fans entering the Superdome for games where there is 100-percent capacity, masks will be required. That’s according to a memo from ASM Global, the company that manages the Dome.