The Saints are scheduled to report for training camp on Tuesday and camp is expected to start on time as long as players agree to changes to the CBA, which is expected. ESPN and the NFL Network report the N-F-L P-A has already voted unanimously to the changes, which include reducing the maximum training camp roster size to 80, new health and safety protocols and it keeps the salary cap where it’s at for this season. Any revenue losses would be spread out over the next four years. The Saints have also announced the cancellation of their four preseason games.

LSU freshman Arik Gilbert has been named Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year. He’s the first tight end to win the award. Gilbert caught 104 passes for 1,860 yards and 15 touchdowns last season as he led Marietta High School to a state championship in Georgia last year.

After winning three games last season, expectations are not high for Northwestern State to have a big season on the football field this year. The Southland Conference preseason poll has the Demons finishing 10th in the eleven team league. Northwestern will start a new quarterback, but Coach Brad Laird says he has three talented players that can win the job
Cut 16 (23) “…leadership standpoint.”

The Southland Conference announced today that member schools will not start their volleyball and soccer seasons until at least September 1st. McNeese took it a step further by announcing its volleyball and soccer teams will only play against conference teams this year.

Major League Baseball’s 60 game regular season schedule is off and running after the Yankees and Dodgers won last night. The rest of M-L-B gets underway today with 14 games. There are nine former LSU Tigers on opening day rosters.

LSU standout cornerback Derek Stingley Junior is on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, which goes to the most versatile player in major college football. Stingley will be a lockdown corner for the Bayou Bengals this season and he’s also a dangerous punt returner.

ULM’s Josh Johnson and Ragin Cajuns Quarterback Levi Lewis are on the Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Award goes to the best player in college football. Johnson is also a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back. Lewis is also on the Davey O’ Brien Award preseason watch list after throwing for three-thousand yards and 26 touchdowns last season.

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they are discussing their options for a fall sports season based on the guidelines that have been established by the state legislature and BESE. Bonine also says it’s important to get school started and then figure out the athletics part…
cut 30 (12) “….format”
Bonine has said the state needs to move beyond Phase 3 of its reopening for high school football games to be played.

A shortened Major League Baseball season is underway as there were two games last night that saw Yankees and Dodgers both win last night. There’s a full slate of games today. There are nine former LSU Tigers on Major League Baseball rosters.

In college football news, the Pac-12 is reportedly planning a ten-game conference-only football schedule that would start on September 19th.

Nicholls has shared the Southland conference title the last two seasons and they are picked to finish third this year. Senior linebacker Evan Veron says he wants to complete his collegiate career with an outright Southland title
Cut 18 (14) “…all ours”
Northwestern State has been picked to finish in tenth place after winning just three games last season. But the Demons have one of the best linebackers in the Southland in Ja’Quay Pough. Pough has told his teammates to have fun this year…
cut 17 (21) “….fall into place”
Northwestern’s first game is versus U-I-W on September 3rd.

The Pelicans had an easy time cutting down the Brooklyn Nets last night in their first scrimmage since entering the NBA’s bubble in Orlando. Brandon Ingram had 12 points in 11 minutes in a 99-68 win. There’s still no timetable on when Zion Williamson will return as he attends to a family matter. The Pels say Williamson has been getting tested daily for COVID-19 and does plan on rejoining the team. New Orleans next scrimmage game is Saturday night versus Denver.

The Sun Belt announced today that the start of the fall sports season has been postponed until September 3rd. The league says the delay will give schools more time to implement protocols for a safe return to competition.

The shortened Major League Baseball Season begins tonight with the Nationals hosting the Yankees and the Dodgers taking on the Giants. Washington star Juan Soto has tested positive for COVID-19, so he’s out.
The Ivy League, Patriot League, the MEAC and SWAC have made the decision to postpone the start of their football seasons. But Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett says they plan to play in the fall…
cut 20 (10) “…lies’
Nicholls needs a new season-opening opponent as they were set to play Mississippi Valley State. Louisiana Tech will face Houston Baptist in its home opener. They will take the place of Prarie View A-and-M.

In an open letter to parents and student-athletes, LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says there are no plans to cancel fall sports and they are committed to a safe start for fall sports…
cut 10 (12) “…format”
Bonine has said the state needs to move beyond Phase 3 of its reopening in order for high school football games to be played.

The Pelicans had an easy time cutting down the Brooklyn Nets last night in their first scrimmage since entering the NBA’s bubble in Orlando. Brandon Ingram had 12 points in 11 minutes in a 99-68 win. Zion Williamson did not play as he remains away from the team attending an urgent family matter. The Pels say Williamson has been getting tested daily for COVID-19 and does plan on rejoining the team, but there’s no timetable for his return.

Louisiana High School Athletic Association executive director Eddie Bonine has sent a letter to parents and student-athletes letting them know they have no intention of canceling fall sports, unless the pandemic dictates it’s not safe to play. Bonine says they are committed to conducting fall sports…
cut 9 (12) “…safe manner”
Bonine also says in the letter that the LHSAA will adhere to all standards set forth recently by the state legislature and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett says they are planning to proceed with the upcoming football season as scheduled. Burnett says they expect a full slate of games will be played on Labor Day weekend. Burnett says university presidents and athletic directors continue to meet and the health and safety of the student-athletes is their top priority…
Cut 18 (15) “…looking at that”

Earlier this week, the SWAC decided to move its football season to the spring. That left Louisiana Tech without an opponent for its home opener as they were set to play Prairie View A-and-M. The Bulldogs have announced they will play Southland member Houston Baptist instead.

The Sun Belt announced today that the start of the fall sports season has been postponed until September 3rd. The league says the delay will give schools more time to implement protocols for a safe return to competition.

The Pelicans had a successful return to the court last night in the Walt Disney World Bubble, beating Brooklyn 99-68 in a scrimmage game. Brandon Ingram had 12 points in eleven minutes and hit three three-pointers. New Orleans made 13 three-pointers as a team. E-Twaun Moore had 14 points and hit two three-pointers and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also had 14 points. The Pels also provided an update on rookie Zion Williamson, who has been away from the team for a week to attend to an urgent family matter. The franchise says Williamson fully intends to rejoin the team, but there’s no timetable on his return. Also, Zion is getting tested daily for COVID-19.

The NFL says if there are fans allowed inside stadiums this year, they will be required to wear masks. The Saints have not made a determination on whether fans will be allowed in the Superdome.

The Southland Conference is planning for its football season to begin on time, but obviously they are monitoring the situation as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. Commissioner Tom Burnett also did not rule out the possibility of fans at games…
cut 19 (17) “…their states”
The Southland also released its preseason poll. Central Arkansas is the preseason favorite. Nicholls is picked to finish third, Southeastern Louisiana fourth, McNeese fifth, and Northwestern State tenth place.

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine has written an open letter to parents telling them that there are no plans to cancel fall sports unless schools are closed for the pandemic like they were last spring.

The Pelicans face the Brooklyn Nets in a scrimmage game tonight inside the NBA’s bubble in Orlando. Zion Williamson will not play as he remains away from the team attending an urgent family matter. But we finally got an update today on the rookie forward. The Pels says there is no current timetable for his return to campus, but he fully intends to rejoin the team. Team officials say Williamson is getting tested daily for COVID-19 while he’s away. Per NBA protocol, his quarantine period will be determined upon his return.

The NFL Players Association has reportedly accepted the league’s offer to scrap preseason games this year, so that players can have more time to get themselves prepared before they play in a game. Also, roster sizes for training camp are expected to be limited to 80 players, instead of 90. And the NFL said today that if fans are allowed inside stadiums this year, they’ll be required to wear masks.

Central Arkansas has been picked to win the Southland Conference in a poll of the league’s head football coaches and sports information directors. The Bears have a league-high 13 preseason all-conference players. They shared the conference crown with Nicholls last year. The Colonels are picked to finish third behind Sam Houston State. Southeastern Louisiana is picked to finish fourth, McNeese fifth, and Northwestern State in 10th place. Commissioner Tom Burnett said today they plan to proceed with the upcoming football season as scheduled.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is also planning on a football season in the fall. Orgeron said on a Baton Rouge radio show that running back John Emery is the likely candidate to return kicks, replacing Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

LSU defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin, safety Jacoby Stevens, and cornerback Derek Stingley are on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The award goes to the Defensive Player of the Year award.

The NFL Players Association has agreed to the league’s plan to cancel preseason games for 2020. The players have been pushing for this, so they could have more of a ramp time before they compete in a game, with training camps set to open next week. Also, training camp rosters will be trimmed from a maximum of 90 to 80 players. The NFL season is scheduled to kick off in 50 days.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says next week is an important milestone as the league considers how it will move forward. Sankey says they are trying to learn from professional sports leagues as they return to action…
cut 30 (24) “…for weeks”
Sankey made the comments on ESPN last night.

The head football coaches for Southern and Grambling support the SWAc’s decision to move football to the spring. Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs says getting this opportunity is better than none and trying to play a season right now would have been a big risk. Southern Coach Dawson Odoms is hopeful that when the spring rolls around, it will be safe to have fans in the stands.

The News-Star is reporting that Louisiana Tech will delay the start of its soccer and volleyball seasons until September first, which means six Lady Techster women’s soccer and three volleyball matches will be affected.

Tonight the Pelicans will have a scrimmage game against the Brooklyn Nets. It’s the first time New Orleans will compete against another team in more than four months. Tip-off is at 6 PM and you can watch it on NBA TV and pelicans.com. No word on when Zion Williamson will return. He left the team last Thursday to deal with an urgent family medical issue.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has made the decision to move its fall sports, including football, to the spring. The SWAC is planning to have a seven-game football schedule but Grambling President Rick Gallot says the virus will dictate if football can be played at all this academic year…
Cut 7 (09) “vaccine”
The seven-game football schedule that would include six conference games and one non-conference contest. Instead of holding the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving weekend, the game will be played in the spring time. Southern University athletics director Roman Banks says once a date is set, they’ll talk with Bayou Classic and New Orleans officials…
cut 9 (07) “…site”

Since the SWAC has postponed its football season to the spring that leaves Louisiana Tech looking for another opponent. The Bulldogs were scheduled to play Prairie View A-and-M for their home opener on September 19th. Tech athletics director Tommy McClelland says they are talking with other programs about filling that open slot on their home schedule.

The Outland Trophy Watch List was unveiled today and it features several interior linemen. LSU defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin is on that list and so is Louisiana Tech center Kody Russey, along with Ragin Cajuns sophomore offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence.

Tomorrow, the Southland Conference will hold a virtual media day for football. Broadcaster Carely McCord, who died in a plane crash in December, has been named the recipient of the Southland Conference’s prestigious Louis Bonnette Media Award.

The Pelicans hold their first scrimmage game tomorrow night against Brooklyn. Still no word on when rookie sensation Zion Williamson will return to the NBA’s bubble in Orlando. Williamson left last week to attend to a family emergency and there’s been no new information.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has made the decision to move its fall sports, including football, to the spring. Grambling President Rick Gallot says the decision protect’s the health of their student-athletes…
cut 6 (10) “…deadly virus”
The SWAC is planning to have a seven-game football schedule that would include six conference games and one non-conference game in the spring. Southern University Athletics Director Roman Banks says by the time 2021 gets here, he hopes we are close to a vaccine and there are fewer COVID-19 cases…
cut 8 (12) “…responsible way”
Banks and Gallot are also hopeful the Bayou Classic can be played in the spring.

Since the SWAC has decided to postpone its football season to the spring that leaves Louisiana Tech looking for another opponent. The Bulldogs were scheduled to play Prairie View A-and-M for their home opener on September 19th. Tech athletics director Tommy McClelland says they are talking with other programs about filling that open slot on their home schedule.

LSU linebackers Damone Clark and Jabril Cox are among the 51 players on the Butkus Award Watch List. Both Clark and Cox are expected to play significant roles in new four-three defense under defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. Former LSU Tiger Devin White won the Butkus Award a couple of years ago.

The Phillies have named former LSU Tiger Aaron Nola their opening day starter for the third straight season. The 27-year-old struck out a career-high 229 batters last season. Philadelphia opens its season against Miami on Friday.