Southern and Grambling State will not play football this fall. The Southwestern Athletic Conference had made the decision to move the football season to the spring, with pre-season training beginning in January. The plan is to play six conference games and each school would also have an option to play a nonconference game. There’s also the hope Grambling and Southern can play each other in the Bayou Classic in the spring.

The NFL and its players’ association appear to be getting closer to reaching an agreement on health and safety protocols so that players can report for training camp. The NFL is reportedly willing to eliminate all preseason games, giving players more time to ramp up for the regular season. The league also said they would test players daily for the first two weeks of training camp. If the positivity rate is below five-percent, then testing would go to every other day. Veterans are expected to report for training camp next week.

The Monroe News-Star reports that Louisiana Tech has had ten positive COVID-19 cases involving football, basketball, and volleyball players. Tech officials say three of the ten student-athletes have recovered, while the other seven are in self-quarantine.

Louisiana Football Coaches Association president Dwain Jenkins, who is the coach of the Lutcher Bulldogs, says 90 of their 156 members voted to start the season as close to on time as possible or in October. The LFCA sent a survey to coaches and there was an option to swap fall and spring sports, but Jenkins says that’s the last option for many coaches. California is delaying its high school football season to December or January.

The Pelicans’ first scrimmage is tomorrow night versus Brooklyn. It will be streamed on the team’s website. So will Saturday’s scrimmage against Denver. The final tune-up before the re-start is a week from tonight against Milwaukee. Fox Sports New Orleans will televise that game.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has joined a social media campaign that features several players calling on the NFL to follow the advice of health experts when it comes to safely playing football during the coronavirus pandemic. Brees and the other players used the hashtag We Want to Play. Veterans will report to training camp next week and the NFL and its players association have not reached an agreement on the proper protocols to promote player safety.

The Monroe News-Star reports that Louisiana Tech has had ten positive COVID-19 cases involving football, basketball and volleyball players. Tech officials say three of the ten student-athletes have recovered, while the other seven are in self-quarantine.

SWAC athletic leaders meet this afternoon to discuss the fall sports season. The league could decide to delay the start of the season, move football to the spring or cancel the football season.

LSU’s Jacoby Stevens and Derek Stingley are on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list. The award goes to the nation’s best defensive back in college football. ULM’s Corey Straughter is also on that list.

Louisiana Football Coaches Association president Dwain Jenkins, who is the coach of the Lutcher Bulldogs, says 90 of their 156 members voted to start the season as close to on time as possible or in October. There was also the option to swap fall and spring sports, but Jenkins says that’s the last option for many coaches. California made the decision today to move the start of its football season and other fall sports to December or January.

The Pelicans’ first scrimmage is Wednesday night versus Brooklyn. That game will be streamed on the team’s website. So will Saturday’s scrimmage against Denver. The final tune-up before the re-start is a week from tonight against Milwaukee. Fox Sports New Orleans will televise that game.

Several NFL players have taken to social media pleading with the league to address health and safety concerns as training camps are set to open soon. Saints Quarterback Drew Brees tweeted that the NFL’s unwillingness to follow recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent the return of football. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan also used the hashtag “We Want to Play” to urge the NFL to make the necessary changes.

Veterans are set to report to training camp on July 28th and the players association has requested that the NFL provide daily testing, no preseason games, and a ramp up period before they put the pads on. Financial considerations also have to be figured out.

The SWAC holds an important meeting today to decide there course of action on whether they’ll delay fall sports or move them to the spring. There have been reports that the league will cancel fall sports.

University of Washington center Bryan Penn-Johnson announced on Twitter on Saturday that he’s transferring to LSU. Penn-Johnson will file for a waiver so that he can play in the upcoming season. He also could have three years of eligibility left at LSU. Penn-Johnson only played in six games last season, averaging two points a game.

There are now 16 former LSU players who are participating in Major League Baseball Player polls. Former LSU Tigers Alex Lange and Zack Hess have joined the Detroit Tigers big league team. Opening Day is Thursday.

Jon Rahm is golf’s new number one player in the world. The Spaniard won the Memorial Yesterday by three strokes over Ryan Palmer. Tiger Woods made the cut but finished 40th.

The Pelicans first scrimmage game is Wednesday night as they’ll face the Brooklyn Nets.

Austin Dillon won the checkered flag at the Texas Motor Speedway beating out rookie teammate Tyler Reddick.

The Pelicans have announced that rookie Zion Williamson has left the NBA bubble in Walt Disney World to attend to an urgent family medical matter. Team officials say Williamson is expected to return to Orlando for the NBA restart at a later date. Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin says out of respect for the Williamson family, they have no further comment at this time.

LSU men’s basketball has lost out on getting a five star recruit out of Memphis. Six-foot-eleven Moussa Cisse had LSU as one of five finalists, but he has decided to sign with the University of memphis. He averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks per game during his senior season in high school.

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron was a guest on Fox News Wednesday and said he thinks there will be a football season this fall, but some adjustments will be needed. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says SEC football programs reported single digit to zero cases last week, but he has also said there needs to be a change in public health.

Former LSU star and Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu says he will pay for the funeral of a nine-year-old who was fatally shot in the seventh ward on Monday. Devante Bryant was one of three people shot and police are still looking for a suspect. Mathieu says he wanted to help the Bryant family because he’s from the seventh ward and has a seven-year-old living in New Orleans and could not imagine something hapening to him at that age.

The man convicted of killing former John Curtis Star Joe McKnight will receive a new trial. Ronald Gasser was convicted of manslaughter in the 2016 shooting of McKnight. Gasser receives a new trial because of a U-S Supreme Court ruling that says jury verdicts of serious crimes should be unanimous. 10 of 12 jurors agreed to convict Gasser of manslauther. He was then sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Louisiana Tech athletics director Tommy McClelland says construction on a new baseball stadium is on time, but they are little behind on the new soccer and softball stadiums.

Guard Jrue Holiday has been a leader for the Pelicans and he’s also a leader in the social justice movement. Holiday and his wife Lauren have created the Holiday Social Justice Impact Fund. Holiday says he’s using the rest of his salary for this season, an estimated five-point-three-million dollars to start the fund. He says the money will benefit the black communities in New Orleans, Indiana and his hometown of Los Angeles.

A five-star high school basketball prospect has committed to Memphis over LSU. At one time six-foot-ten Moussa Cisse was a strong lean to LSU, but the nation’s second-rated center has decided he’d rather play for the Tigers in Memphis. Despite missing out on Cisse, LSU’s incoming recruiting class is ranked as the sixth-best in the country.

LSU men’s basketball also has to find another non-conference opponent. That’s because the Tigers were scheduled to play Yale on November 21st, but Ivy League schools are not competing in sports during the fall semester.

The Saints are scheduled to play the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13th, but if the game is played there will be no fans in the stands. Philadelphia city officials are not allowing any fans to attend professional sporting events this year because of COVID-19.

Central Arkansas leads the Southland Conference with the most players on the Southland Conference preseason all-conference teams. The Bears have 13 players on the first and second teams. The two-time defending champion Nicholls State has eight players on the Preseason All-Southland Team. Five of the selections were on the first team, including running back Julien Gums, wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon, safety Kevin Moore the third and offensive linemen P-J Burkhalter and Jair Joseph. Southeastern Louisiana has two first-team selections, linebacker Alexis Ramos and defensive back Ferlando Jordan.

Ragin Cajuns running backs Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas are on the Doak Walker Preseason Watch List, which goes to the nation’s top running back. Louisiana Tech’s Justin Henderson is also on that list.

Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday says he’s donating the rest of his game checks for this season to create a social justice fund that will benefit communities in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Indianapolis. Holiday is due an estimated five million dollars and the veteran said on ESPN’s “The Jump” that it was his wife who came up with the idea. Holiday also says the Holiday Social Justice Impact Fund will support Black colleges and universities.

The Saints are scheduled to play the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 13th, but if the game is played there will be no fans in the stands. Philadelphia city officials are not allowing any fans to attend professional sporting events this year because of COVID-19.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will play under the franchise tag in 2020 as Dallas and Prescott did not agree to a longterm deal before this afternoon’s deadline. Prescott will make 31-million dollars if there are 16 games this season.

Ruston High running back Ke’Travion Bull Hargrove has de-committed from the Bulldogs. Hargrove committed to La Tech over two months ago, but since then he’s received offers from Power Five schools like South Carolina, Florida State, and Penn State.

The two-time defending champion Nicholls State football team has eight players on the 2020 Preseason All-Southland Team. Five of the selections were on the first team, including running back Julien Gums, wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon, safety Kevin Moore the third and offensive linemen P-J Burkhalter and Jair Joseph. McNeese wide receiver Cyron Sutton also made the first team. Southeastern Louisiana has two first-team selections, linebacker Alexis Ramos and defensive back Ferlando Jordan. Northwestern State linebacker Ja’Quay Pough is also on the first team.

Ragin Cajuns running backs Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas are on the Doak Walker Preseason Watch List, which goes to the nation’s top running back. Louisiana Tech’s Justin Henderson is also on that list.

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron was part of the roundtable discussion that involved Vice President Mike Pence, U-S Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Governor John Bel Edwards at LSU’s Tiger Stadium yesterday. Orgeron told the group that included higher ed leaders that we need football and Pence agrees with that sentiment…
cut 13 (12) “…love football”
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey has said that the league will make a decision in late July on what may occur with the football season. Sankey is concerned about the rising number of coronavirus cases.

The S-E-C has decided to postpone all athletic events for volleyball, soccer, and cross country until at least September 1st. The A-C-C made a similar decision last week.

Former LSU Tiger linebacker Marcel Brooks is reportedly transferring to T-C-U. Brooks contributed to the Tigers national championship as a freshman recording eight tackles and 1.5 sacks in limited playing time. Brooks reportedly expressed a desire to play at a school closer to his home.

Louisiana Tech football has resumed its offseason workouts. They were suspended last week when a second player tested positive for COVID-19. A Tech spokesperson said the school wanted to be overly cautious.

Meanwhile, Ruston High running back Ke’Travion Bull Hargrove has de-committed from the Bulldogs. Hargrove committed to La Tech over two months ago, but since then he’s received offers from Power Five schools like South Carolina, Florida State, and Penn State.

Longtime Ragin Cajuns baseball coach Tony Robichaux will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association of Hall of Fame in January. The class also includes former Southern Coach Roger Cador and former Rice Coach Wayne Graham.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved a set of minimum standards public schools are expected to follow to safely reopen. The standards include face mask requirements for teachers and students in third grade and up. Matt Doyle reports school districts that refuse to implement BESE’s minimum requirements for reopening like the mask mandate could get sued…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Terrebonne, St. Tammany, and the Caddo Parish school systems are a few of the school districts that have decided to delay the start of the school year.

Vice President Mike Pence stressed the importance of getting kids back in the classroom during his visit to Baton Rouge yesterday…
cut 11 (12) “…on campuses”
Pence made the comments at LSU’s Tiger Stadium after participating in a roundtable discussion with Governor Edwards, U-S Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Louisiana higher ed leaders, and Tigers coach Ed Orgeron.

Are you tired of the extreme heat? State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll start to see a bit of a break for the southern half of the state as the heatwave lets up a little bit…
cut 15 (12) “….half a notch”
The northern half of the state remains under a heat advisory today.

The SEC has made the decision to postpone the start of volleyball, cross country, and soccer seasons until at least September 1st. That means these sports can not play any exhibition or non-conference game in August. LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward says this decision was made in the interest of the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches and staff. Any decision on the football season is expected to come in late July. The league’s athletic directors met yesterday to go over contingency plans.

ULM is awaiting what the SEC decides to do. That’s because the Warhawks are set to play at Georgia on September 26 and Arkansas on November 21st.

Louisiana Tech football has resumed its offseason workouts. They were suspended last week when a second player tested positive for COVID-19. A Tech spokesperson said the school wanted to be overly cautious.

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says in order for high school football games to be played, the state has to reach Phase Four of its reopening. According to the LHSAA guidelines, the only two sports that can compete against other schools in Phase Two are cross country and swimming. Basketball, soccer, and wrestling all need to be in phase four too. Volleyball can hold competitive matches in phase three. And Bonine says if some athletic events are able to proceed, they might do so without fans, but that creates other problems…
cut 18 (12) “….the gate”
Bonine there’s been discussion about flipping spring and fall sports so that a contact sport like football could possibly be played in the spring. He says that’s not their first option though. Football practice is set to begin in a month.

After a day-long in-person meeting with the 14 SEC athletic directors, Commissioner Greg Sankey says a decision will be made in late July on what will happen with the football season. Sankey says in order for teams to take the field the circumstances related to COVID-19 must improve. LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward called the meeting productive and he says there’s still time for things to improve in order to begin the season on Labor Day Weekend.

Three LSU Tigers are on the Bednarik Watch list which goes to the nation’s Defensive Player of the Year. The three players are safety JaCoby Stevens, cornerback Derek Stingley, and linebacker Jabril Cox.

The Patriot League has joined the Ivy League in canceling fall sports and will consider playing football in the winter or spring. The National Junior College Athletic Association says it will not have a fall season and the N-J–C-A-A hopes to play football in the spring.

For high school football games to happen this fall, the state has to be in phase 4 of its reopening, but the state is currently stuck in phase two, after reporting 17-hundred new cases on Monday. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine appeared before the House Education Committee yesterday and was asked about the potential of flipping spring and fall sports, so football can be played in 2021…
cut 17 (10) “…presently”
According to the LHSAA guidelines, the only two sports that can compete against other schools in Phase Two are cross country and swimming. Basketball, soccer, and wrestling all need to be in phase four too. Volleyball can hold competitive matches in phase three.

Fox Sports New Orleans says they will televise all eight of the Pelicans seeding games when the season resumes on July 30th against Utah.