LSU has admitted to NCAA rules violations and they are imposing penalties on its football program which include a reduction of eight scholarships over two years. And former LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior has been banned from its facility for two years after handing out two-thousand dollars in cash to players on the field after the national title game.

Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the self-imposed penalties are in hopes of reducing what the NCAA would impose for infractions…
cut 15 (14) “….pretty good actually”

Did the Pelicans hire a good head coach? Time will tell, but the franchise will give 61-year-old Stan Van Gundy the opportunity to mold a team featuring Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram into a championship contender.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron calls starting quarterback Myles Brennan very questionable to play Saturday versus South Carolina. Brennan suffered a torn abdomen according to The Athletic. Max Johnson or T-J Finley will start at QB if Brennan can’t play. Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp says there’s not a dropoff in talent between Brennan and the true freshmen
cut 19 (11) “very talented”‘

Louisiana Tech is looking to rebound after a 35-17 loss to Marshall last week. Tech’s offense only produced 267 total yards and the defense allowed the Thundering Herd to convert on third down 13 times. But Coach Skip Holtz says after watching the film the players realize if they play fundamentally sound, they could be a really good team…
cut 18 (13) “…getting better”

Sports Illustrated is reporting LSU is imposing penalties on its own program after a two-year investigation revealed a booster paid the father of a former football player for a job he never showed up for. If you remember last October, John Paul Fumes, the former CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Foundation was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for stealing 555-thousand dollars from the foundation. Prosecutors say 180-thousand dollars went to the father of former LSU lineman Vadal Alexander.

Also, former LSU star Odell Beckham Junior has been banned from the program for two years after handing out cash to players following the national championship.

Meanwhile, the Tigers continue to get ready for Saturday’s game against South Carolina and Coach Ed Orgeron does not think starting quarterback Myles Brennan will play. Either TJ Finley or Max Johnson will start if Brennan can’t go.

After a bye week, ULM is back in action this Saturday as the Warhawks travel to South Alabama in search of their first win. Coach Matt Viator says they used the extra time off to work on special teams after the punt team gave up three touchdowns in a 40-7 loss to Liberty….
cut 28 (19) ” I ever had”

The Saints will be allowed to play in front of fans after the team reached an agreement with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Beginning this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, 3,000 fans will be allowed inside the Superdome.

And the Pelicans have a new coach as there are reports the team has agreed to a four-year deal with Stan Van Gundy. Van Gundy has previous head coaching experience with the Heat, Magic and Pistons.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron does not think Myles Brennan will play Saturday against South Carolina. That means either true freshmen T-J Finley or Max Johnson will start at quarterback. Coach Ed Orgeron says he’ll make a decision at the end of the week…
cut 13 (07) “…will play”
2014 was the last time LSU started a true freshman quarterback. Brandon Harris got the start and LSU lost to Auburn 41-7.

Three-thousand Saints season ticket holders will be able to attend Sunday’s game between the Black and Gold and the Carolina Panthers. An agreement has been reached between the city and the team that could result in six-thousand fans for November games and up to 15-thousand fans in December. Coach Sean Payton says this is a great way to gradually allow fans inside the Dome…
cut 4 (07) “…there”

ULM is coming off a bye week and they’ll visit South Alabama on Saturday. Warhawks coach Matt Viator says they used the extra time to work on special teams after the punt team gave up three touchdowns in a loss to Liberty and he says they used the additional practice time to work on defenses that play three-man fronts…
cut 19 (18) “…so”
Viator says defensive linemen Mason Husmann. Sir’Darius Ellis and Demonde Harris were limited in practice last week, but he says there’s a shot they could play Saturday against South Alabama.

Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz says starting right tackle Antawn Lewis should play Saturday against U-T-S-A. Lewis missed the last two games because of COVID.

True Freshmen T-J Finley and Max Johnson are competing this week to see who will be LSU’s starting quarterback on Saturday if Myles Brennan can not play because of an injury. Starting center Liam Shanahan says he’s been impressed with Finley and Johnson…
cut 17 (16) “…I’m confident”
1-and-2 LSU will host 2-and-2 South Carolina at 6 PM in Tiger Stadium.

Louisiana Tech Head Football Coach Skip Holtz says his starting right tackle Antawn Lewis should play on Saturday night against U-T-S-A. Lewis has missed the last two games because of COVID-19.

ULM coach Matt Viator says defensive linemen Mason Husmann. Sir’Darius Ellis and Demonde Harris were limited in practice last week, but Viator says there’s a shot they could play Saturday against South Alabama.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Saints have agreed to a phased approach allowing fans to back into the Superdome. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Saints are 7.5 point favorites this Sunday to beat Carolina. The Panthers are 3-and-3 and their star running back Christian McCaffrey is not expected to play Sunday versus New Orleans. He hasn’t played the last five weeks because of a high ankle sprain. Carolina has also placed wide receiver and former Saint Keith Kirkwood on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says Tigers quarterback Myles Brennan is questionable for Saturday night’s home game versus South Carolina. True freshmen TJ Finley and Max Johnson will compete for an opportunity to start against the Gamecocks. Coach Ed Orgeron says when Brennan is healthy from his injury, he’ll be the starter
cut 19 (19) “.starting quarterback”‘
Orgeron calls it a significant lower-body injury. The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports Brennan played three quarters against Missouri with a torn muscle in his abdomen.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Billy Napier says the players will honor offensive line coach D-J Looney during Friday’s game against UAB by having Looney’s name on the back of their jersey. Looney died in August of a heart attack. Birmingham is his hometown.

After missing the first four games of the season, because of injuries, Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport saw his first action of the season in New Orleans last game, a 30-27 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Davenport played 21 snaps on defense and had one pass defensed
cut 18 (18) ” develop again”
Coach Sean Payton hopes they can increase Davenport’s playing time.

The Saints are still hoping to have fans in the Superdome for home games this year. The team says they had a productive meeting with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell yesterday.

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they are looking at alternate sites for the prep classic, which is scheduled to be held December 26th to the 28th in the Superdome. In a memo sent to schools, Bonine says they are looking for a location that would allow 25-percent capacity.

The Saints are getting ready for Sunday’s home game against Carolina. They had a chance to enjoy a weekend off, but tight end Jared Cook says it was an uneventful weekend…
cut 17 (22) “…to make”
Could there be fans at Sunday’s game against the Panthers? The Saints say they had a productive meeting with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell yesterday as they discussed how to get fans safely back in the Dome. The meeting also included epidemiologists and the mayor’s medical advisers.

The LHSAA is reportedly looking at moving its Prep Classic from the Superdome, because of fan restrictions. The high school football state championship games are set for December 26th to the 28th.

LSU Quarterback Myles Brennan is questionable for Saturday night’s game against the Gamecocks. The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports Brennan tore a muscle in his abdomen in the loss to Missouri and Coach Ed Orgeron says the injury has been slow to heal.

South Carolina brings a 2-2 record into Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. They have one of the top running backs in the conference. Kevin Harris has rushed 409 yards and four touchdowns. Orgeron says Harris is hard to tackle…
cut 20 (11) “…all around back”

Former Hahnville star Pooka Williams has opted out of the rest of the 2020 season. Williams, who was a first-team All-Big 12 selection for the Kansas Jayhawks last season, says he wants to be closer to my mother and family in Louisiana. It’s been a tough year for Williams, who has 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns in four games.

LSU’s Myles Brennan continues to be hampered by an injury suffered in the loss to Missouri and Coach Ed Orgeron said today his starting quarterback is questionable for Saturday’s home game versus South Carolina. Orgeron called it a lower body injury. If Brennan can not play, Orgeron says he’ll make a decision on who will start at Q-B after Thursday’s practice and it would be either true freshmen TJ Finley or Max Johnson…
cut 14 (09) “….know offense”
Orgeron says both Finley and Johnson have the talent to play in the NFL.

The Saints are scheduled to play the Panthers this Sunday, but Carolina shut down their team facility because of an unconfirmed positive COVID-19 test, so they will work remotely the next two days. Also, the Saints will reportedly host Carolina in the Superdome, despite talks with LSU about moving their home games to Tiger Stadium.

Louisiana Tech suffered its first conference loss on Saturday as Marshall defeated the Bulldogs 35-17 at Joe Aillet Stadium. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz is proud of the way the defense competed, but their woes are on offense…
cut 16 (20) “end zone”
Tech was just 1-of-10 on third-down opportunities and had just seven rushing yards on 24 carries. The Bulldogs are at UTSA on Saturday night.

The Ragin Cajuns are at UAB on Saturday for a 7 PM kickoff on the CBS Sports Network. U-L Lafayette is out of the Top 25 polls as a result of their loss to Coastal Carolina last week.

The Saints have talked with LSU about playing their home games at Tiger Stadium so that a limited number of fans can attend, but that apparently will not happen for Sunday’s game against Carolina. The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan reports New Orleans will host the Panthers in the Superdome this Sunday, which means only the family of players, staff, and coaches can attend.

The Panthers had their three-game winning streak snapped yesterday as they lost to the Chicago Bears 23-16. Tampa Bay moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC South with an impressive 38=10 win over the previously undefeated Packers. And the Falcons are winless no more as the Dirty Birds flew past Minnesota 40-23.

But Atlanta baseball fans are hurting today as the Dodgers came back from a three-to-one deficit in the series to beat the Braves in game seven of the NLCS four to three last night.

The LSU Tigers return to the practice field today to get ready for Saturday night’s home game against South Carolina. The Gamecocks had a nice win over Auburn last Saturday. We’ll get an update from Coach Ed Orgeron on the health of Quarterback Myles Brennan, who was banged up last week.

Louisiana Tech will work on an offense this week that rushed for seven yards in the Bulldogs 35-17 loss to Marshall on Saturday. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says that’s two straight poor performances on offense…
cut 17 (24) “…move forward”
Tech is at UTSA on Saturday night.

The Saints had Sunday off and fell into second place in the NFC South. Tampa Bay moved into first place with a 4-and-2 record as the Buccaneers blasted the Green Bay Packers 38 to 10. It’s the first loss for the Packers.

Carolina’s three-game winning streak is over as Chicago handed Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers a 23-16 defeat. Bridgewater threw for a season-low 216 passing yards and two interceptions.

And Atlanta has its first win as the Falcons defeated the Vikings 40-23. But it was another good game for rookie Minnesota receiver Justin Jefferson. The former LSU star had nine catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

There’s more heartbreak for Atlanta sports fans as the Dodgers defeated the Braves four to three in last night’s game seven of the National League Championship Series. Atlanta led the series three games to one and had a two to nothing lead last night.

Louisiana Tech’s eight-game home winning streak ended on Saturday as Marshall beat the Bulldogs 35-17. It was another frustrating night for Tech’s offense, which had just 267 yards of total offense. The defense struggled to get off the field, as Marshall converted 13 of 16 on third-down opportunities. La Tech senior linebacker Trey Baldwin…
cut 18 (18) “….back on the field”
The Bulldogs are 2-1 in Conference USA and they’ll visit UTSA on Saturday.

Here’s the college football schedule for this weekend, LSU will host South Carolina at 6 PM in Tiger Stadium. The Ragin Cajuns are no longer ranked in the Top 25 polls. On Friday night they visit UAB. ULM returns from a bye week and the Warhawks are at South Alabama on Saturday night.

The Saints and Pelicans say Owner Gayle Benson was the victim of an attempted carjacking in New Orleans. A spokesperson for the two franchises says Benson was very shaken at the time, but unharmed and now doing fine. The incident happened last Saturday when an unidentified man jumped into her vehicle and tried to steal it. Benson ordered the man out and the would-be car thief fled. According to the Advocate, Benson was sitting in the back seat and the driver was inside a business.

Tonight in High School Football action, West Monroe hosts Neville. The Rebels have won the last eight meetings between the two schools since 1996. In another interesting 4A-5A match-up, Catholic High hosts St. Thomas More. The Bears have won five in a row in the series and this game can be seen on CST.

Major League Baseball Playoffs continue as the Astros try to force a game seven with a third straight win over Tampa Bay, while the Braves can advance to the World Series with a win over the Dodgers.

Louisiana Tech will look to win its ninth straight home game on Saturday when they host Marshall, who is 3-0. The Thundering Herd leads Conference USA in scoring offense, averaging 38 points a game. Coach Skip Holtz says Marshall is also second in the league in rushing offense…
cut 17 (17) “…really talented”
The Bulldogs are 3-1 and 2-and-0 in Conference USA Play. Saturday’s game marks the first time Tech will host Marshall as a Conference USA Foe. Kick-off is at 5 PM.

Tonight at 5 PM, Tulane will host 17th ranked S-M-U. The Green Wave’s last win against a ranked opponent came in 1984 when they defeated Vanderbilt and Tulane has yet to defeat S-M-U since the two schools joined the American Athletic Conference.