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.

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.