Just one more practice in Baton Rouge tomorrow and then it’s off to New Orleans to play Clemson on Monday night in the national championship game. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron says winning the turnover battle will be a key…
cut 17 (12) “….best game”
Former LSU athletics director Joe Alleva gave a candid interview to the Advocate where he told columunist Scott Rabalais he did not want to hire then Florida State Coach Jimbo Fisher in 2015 when there was a push to fire Les Miles. Rabalais says Alleva told him in an interview yesterday that he preferred Miles at that time…
cut 6 (11) “…about that”
Rabalais says Alleva was also frustrated Miles did not want to change the offense.

SEC Football got a whole lot more interesting today as Mississippi State hired Mike Leach as its new head football coach. Leach has had successful stints at Washington State and Texas Tech and will go head-to-head in recruiting with new Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffen. Leach and the Bulldogs will be in Tiger Stadium to face LSU on October 24th next year.

Louisiana Tech has released its 2020 football schedule. The Bulldogs will kick-off the season on September 5th at UNLV. The Conference USA opener is the next week versus Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Tech will host league opponents UTEP, Marshall, UAB and Rice and conclude the season at FIU.

Louisiana Tech basketball visits UTSA tonight at 6 PM in a game that can be seen on E-S-P-N-U. The Bulldogs are off to a 2-0 start in Conference USA Play, with two victories over Southern Miss. The Roadrunners were picked to finish second in the conference in the preseason, but they are off to an 0-and-2 start.

LSU fans are familiar with Clemson’s stars on offense, running back Travis Etienne and quarterback Trevor Lawerence. On defense, the defending national champs are led by Butkus Award Winner Isiah Simmons, who has 14 tackles for a loss. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron says Simmons can do it all
Cut 16 (24) …the field”
The man who hired Orgeron as head coach gave some eye-popping comments to Advocate columnist Scott Rabalais. Joe Alleva told Rabalais he was not interested in hiring Jimbo Fisher in 2015 and could have hired Tom Herman in 2016, but was not willing to pay Herman the money he was looking for.

Last night was a good night for Louisiana basketball teams. The Pelicans beat the Bulls 123 to 108. New Orleans has won seven of its last ten and will visit the Knicks on Friday night.

LSU improved to 2-and-0 in the SEC with a 79-77 home win over Arkansas. Freshman Trendon Watford had a career-high 21 points and had two three-point plays in a span of 24 seconds in the final minute.

Nicholls is in a three-way tie for first place in the Southland after beating Lamar 61-52. The Colonels are 4-and-1 in league play. McNeese upset Abilene Christan 88-84 as A-J Lawson had a career-high 35 points. Sha’markus Kennedy had a double-double, 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Northwestern State is 3-and-2 in the Southland, its best start in league play since 2015 after beating Incarnate Word 77-66.

On Monday, LSU will try to win its fourth national championship. They won the previous three in New Orleans, including their 1958 title when the Tigers completed an undefeated season by beating Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. Coach Ed Orgeron says when New Orleans was awarded the 2020 national championship game, it was a goal to play in that game…
cut 18 (19) our best”
The LaRose native also says he always felt that he would be part of an LSU team that would play for a national championship.

On the injury front, Coach O says he expects starting wide receiver Terrace Marshall and right guard Damien Lewis will play in the title game after missing practice last week because of injuries.

Last night was a good night for Louisiana basketball teams. Brandon Ingram had 29 points and 11 assists as the Pelicans beat the Chicago Bulls 123 to 108 at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans had a big third quarter, scoring 44 points.

LSU improved to 2-and-0 in the SEC with a 79-77 home win over Arkansas. 19 lead changes in this game and freshman Trendon Watford was huge down the stretch. He completed two three-point plays in the final minute and finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Skylar Mays had 19 points.

Northwestern State is 3-and-2 in Southland play after a 72-66 victory over Incarnate Word. The Demons are off to their best league start since the 2014-15 season. Chudier Bile scored a career-high 22 points last night.

Nicholls is 4-and-1 in league play after a 61-52 win over Lamar. A-J Lawson had 37 points as McNeese defeated Abilene Christian 88-84 for the Cowboys first Southland win.

Southeastern Louisiana could not hold on to a 15-point halftime lead and lost to Sam Houston State 67-62. UCONN topped Tulane 67-61.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says there are some must positions that need to be solidify in order to make another run at the Super Bowl next year. Payton didn’t mention any specifically, but he was asked about finding another receiver to play opposite of Pro Bowler Michael Thomas…
cut 17 (25) “…right player”
The Saints might also need to find another offense guard. Starting guard Andrus Peat is one of 25 players on the current roster that is set to become a free agent. Bree can also become a free agent in March. Payton believes Drew wants to keep playing.

After a couple of days off, LSU begins game week practices today for Monday night’s national championship matchup with Clemson. Tigers Center Lloyd Cushenberry says the time off gave them a chance to reflect a little bit on what they’ve done so far…
cut 19 (16) come the 13th

Tonight is the SEC home opener for the LSU basketball team. The Tigers will welcome 12-and-1 Arkansas to the PMAC for an 8 PM tip off. The Razorbacks are led by first-year coach Eric Musselman, who is a former assistant coach at LSU under former head man Johnny Jones.

The Pelicans will host the Chicago Bulls. McNeese is at Abilene Christian, who is undefeated in Southland play. Nicholls is at Lamar. Colonels athletics director Matt Roan is leaving to be the A-D at Eastern Kentucky.

After another crushing playoff loss, the Saints begin the process of looking ahead to next season. New Orleans has been one of the best teams in the NFL over the last three seasons, but they have not been able to win a Super Bowl. Coach Sean Payton says the team will be ready to make another run at it next season…
cut 18 (25) “…tournament”
Twenty-five players on the Saints roster are set to be free agents, including 40-year-old quarterback Drew Brees. But Payton believes Brees wants to keep playing.

A small Jefferson Davis Parish town is in a predicament, torn between their allegiance to the Bayou Bengals and a hometown football star. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Tonight at the PMAC, LSU men’s basketball hosts 12-and-1 Arkansas. The Razorbacks are allowing only 60 points a game.

The Pelicans will host the Bulls tonight. Zion Williamson took another step yesterday in his recovery from knee surgery by participating in a five-on-five practice.

Nicholls athletics director Matt Roan is leaving Thibodaux to become the new A-D at Eastern Kentucky.

It was a great season for Saints linebacker DeMario Davis who was selected as a first-team All-Pro performer following a 111 tackle season, with four sacks, one interception and eleven tackles for losses. Davis says having the season come to an abrupt end is not a good feeling, but there will be a 2020 season…
cut 17 (18) “…rebuild”
Who will be on the Saints 2020 roster is a big question mark. And the biggest question mark among fans is quarterback Drew Brees, who can be an unrestricted free agent in March. Coach Sean Payton said he believes Brees wants to keep playing.

Stubhub spokesperson Adam Budelli says the get-in price for Monday’s national championship game is 840-dollars and it is expected to either remain flat or see a rise closer to kickoff. Tickets have been purchased in Canada, the UK, and Australia and from over 20 states domestically.
Cut 13 (07) “…state of Louisiana.”
Budelli says the average ticket price sold on StubHub is 19-hundred dollars.

Fresh off a win in last night’s Lending Tree Bowl in Mobile, Ragin Cajuns Coach Billy Napier’s name has surfaced as a candidate for a Power Five Job Opening. Baylor has lost head coach Matt Rhule to the Carolina Panthers and 24-7 reports Napier is a serious candidate for the Baylor opening. But the university tells the Daily Advertiser they believe Coach Napier is staying.

After a disappointing end to the 2019 season for the Saints, the only thing Who Dat Nation can do is look forward. But how many guys from the current team will be back next year. 25 players on the Saints current roster are set to become free agents, including Quarterback Drew Brees who just completed his 19th season. Saints Offensive Tackle Terron Armstead can’t imagine Brees not playing for the Black and Gold next season…
cut 18 (16) “….without him”
Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is also a free agent and could be signed to be a starter for another team. Third-string Q-B Taysom Hill is also a free agent in March and will likely receive a lot of interest because of his versatility.

The Ragin Cajuns wrapped up the 2019 season by beating Miami of Ohio 27-17 last night in the Lending Tree Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. It’s the first time the Cajuns have won a bowl game outside of the state of Louisiana since the 1944 Oil Bowl in Houston. Quarterback Levi Lewis was named the game’s M-V-P as he threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns and finishes the season with over 3,000 yards passing.

Brandon Ingram had 35 points for the Pelicans, but New Orleans lost to the Utah Jazz 128 to 126. Ingram had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but Rudy Gobert blocked his shot at the rim. The Pels thought it was a foul.

In college hoops, Mylik Wilson scored a career-high 30-points as the Cajuns defeated Appalachian State 81-73. Coastal Carolina crushed ULM 93-64. Grambling improved to 2-0 in the SWAC play with a 68-63 win over Alabama State. Southern lost to Prairie View A-and-M 64-54.

The Saints are still licking their wounds after a tough loss to the Vikings ended a promising season prematurely. The players and fans will stew over the 26-20 overtime defeat to the Vikings for months, but linebacker AJ Klein says there’s a reason why the team’s been a contender for three years in a row…
Cut 16 (12) …locker room”
Saints linebacker coach Mike Nolan is reportedly leaving for Dallas to be the defensive coordinator for new head coach Mike McCarthy. Also Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso tore his ACL during the loss to the Vikings. It’s the third time he’s torn his A-C-L during his career.

LSU players get another day off today, they return to the practice field tomorrow and will leave for New Orleans on Friday where they’ll play Clemson in the national championship game Monday night.

The Ragin Cajuns won their 11th game last night as quarterback Levi Lews threw two touchdown passes to Ja’Marcus Bradley as U-L Lafayette beat Miami of Ohio 27-17 in the Lending Tree Bowl. Lewis threw for 246 yards and Bradley had seven catches for 88 yards.

Brandon Ingram had 35 points for the Pelicans, but New Orleans lost to the Utah Jazz 128 to 126. Ingram had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but Rudy Gobert blocked his shot at the rim. Coach Gentry says his team deserved to win the game and he was upset the refs didn’t see him call for a time out before Ingram drove to the hoop.

In college hoops, Mylik Wilson scored a career-high 30-points as the Ragin Cajuns defeated Appalachian State 81-73. Coastal Carolina crushed ULM 93-64. Grambling improved to 2-0 in the SWAC play with a 68-63 win over Alabama State. Southern scored just 22 points in the first half and lost to Prairie View A-and-M 64-54.

More playoff heartbreak for the Saints. For the third consecutive year, New Orleans’ season ended on the final play as Minnesota defeated the Black and Gold 26-20 in overtime. Quarterback Drew Brees says it was a hard-fought game, but it hurts to come up short…
cut 30 (07) “…disappointing”
Brees is in the final year of his contract and could be a free agent in March.

The LSU football players have today and tomorrow off from practice, giving them some time to watch game film on their national championship game opponent Clemson. Tigers Safety Jacoby Stevens is impressed with Clemson’s overall talent on offense…
cut 20 (20) “…NFL throws”

The Ragin Cajuns go after their 11th victory tonight when they face Miami of Ohio in the Lending Tree Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. The Red Hawks started 2-and-4 but won six of their last seven including the MAC Championship game. Cajuns Coach Billy Napier on what Miami does well…
Cut 16 (25) …explosive plays” ‘
Miami will start a freshman at quarterback, while Ragin Cajuns Q-B Levi Lewis has thrown a school-record 24 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Kick-off is at 6:30.

In basketball tonight, the Pelicans host Utah, the Ragin Cajuns are at Appalachian State, ULM visits Coastal Carolina and Grambling hosts Alabama State.

For the second year in a row, the Saints lose a home postseason game in overtime as Minnesota upset the Black and Gold 26-20 The Vikings fumbled on their first possession, but the Saints had to settle for a field goal despite great field position. Quarterback Drew Brees says not scoring a touchdown on the first drive set a bad tone…
Cut 14 (07) “…we did .”
Brees turns 41-years-old this month but did not want to speculate on his playing future during his post-game press conference. He’s set to become a free agent in March.

Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso will reportedly spend the offseason rehabbing from a torn A-C-L. He sustained the injury during yesterday’s playoff loss. It’s the third time he’s had a torn A-C-L in his career.

Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has announced he’s forgoing his senior season and entering the NFL draft.

An improved LSU defense faces its biggest test a week from tonight in the national championship game. Clemson has one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in Trevor Lawrence, who is 25-0 as a starter during his college career. Defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence says he is impressed in Lawrence’s ability to run with the football
cut 19 (23) good game”
After spending the weekend practicing, LSU is off today and tomorrow. They are set to arrive in New Orleans on Friday night.

Tonight it’s the Lending Tree Bowl in Mobile as U-L Lafayette faces MAC Champion Miami of Ohio. There’s also Sun Belt basketball tonight as ULM is at Coastal Carolina, while the Cajuns are at Appalachian State.