Major League Baseball’s decision to reduce its draft to five rounds in June creates a roster crunch for LSU and other college baseball teams. Coach Paul Mainieri still expects outfielder Daniel Cabrera and pitcher Cole Henry, plus a couple of recruits to be selected, but he expected to lose eight players from the 2020 team to the draft
Cut 16 (15) “…roster.”
If the draft was still 40 rounds, catcher Saul Garza would have been selected. There’s a good chance he returns to Baton Rouge. Garza was named this week to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District First team.

LSU football has announced that linebacker Donte Starks has been dismissed from the team. The former four-star recruit from John Ehret was arrested in February for illegally concealing a weapon.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame has made the decision to postpone their 2020 Induction Ceremony from the last weekend in June to December 15th through the 17th. Hall of Fame Foundation president Ronnie Rantz says due to the uncertain times, it’s in the best interest of the inductees to move the induction ceremony and the events surrounding it to later in the year. Former LSU Coach Nick Saban highlights this year’s class.

Former Tulane head baseball coach Rick Jones and former Southeastern Louisiana baseball coach Jay Artigues have been selected to the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

The Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches has named Louisiana Tech’s Eric Konkol as coach of the year. The Bulldogs were 22-8 when the season ended.

And the Ragin Cajuns have announced the signing of six-foot-ten post player Isaiah Richards. The Brooklyn native averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds for a prep school in Massachusetts last season.

LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says SEC Presidents will vote as early as next week on whether student-athletes are allowed to return to campus in June. Ausberry says football coaches returned to their offices about two weeks ago
Cut 30 (10) “…back in shape”

Saints Coach Sean Payton told a Baltimore radio station he’ll never truly get over Bountygate. Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season after the NFL said they had evidence that the Saints had a scheme to pay players for injuring players on the other team. This is an issue again after former Steelers linebacker James Harrison said on a podcast that Pittsburgh Coach Mike Tomlin handed him an envelope full of money after knocking a Browns wide receiver out of a game in 2010.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri says some tough decisions will have to be made over the summer unless the NCAA gives college baseball teams some relief on maximum roster size. Mainieri says since the Major League Baseball draft is only five rounds, fewer players are turning pro….
cut 17 (21) “…tough decisions”
Mainieri says infielder Hal Hughes and pitcher Eric Walker have already decided to transfer.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is moving its induction Celebration in Natchitoches from the final weekend in June to December 15th to the 17th. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz says due to the uncertain times, it was in the best interest of the 2020 inductees to move the events to December. Nick Saban headlines this year’s induction class.

Will we see fans inside college football stadiums this year? LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says it’s too soon to know…
Cut 23 (10) “of things”
LSU athletics director Scott Woodward says sometime in the summer they’ll have to make a decision on whether fans can be in Tiger Stadium to cheer on the Tigers. ESPN reports the Power Five commissioners had a conference call with NFL leader Roger Goodell to pick up some ideas on how pro football plans to handle its season during the coronavirus pandemic.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred told CNN that they plan on testing players and other baseball personnel multiple times a week using a drug-testing lab in Utah that will process thousands of COVID-19 tests weekly. M-L-B hopes to start its regular season in early July.

At least two LSU players off of the 2020 baseball team are transferring. Infielder Hal Hughes has committed to Rice and Coach Paul Mainieri says freshman all-American Eric Walker is looking to pitch somewhere else next season…
cut 18 (17) “…for him”
Mainieri is concerned about a roster crunch, because next month’s Major League Baseball draft will only be five rounds. The coach says that means many players who were planning on turning pro, will come back to LSU for another season.

NASCAR resumes racing on Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. Major League Soccer plans on resuming its season this summer with all teams playing in Orlando. A training camp in Florida could begin as early as June 1st.

LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says it will not be the NCAA who will determine if the Tigers will kick off their football season in September. Ausberry says that decision will be made by the SEC and university leaders. He says they are planning for numerous scenarios
Cut 12 (11) “…on that”

LSU is hoping the players can return to campus in June. Coach Ed Orgeron is looking forward to quarterback Myles Brennan leading the offense.
cut 19 (18) “…pressure on him”

The full Senate has approved a bill giving voters a chance to decide if they want sports betting legalized in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if his proposal gets full legislative approval, the proposition will appear on the November ballot
Cut 16 (13) “…moving forward.”
The proposal heads to the House for more consideration.

Even though Louisiana is moving into phase one of reopening, the LHSAA announces that offseason workouts will not begin until at least June 8th. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the delay gives schools more time to make sure they have all the proper safety measures in place.

McNeese has ended its search for a new athletics director, because of a decline in revenues from no spring sports. The school plans for a full fall sports season and a new search during the 2020-21 academic year.

During the Tiger Athletic Foundation’s virtual coaches caravan, LSU athletics director Scott Woodward could not provide an answer on whether fans will be allowed in Tiger Stadium this season. Woodward says they still have several weeks before they have to make a decision…
Cut 18 (29) “…proper fashion.”
Woodward says they are doing everything in their control to open the season Labor Day weekend and play 12 games. He hopes players can return to campus next month.

Louisiana voters are a step closer to having the opportunity to vote on whether sports betting should be legalized in their parish. A proposal to put that proposition on the November ballot passed out of the Senate on a 29-8 vote. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if voters in a particular parish vote for this proposition, then the legislature will decide how it will be taxed and regulated during the 2021 fiscal session…
cut 17 (14) “…you on it”
The sports betting bill heads to the House for more consideration.

High school coaches were hoping to begin offseason workouts on Monday, but the LHSAA has announced that summer practice can not begin until June 8th. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says after a long meeting with the executive committee they thought it was best to postpone summer rules until June 8th.

A one hour documentary on LSU’s 2019 national championship football season debuts tonight at 6:30 on the SEC Network. It’s called “One for the Ages” and producer Jim Jorden says its a behind the scenes cinematic look at the Tigers historic season. He says it’s a chance for Tiger fans to re-live all of the great moments, including the dozens of touchdown, passes thrown by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow…
cut 19 (14) “…in this show”

Also at 6:30 tonight, the Tiger Athletics Foundation will host a virtual coaches caravan on their Facebook page. LSU fans will be able to hear from athletics director Scott Woodward, head coach Ed Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. Orgeron says his staff is back in the football operations building and wearing masks.

If you ever wanted to see LSU legend Pete Maravich play in a game, tonight is your chance. Fox Sports New Orleans will re-air Pistol Pete’s historic 68-point scoring performance against the New York Knicks in 1977. The game was played in front of a sold-out Louisiana Superdome and the 68 points was a professional high for Maravich. The broadcast starts at seven PM.

ESPN is reporting optimism is growing that the NBA will resume its season and Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to make an announcement about a return to play in two to four weeks. There’s been talk about the league holding its games in Las Vegas and or Orlando. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says professional sports are welcome in the Sunshine state…
cut 30 (15) “…safely”

Optimism is growing the NBA will be back soon. That sense of optimism comes after NBA commissioner Adam Silver held a virtual meeting with owners and executives. Sources say there have also been positive conversations with the players association about a desire to restart the season. The Athletic is reporting Silver told the Board of Governors that he plans to make a decision within the next month.

NCAA President Mark Emmert says it will be up to state officials and university presidents on when college sports can begin. Emmert told ESPN that local and state health officials will make the decision whether football can be played and whether you play football with fans.

Alabama and USC are set to face each other in the college football opener. But the Crimson Tide are reportedly looking to replace the Trojans with T-C-U because the stay at home order in Los Angeles County could be extended for another three months.

Tonight the SEC Network airs a documentary covering LSU’s 2019 national championship season. Entitled “One for the Ages,” the 60-minute program showcases footage captured from August camp through the National Championship victory over Clemson. Documentary producer Jim Jorden…
Cut 17 (16) “…of the season.”
The 60-minute recap of LSU’s season features game-by-game highlights, post-game interviews and will bring fans onto the sidelines and into the locker room for rarely seen video of the Tigers.

Also today, the Tiger Athletic Foundation will host a virtual coaches caravan that will feature athletics director Scott Woodward, head coach Ed Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. It will be streamed on T-A-F’s Facebook page at 6:30.

Also tonight, Fox Sports New Orleans will re-air Pete Maravich’s legendary 68-point performance against the New York Knicks. Maravich was a member of the New Orleans Jazz and the game took place in front of a sold-out Superdome in 1977.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee will meet via a conference call tomorrow to discuss what it means for high school sports that the stay at home order will be lifted on Friday. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says he also plans to talk with state education officials tomorrow. The association does not govern summer activities, but they can give schools a list of dos and don’ts when it comes to offseason training and other issues.

ESPN reports the NBA Players Association has started polling players to find out where they stand on whether the league should return to play this season. The question being asked only requires a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Commissioner Adam Silver says a decision on resuming this season can wait until June and if games are played, they could behold in Orlando or Las Vegas. The Pelicans will reportedly begin individuals workouts on Monday at the training facility in Metairie. Only four players involved at a time.

The University of Louisiana System says they are planning to have students on campus this fall. Nine schools make up the U-L system and President Jim Henderson talked about what it might look like on campuses during the week and Saturday afternoons…
cut 3 (10) “…and responsibly get”
Henderson says there will be temperature checks, increased testing and a heightened focus on sanitation on their campus.

In recruiting news, LSU has landed a commitment from four-star running back Corey Kiner of Cincinnati. He’s the first running back to give his verbal pledge for the class of 2021, which is currently ranked as the 12th best by 24-7 sports.

And Louisiana Tech has received a verbal pledge from Ruston High running back Ke’Travion “Bull” Hargrove. Hargrove also had scholarship offers from Boston College, Michigan State, Houston, and S-M-U.

LSU has received a verbal commitment from a four-star running back out of Ohio. Corey Kiner is considered one of the top running backs in the class of 2021 and becomes the Tigers 10th commitment for next year. He’s entering his senior season at Roger Bacon High in Cincinnati and he’s already the school’s all-time leading rusher and scorer, with 52-hundred yards rushing and 81 touchdowns. He’s the first running back to commit to LSU since Kevin Faulk was hired as running backs coach.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Doctor Anthony Fauci tells Peter King of NBC Sports that he thinks it’s feasible that the N-F-L can play games in empty stadiums this fall. Fauci also says if the virus is low in the general community that it’s also possible that a third or half the stadium could be filled with people, but maintaining six feet apart. He says all of this will happen on the level of infection.

Major League Baseball owners have agreed on a proposal for an 82-game regular season that would start right around the fourth of July. A second spring training would begin in mid-June. But the owners need to get the players on board with this plan. They will present the proposal to players today who are eager to hear about health protections. Plus, teams are proposing a revenue split of 50-50, but the players association president told the Athletic a system that restricts player pay based on revenues is a salary cap and that’s a non-starter for them.

Now that the governor has lifted the stay at home order starting Friday, what does it mean for the L-H-S-A-A? Executive Director Eddie Bonine says he will speak with state education officials tomorrow to find out what schools can and can not do as they look to re-start summer workouts.

LSU fans will want to set their DVR for 6:30 on the SEC Network tomorrow night. That’s when a documentary on the 2019 national champion Tigers will debut. The one-hour program called “One for Ages” promises to show behind-the-scenes footage of LSU’s historic national championship season.

LSU has received a verbal commitment from a four-star running back out of Ohio by the name of Corey Kiner. Kiner is entering his senior season at Roger Bacon High in Cincinnati. He’s already rushed a school-record 52-hundred yards and 81 touchdowns. Former LSU Tiger and current running backs coach Kevin Faulk gets the credit for landing a verbal pledge from the five-foot-ten, 208 pounder.

Major League Baseball owners have agreed on a proposal for an 82-game regular season that would start the regular season around July fourth. 14 teams would make the playoffs, instead of ten and the designated hitter would be expanded to the National League. Games will be played without fans and the goal is for the games to be played at the team’s home ballpark. The trick now is to get the players to agree on a proposal to split revenues 50-50 between the players and the owners. The players will receive the proposal tomorrow.

Now that the governor has lifted the stay at home order starting, the Pelicans will reportedly re-open their practice facility a week from today. No more than four players will be allowed inside the practice facility at one time. Former LSU great Shaquille O’ Neal has said the NBA should just scrap this season.

Former LSU football standout Booger McFarland and play-by-play man Joe Tessitore will reportedly not return to the Monday Night Football booth this season. ESPN has yet to announce their replacements.

LSU fans will want to Set their DVR for 6:30 on the SEC Network Wednesday night. That’s when the documentary “One for the Ages” will debut. The one-hour documentary promises to give behind-the-scenes and a cinematic glimpse of the just concluded Fighting Tigers national championship football season.

NCAA President Mark Emmert says fall sports, including football can not be played this fall if there are no students on campus. Meanwhile Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby disagrees.