With Lousiana remaining in Phase two until at least August 28th, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association has made the decision to delay the start of the prep football season until October 8th. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the goal is to play a six to eight game regular season schedule and hold the select and non-select state championships in the Superdome in December. In order for the season to start, the state needs to move into Phase 3 and still continue to see cases decrease over a two week period. Bonine is hopeful the state is turning the corner in its efforts in slowing the COVID spread and we’ll have football in the fall…
cut 9 (05) “….anything done”

The Pelicans will look to get a win this afternoon as they take on Sacramento in the Walt Disney World bubble. The Grizzlies lost to Utah yesterday, so New Orleans now two games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Saints are giving their coaches, players, and other key personnel the opportunity to stay at the Loews Hotel in downtown New Orleans through the season opener in an effort to prevent a coronavirus outbreak within the team. Coach Sean Payton says unfortunately with this virus, you can easily get it from someone inside your home
Cut 16 (13) “outside contact”

Over in Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns begin preseason camp with heavy hearts as they mourn the death of the assistant coach D-J Looney, who died on Saturday from a heart attack following a team workout at Cajun Field. Looney was just 31-years-old. Coach Billy Napier says being together as a group during this difficult time is a good thing…
cut 30 (10) “….difficult moments

The SEC says it will allow its member schools to start preseason camp on August 17th and teams will get to practice 25 times over a 40-day period. The father for LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase tells the Advocate that his son is locked in on the 2020 football season and does not plan on opting out.

LSU fans are antsy to find out more about the fate of their upcoming All-SEC game season, and whether or not they’ll be able to watch games in Tiger Stadium. Governor John Bel Edwards says it is too soon to speculate as to what in-stadium attendance for LSU football will look like…
Cut 9 (11) “…you that today.”

Northwestern State announced today it’s limiting seating capacity at Turpin Stadium to 50-percent and fans will be required to wear masks until that fan reaches their seat.

The LHSAA Executive Committee meets today to discuss the upcoming fall sports season. The governor has announced the state will remain in Phase 2 through August 28th and Louisiana needs to be in Phase 3 for volleyball competition and beyond Phase 3 to play football. So that means football will not be able to start on time.

The NCAA announced today a decision must be made by August 21st on whether fall championship events will be held. This will impact F-C-S football teams who report for preseason camp this week. The NCAA is also setting up a phone number and email so that college athletes, parents and others can report failures in following COVID-19 protocols.

In the NBA, Portland beat Houston 110-102 last night to move into 9th place in the Western Conference Standings, behind Memphis. The Grizzlies have announced that forward-center Jaren Jackson Senior is done for the season with a knee injury. The Pels face Sacramento tomorrow.

The SEC says it will allow its member schools to start preseason camp on August 17th and teams will get to practice 25 times over a 40-day period. LSU was originally set to start camp on Friday, but since the start of the season has been pushed back to September 26th, there’s no need for camp to start this week.

The Sun Belt announces that starting Labor Day weekend the conference will begin an eight-game league schedule and Sun Belt schools can play as many as four non-conference games. The Sun Belt also plans to hold a conference championship football game on December 5th.

The LHSAA Executive Committee plans to meet today to discuss the upcoming fall sports season. Yesterday, the governor announced that the state will remain in Phase 2 through August 28th. Louisiana needs to be in Phase 3 for volleyball competition and beyond Phase 3 to play football games.

LSU linebacker Travez Moore says he had major symptoms from the coronavirus and lost 27 pounds this summer and now weighs 229 pounds. Moore described his experience on Twitter. The former Bastrop star says he lost his appetite and had difficulty breathing. He also lost his sense of smell and taste.

Legendary coach D-D Breaux is retiring after 43 years as the leader of LSU women’s gymnastics program. Co-head coach Jay Clark will take over. The 67-year-old Breaux admits the past year has been difficult with the death of her mother and then the coronavirus pandemic
Cut 30 (10) “…we’re in”
Breaux owns more than 800 wins and the program has finished as a national runner-up three times since 2019.

In the NBA, Portland beat Houston 110-102 to move into 9th place in the Western Conference Standings. The Pels face Sacramento tomorrow.

Zion Williamson got to play in the closing minutes of yesterday’s 109-to-99 win over Memphis and finished with 23 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes. Williamson says he’s glad Coach Alvin Gentry and the team trusted him to finish the game out…
cut 19 (19) “…I want to win”
The Pelicans are now 2.5 games behind Memphis for the eighth seed in the West. New Orleans faces Sacramento on Thursday.

Preseason practice for LSU football was set to begin on Friday, but since the start of the regular season has been pushed back, the SEC announced today that the first allowable practice is now August 17th.

The Sun Belt Conference announced today its football season will begin over the Labor Day Weekend. The league says they will have an eight-game conference schedule and each school can play up to four non-conference games, beginning with week zero. The Sun Belt also plans on holding a championship game on December 5th.

LSU’s legendary gymnastics coach DD Breaux announced her retirement today after leading the program for 43 years. But the 67-year-old is not quitting the school as she’s been named an LSU ambassador, so she plans to be involved in a lot of different community service projects…
Cut 8 (10) “do that”
Breaux has built the LSU gymnastics program into a national power as they are three-time defending SEC champions and the Tigers have also finished as national runner-ups three times since 2016. Co-head coach Jay Clark will now run the program.

The Pelicans needed a win last night to keep their playoff hopes alive and they got it as they defeated Memphis 109-99. Five players scored in double figures led by Brandon Ingram who had 24 points and Zion Williamson scored 23 points in 25 minutes. For the first time in the bubble, Zion played in the final minutes and made some big baskets. Coach Alvin Gentry on giving Williamson more playing time…
cut 20 (19) “….all summer”
Williamson was nine of 21 from the field. The win moves New Orleans 2.5 games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West. The Pels next game is Thursday at 12:30 against Sacramento.

The Sun Belt Conference announced today its football season will begin over the Labor Day Weekend. The league says they will have an eight-game conference schedule and each school can play up to four non-conference games, beginning with week zero. The Sun Belt also plans on holding a championship game on December 5th.

The longest tenured coach of any sport in Southeastern Conference history, LSU’s D-D Breaux announced her retirement today after leading the Tigers gymnastics program for 43 years. Breaux is leaving on top as the Tigers are three-time defending SEC champions and fans have been packing the PMAC to watch their meets. The Donaldsonville native says after building the gymnastics program into a national powerhouse, she can now spend more time with her four grandchildren…
Cut 7 (10) “…right time’” (2x)
Jay Clark, who was the co-head coach, will take over Breaux.

The Pelicans needed a win last night to keep their playoff hopes alive and they got it as they defeated Memphis 109-99. Five players scored in double figures led by Brandon Ingram who had 24 points and Zion Williamson scored 23 points in 25 minutes. For the first time in the bubble, Zion played in the final minutes and made some big baskets. Coach Alvin Gentry on giving Williamson more playing time…
cut 20 (19) “….all summer”
Williamson was nine of 21 from the field. The win moves New Orleans 2.5 games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West. The Pels next game is Thursday at 12:30 against Sacramento.

Three starters from last season’s LSU basketball team have withdrawn their names from the NBA underclassmen draft list. Forwards Trendon Watford and Darius Days and guard Javonte Smart are coming back for another season, giving Coach Will Wade a loaded roster. These three returning starters will join a recruiting class that’s rated as the sixth-best in the nation.

With U-L-M football looking for a couple of opponents to make for the loss of Georgia and Arkansas, could Louisiana Tech be a possibility? Warhawks athletics director Scott McDonald says he’s open to the discussion…
cut 16 (15) “….other conferences”
The Big 12 has approved a scheduling model that would calls for each school to play nine conference games and one non-conference game. No word on what this means for Tech’s game at Baylor on September 26th.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees says he will still stand for the National Anthem prior to football games this season, but he will respect the decision of his teammates who kneel after saying in June he would never approve of anyone who takes a knee during the anthem
Cut 8 (12) “continue to undue”
Brees faced a mountain of criticism for his kneeling during the anthem comments in June. He quickly apologized and the 41-year-old says he now understands the anthem protests were not about disrespecting the flag.

The U-L Lafayette football program is broken hearted over the death of assistant offensive line coach D-J Looney. The former Mississippi State football player died from a heart attack following a team workout on Saturday at Cajun Field. Looney was just 31-years-old.

If the Pelicans want to reach the Western Conference playoffs, they need to beat Memphis tonight. New Orleans is 0-2 since the NBA restarted and they’ve committed a total of 38 turnovers in the two games. Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson blames over passing…
cut 30 (18) “…our losses”
Tip off is at 5:30.

The NCAA Board of Governors is expected to discuss tomorrow whether they should cancel fall championships because of COVID-19. The Nicholls Colonels have been in the FCS playoffs the last three years and Athletic Director Johnathan Terrell says the plan is to still have a fall season
cut 18 (15) “….for us”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is set to begin his 15th season with the Black and Gold. In preparation for what will be a unique season, the 41-year-old has worked on not licking his fingers as he normally does throughout a game…
cut 7 (12) “…of the habit”
The Saints begin conditioning work today. So far zero players have tested positive for COVID-19.

LSU football season ticket holders will receive an online form from the university this week asking them if they want to attend games in Tiger Stadium this season. LSU ticket manager Brian Broussard says if fans choose to opt-out, they have three options as to what can happen with the money they already paid…
cut 30 (12) “….a full refund”

Nicholls will not have the opportunity to play LSU in Tiger Stadium in October, because the SEC’s new conference only schedule. Colonels athletic director Jonathan Terrell says he’s disappointed for their student-athletes…
cut 17 (16) “…national champions”

Meanwhile, ULM will need to find two new opponents to replace Arkansas and Georgia since the SEC will play a conference only schedule this year. Warhawks athletics director Scott McDonald says they still plan to play 12 games…
cut 15 (10) “…those slots”

After getting blown out by the Clippers on Saturday, the Pelicans will try again tonight to get a win and it’s a must-win contest against the Grizzlies, the team they are chasing for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In two games since the NBA re-started, Zion Williamson has played 34 minutes and admits it’s hard to get in a groove when only playing 17 minutes a game…
cut 19 (15) “…it’s for me”
The Pelicans say they don’t want to play Williamson a ton of minutes after missing 13 days of practice time because he had to attend to a family matter outside of the bubble.

The Saints have released nine players as they need to get their roster size down to 80 by August 16th. Wide receiver Tommylee Lewis was one of the cuts. The team also released former LSU Tiger and offensive guard Adrian Magee.

U-L Lafayette is mourning the death of offensive line assistant coach D-J Looney who died Saturday morning following a heart attack during a team workout at Cajun Field. He was just 31-years-old. Head Coach Billy Napier says they lost a tremendous coach, leader, and person, who sincerely cared for others.

The SEC’s decision to play only conference games this season leaves ULM with two holes on their football schedule and the school will miss out on a reported three-point-two million dollars. That’s how much the school would have received for playing Arkansas and Georgia. ULM athletic director Scott McDonald still wants to talk with those schools
Cut 14 (11) “…their obligations.”
McDonald does not believe ULM will lose out on that money.

Former Warhawk and Philadelphia Eagles Coach Doug Pederson has tested positive for COVID-19.

LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron is excited about the SEC moving from a normal 12-game regular-season schedule to a ten-game format with conference-only opponents. Orgeron says he’s still waiting on an exact schedule…
Cut 9 (11) “…gonna be ready.”
The season will kick off September 26th instead of September 5th and Orgeron anticipates the two additional conference opponents will come from the SEC East. Media reports say the Tigers will play Kentucky and Tennessee, along with South Carolina, Florida, and their SEC West rivals.

LSU will no longer play Nicholls as the Colonels were looking forward to their first visit to Tiger Stadium. ULM will lose two nonconference and big paychecks since they will not play Georgia or Arkansas.

The Pelicans had a 16 point lead last night but couldn’t hold on and lost to the Utah Jazz 106 to 104. Brandon Ingram’s three-pointer to win the game in the final seconds rimmed out. Coach Alvin Gentry on B-I’s missed shot just before the buzzer…
cut 19 (19) “…move on”
The Pels will play the Clippers tomorrow. Zion Williamson only played 15 minutes last night and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffen says that’s because he just missed 13 days to attend to a family emergency…
cut 30 (13) “…find that”