Media that cover the Southeastern Conference pick LSU to finish second in the Western Division behind Alabama. LSU was picked to finish fifth last year, but the Tigers outperformed the low expectations. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says LSU is once again thought of as the Crimson Tide’s biggest challenger in the West…
cut 12 (08) “…last year”
The Crimson Tide received 253 first-place votes, while LSU garnered 5. The Tigers are set to report on August 1st and the first practice is August 2nd.

A New Orleans judge is allowing a lawsuit over the controversial no-call in the NFC title game to move forward. And State Civil District Court Judge Nicole Sheppard also ruled that the plaintiff Tony LeMon can request documents and even question NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a deposition. The NFL is expected to appeal the ruling.

Matt Deggs has the task of trying to follow in the late Tony Robichaux’s footsteps as he takes over as the new head baseball coach of the Cajuns. Deggs spent three years as an assistant to former head coach Tony Robichaux, who died earlier this month. Deggs left Lafayette to become the head coach at Sam Houston State in 2014. Deggs says he and his family prayed on whether it was the right decision to return to Lafayette
Cut 30 (11) “…Crowley, Louisiana.”
Deggs guided Sam Houston State to its first appearance in a Super Regional Series and back-to-back Southland conference championships.

The Saints hold their first training camp practice a week from today. The team says the practices scheduled for July 27th, 28th, August 3rd and August 10th are sold out.

Former LSU star Naz Reid has signed a four-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

A Saints fans lawsuit over the controversial no-call in the NFC Championship game is still alive after an Orleans Parish Civil District Judge denied a motion to have the suit dismissed. Judge Nicole Sheppard also ruled that plaintiff, Tony LeMon, can compel discovery, which could result in NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to answer questions under oath during a deposition. The NFL did not respond to requests for comment.

Nicholls has been picked to repeat as Southland Champions as the Colonels got the most first-place votes possible. Colonels Coach Tim Rebowe says it’s important his team does not focus on the early season projections…
cut 30 (13) “…numbers”
The Colonels were 9-4 last season but must replace four of the five starters on last year’s offensive line.

Matt Deggs is the new head baseball coach of the Cajuns. Deggs spent three years as an assistant to former head coach Tony Robichaux, who died earlier this month. With Coach Robe’s family in attendance at the introductory press conference, Deggs says it’s an honor to be asked to follow in his footsteps
Cut 29 (11) “around him.”
Deggs was an assistant coach at U-L Lafayette from 2012-to-2014. He left Lafayette to become the head coach at Sam Houston State in 2014. Since that time he’s led the Bearcats to their first Super Regional Series appearance and back-to-back Southland titles.

Matt Deggs was introduced today as the new head baseball coach of the Ragin Cajuns. Deggs was the head coach at Sam Houston State and led the Bearkats to their first-ever Super Regional Series appearance and back-to-back Southland titles. Before his time in Huntsville, Texas. Deggs was an assistant coach at U-L Lafayette from 2012-to-2014 under the late Cajuns head coach Tony Robichaux. Deggs says Coach Robe would want him to take this challenge…
cut 10 (10) “…Ragin Cajun baseball”

In college football, Sun Belt coaches pick the Ragin Cajuns to repeat as West Champions ahead of Arkansas State. ULM is picked to finish in third place. Appalachian State is the preseason favorite in the East.

Southland Coaches and S-I-Ds pick Nicholls to repeat as league champs. McNeese is picked to finish sixth, S-L-U eighth and Northwestern 10th place.

LSU receiver Justin Jefferson is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list after leading the Tigers with 54 catches last season. Louisiana Tech’s Adrian Hardy is also on the Biletnikoff Watch List. The award goes to the best receiver in college football. Hardy caught 75 passes for 1,145 yards and six touchdowns.

In NBA news…former LSU star Naz Reid has signed a four-year contract with Minnesota. Reid went undrafted and was expected to sign a two-way deal with the Timberwolves, but he performed so well in the Summer League that Reid earned himself a full-time spot on the roster.

Former Pelican Cheick Diallo has reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Suns. Diallo averaged six points and five rebounds in 64 games in New Orleans last season.

And there’s a report that former Hornet, Chris Paul, will start the season in Oklahoma City as there doesn’t seem to be much interest in the 34-year-old who has three years left on his contract that pays him 125-million dollars.

The UL-Lafayette Baseball program introduced former assistant Matt Deggs as its new head coach today. Deggs replaces the late Tony Robichaux, who died from a heart attack earlier this month. Deggs spent three seasons as an assistant to Robichaux from 2012 to 2014. Sam Houston State hired Deggs as its head coach in 2014 and he led the Bearkats to a Super Regional Series appearance and back-to-back Southland Conference championships.

Southland Conference head coaches and sports information directors have picked Nicholls to repeat as league champions. The Colonels have eleven players on the preseason all-conference teams. McNeese is picked to finish sixth, Southeastern Louisiana eighth and Northwestern in 10th place.

Sun Belt football coaches pick the Ragin Cajuns to repeat as West Champions ahead of Arkansas State. ULM is picked to finish in third place. Appalachian State is picked to finish first in the East and the Mountaineers are the preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt.

Alabama Coach Nick Saban says he’s 100-percent after undergoing hip replacement surgery last April. His bigger concern is getting the Crimson Tide back in the national championship game after losing to Clemson in the title game last year. When Bama shutout LSU in Tiger Stadium last November it looked like they were going to roll to another national title, but Clemson won in a rout last January. Saban on what happened
cut 30 (33) “…organization”
The national championship this season is in New Orleans.

The Saints rookies report for training camp today. Highlighting the group is center Erik McCoy. The second-round pick will battle with Nick Easton and Cameron Tom for a chance to snap the ball to Drew Brees.

Former LSU standout and Atlanta linebacker Deion Jones has agreed to a four-year, 57-million dollar contract extension. Jones made the pro bowl in 2017 but missed most of last season with a broken foot.

According to 24-7 sports, Louisiana Tech has the top recruiting class for 2020 as the Bulldogs have 17 commitments, 15 of them are three-star prospects.

SEC Media Days wrap up today in Hoover, Alabama with Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Auburn taking the stage.

Southland Conference Media Day is today. Nicholls is looking to repeat at champs, while Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State are trying to improve under second-year head coaches. Sterlin Gilbert is the new head coach at McNeese, replacing Lance Guidry.

UL-Lafayette has called a press conference for 11 AM to introduce Matt Deggs as its new baseball coach. Deggs is a former assistant for the Cajuns and spent the past five seasons as the head coach of Sam Houston State. The Bearkats have won the Southland Conference the last two seasons.

LSU left fielder Daniel Cabrera will wear number eight for the 2020 season. The number eight jersey is given to the upperclassman who exemplifies the spirit of LSU baseball through leadership and dedication to the program. Cabrera hit .284 with 12 home runs last season.

Former Alabama and Northwestern State head coach Mitch Gaspard has been hired as Louisiana Tech’s new hitting coach. He’ll replace Travis Creel, who went back to his alma mater Southern Miss. Gaspard was the head coach at Northwestern for six seasons, and Alabama for seven years. He’s been a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia the last two seasons.

Southern has been picked to win the SWAC’s Western Division, while Grambling State is predicted to finish in third place. Southern Coach Dawson Odums returns 17 starters…
cut 30 (10) “…2019″

LSU baseball announced today that left fielder Daniel Cabrera will wear number eight for the 2020 season. The number eight jersey is given each season to the upperclassman who exemplifies the spirit of LSU baseball through leaders and dedication to the program. Antoine Duplantis has worn the number eight jersy the last two seasons.

Former Alabama and Northwestern State head coach Mitch Gaspard has been hired as Louisiana Tech’s new hitting coach. He’ll replace Travis Creel, who went back to his alma mater Southern Miss. Gaspard was the head coach at Northwestern for six seasons, and Alabama for seven years. He’s been a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia the last two seasons.

The four players the Pelicans acquired in separate trades with the Lakers and Jazz all seem committed in making the New Orleans NBA franchise a winner. Lonzo Ball, Derrick Favors, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram were introduced to the media on Tuesday.

The Pelicans acquired Favors in a trade with Utah. In nine seasons with the Jazz, Favors averaged 12 points and seven rebounds a game. He’s also known as a great team leader and guy who played a big role in making Utah a factor again in the Western Conference. Favors on his role in New Orleans
cut 19 (24) “down here”
Favors is 28-years-old and he’s entering the final year of his contract.

Southern has been picked to win the SWAC’s Western Division, while Grambling State is predicted to finish in third place. Southern Coach Dawson Odums returns 17 starters…
cut 30 (10) “…2019”
Southern has to replace its leading receiver from last season. Kendall Catalon transferred to Arkansas.

At SEC Media Days, here’s Texas A-and-M Coach Jimbo Fisher talking about his starting quarterback Kellen Mond…
cut 29 (14) “… every inch of it”
Mond told reporters at SEC Media Days that he believes he’s the best quarterback in the league. A tough schedule awaits the Aggies, who have to play Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and LSU.
New Pelicans players Lonzo Ball, Derric Favors, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram were introduced to the media on Tuesday. Ball says he’s ready for a fresh start in New Orleans after two so-so seasons in Los Angeles. Ball has yet to show the ability to score at a high rate in the NBA, but Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin says Ball is special on the defensive end of the court
cut 17 (19) “to do”
The new players all express their commitment to bringing a winner to New Orleans.

Visitation is Friday and the funeral is Saturday for longtime Ruston sports writer Buddy Davis. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 PM at Owns Memorial Funeral Home in Ruston and the funeral is Saturday at 10 AM at Presbyterian Church in Ruston.

The Pelicans introduced their new acquisitions Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Derrick Favors to the media and all four of them expressed how much they are looking forward to playing in New Orleans. Hart played two seasons in L-A and is excited to see this young team grow in the Big Easy…
cut 18 (23) “…part of it”
Hart says after he was traded to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis deal, he called Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin and told Griff he did not want to be traded from the Pelicans.

In college football, Southern is picked to win the SWAC Western Division, while Grambling is picked to finish third.

SEC Media Days in Hoover are halfway through. Yesterday, Texas A-and-M Coach Jimbo Fisher and three of his players made the rounds with reporters. Aggies Quarterback Kellen Mond and had a lot to say. One, he believes he’s the best quarterback in the SEC and had this to say about their seven overtime victory over the Tigers last November…
cut 20 (25) “…seven overtimes”
If you remember Mond threw an interception late in the fourth quarter, but the play was overturned after review.

Louisiana Tech is picked to finish third in the Conference USA West Division according to a poll of media members.

A lot of talk surrounding LSU this offseason has been centered on the offense and returning starter Joe Burrow at quarterback and new passing game coordinator Joe Brady. But at S-E-C Media Days, Coach Ed Orgeron says the Tigers have the best group of defensive backs he’s ever coached in 35 years. And the old D-Line coach plans to work more with the defensive line this season
cut 17 (24) “those guys”
LSU sophomore cornerback Kelvin Joseph reportedly reentered the NCAA transfer portal. Orgeron said on Monday he expects freshman cornerback Derek Stingley to start this season.

Louisiana Tech is picked to finish third in the Conference USA West Division according to a poll of media members. North Texas is the preseason favorite to win the West, with Southern Miss coming in second place. Marshall is the preseason favorite to win the east.

SWAC Media Days are today in Birmingham. Representing Southern is Coach Dawson Odums and offensive lineman Jodeci Harris and linebacker Calvin Lunkins. Grambling Coach Broderick Fobbs is back for his sixth season. He’s joined by wide receiver Quintin Guice and linebacker De’Andre Hogues. Fobbs expects Hogues game to step up now that two-time SWAC Defensive M-V-P De’Arius Christmas has moved on…
cut 30 (18) “…further ahead”
Grambling’s season opener is August 31st at ULM.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron told hundreds of reporters at SEC Media Days that the Tigers will be running a spread offense and it’s not a threat, as he’s seen the playbook. Orgeron says the playbook also calls for quarterback Joe Burrow to run the football…
Cut 16 (25) “be physical”
Burrow was a big hit at SEC Media Days. He joked with reporters that the atmosphere at Tiger Stadium could change now that SEC schools are allowed to sell alcohol in general seating areas…
cut 29 (11) “…beings”

Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson has been named to the 2019 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, which goes to the College Defensive Player of the Year. Robertson is entering his junior season. The Thibodaux native had 61 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions and 12 pass break-ups in 2018.

Today is SWAC Media Day. Grambling’s Broderick Fobbs along with wide receiver Quintin Guice and linebacker De’Andre Hodges will speak with reporters today. Southern’s Dawson Odum has with him, offensive lineman Jodeci Harris and linebacker Calvin Lunkins.

Sun Belt Media Day is next week in New Orleans. Representing the Ragins Cajuns are coach Billy Napier, along with wide receiver Jarrod Jackson and defensive back Deuce Wallace. ULM will have Coach Matt Viator, quarterback Caleb Evans and defensive lineman Donald Louis.

The Pelicans have announced the signing of J-J Redick.