LSU Football players are reporting and the Tigers are ranked sixth in the coaches preseason poll which was released today. Fans are buzzing about the addition of former Saints assistant Joe Brady, who’s been tasked with improving an offense that’s ranked as one of the worst in the SEC. Tiger Rag assistant editor Tyler Nunez.
cut 30 (09) “…offense.”
Brady is LSU’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. Nunez says there are other areas of the team to keep an eye on…
cut 29 (10) “..replace that”
Michael Divinity is one linebacker that’s expected to have a huge impact. One player who won’t be at camp, four-star linebacker Donte Starks, because of academic issues.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas was back on the practice field after signing his 5-year, 100-million dollar contract which makes him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. But how long will that contract remain a record. Atlanta’s Julio Jones and Dallas’ Amari Cooper’s contract are near their end and could eclipse what Thomas is making.

Louisiana High School Athletic Association Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the new Louisiana Select Association has no standing within the LHSAA. Bonine says it’s not on par as other sub-groups like the Louisiana High School Coaches Association. In a statement, Bonine also expressed disappointment with the formation of the L-S-A when schools are being surveyed on their thoughts regarding unification. L-S-A leaders say they needed to organize in order secure venues for their championship games.

Wednesday was the Major League Baseball trading deadline, former LSU Tiger Alex Lange was traded by the Cubs to the Detroit Tigers organization.

After a brief training camp holdout, Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas is expected to be back on the practice field this morning at the team’s training facility in Metairie. Thomas and the Saints agreed to a five-year, 100-million dollar contract, 61-million in guaranteed money. The 26-year-old is the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.

LSU reports for fall camp today and one of the position battles to watch is at tight end. The Tigers need to replace starter Foster Moreau, who is now with the Oakland Raiders. Tiger Rag Assistant Editor Tyler Nunez says a few players will have a chance to fill that void…
cut 12 (11) “…with them”
One player who won’t be at camp, four-star linebacker Donte Starks, because of academic issues. And Orgeron announced two-sport star Maurice Hampton will work out at safety during preseason camp.

Louisiana Tech and ULM also report for preseason camp today. The Warhawks return 14 starters from a team that went 6-and-6 last season. ULM is hoping redshirt freshman running back Isaiah Phillips can be an explosive option out of the backfield for them.

Nicholls senior quarterback Chase Fourcade is one of 25 players on the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award Watch list. The 2018 Southland Player of the Year is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

Louisiana High School Athletic Association Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the new Louisiana Select Association has no standing within the LHSAA. Bonine says it’s not on par as other sub-groups like the Louisiana High School Coaches Association. In a statement, Bonine also expressed disappointment with the formation of the L-S-A when schools are being surveyed on their thoughts regarding unification. L-S-A leaders say they needed to organize in order secure venues for their championship games.

The Saints and Michael Thomas have reportedly agreed to a new contract that makes him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history….
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The LSU football team reports for preseason camp tomorrow with expectations as high as they’ve been in several years. Coach Ed Orgeron has told his team not to have a big head…
Cut 12 (11) “…that’s it.”

Now that the LSU football program has a renovated 28-million dollar football operations building, basketball coach Will Wade is looking for donors to step up again, to help pay for a 15-million dollar renovation to the school’s basketball practice facility. Wade says the basketball team needs its own weight room and an improved locker room…
cut 18 (23) “…pulling away”
Wade says so far they’ve been able to raise a quarter of what is needed.

In a statement released to the media, LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says it’s unfortunate that the Lousiaina Select Association organiziation has formed as his office has been directed by the LHSAA executive committee to try and return the association to a resemblance of itself prior to the split of public and private schools. The L-S-A was organized to help select schools secure sites for championship events.

The Saints and Michael Thomas agree on a massive contract that will pay him five-years, 100-million dollars, which would make him the highest-paid receiver in NFL. Thomas led the NFL with 125 catches this past season and no other player in NFL has caught more passes in his first three seasons. The Voice of the Saints, Zach Streif, says Thomas is worth the investment.
Cut 4 (08) “…in the the city” .”
Thomas has been a training camp holdout, but is expected to rejoin teammates at practice tomorrow.

Speaking of practice, LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade is hoping private donors will step up and help build a new practice facility for his program. Wade says he’s looking for the same type of efficiency for his basketball players that the football team is getting with its new facility…
cut 17 (09 “…the year”
Wade says the upgrade to the basketball facility will be 15-million dollars.

LSU Coach Paul Mainieri says they are giving pitching coach Alan Dunn some additional technological support. Injuries to the pitching staff prevented the 2019 team from living up to its preseason number one ranking. Mainieri says they are in the process of converting one of their batting cages into a pitching lab that will help with development and look for red flags when it comes to possible injuries
cut 20 (23) “kind of things”
Mainieri says Jaden Hill, who missed of the season due to elbow soreness, will start throwing again on August 11th.

Now that LSU football has its newly renovated operations building, LSU basketball coach Will Wade says the Tigers basketball practice facility needs a major upgrade. Wade says he’s met with Tiger Athletic Foundation officials and they’ve raised about 25-percent of what they need
Cut 16 (13) “…with our time”
LSU’s basketball practice facility opened in 2010. But Wade says it doesn’t have a weight room or office space for coaches. He would also like to improve the players’ locker room. Wade says the upgrade will cost 15-million dollars.

Former LSU star Travin Dural is back with the Saints. The Black and Gold released Dural in June after not playing in 2018 due to an injury. Coach Sean Payton says after they released him, they knew there was a chance Dural would be back.

During his annual summer press conference, LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri explained why he decided to make a change with his hitting coach. Sean Ochinko was replaced in favor of Eddie Smith, who helped Tulane break several offensive American Athletic Conference records last season. Mainieri says Smith has an impressive gameplan on how to develop hitters…
cut 19 (22) “great addition”
The Tigers will begin fall ball on September 29th and open the regular season at home in February against Indiana. The Hoosiers played in a regional last season. LSU will also host the national champs during SEC play. Vanderbilt will travel to the Box, the dates of that weekend series has not been set.

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward wants to change the transfer policy which has provided the academic side with millions of dollars generated by athletics. From 2012-to-2017, LSU athletics sent nearly 50-million dollars to the university. Woodward says it’s dangerous for a school to rely on recurring money from athletics
cut 30 (07) “…doing
That’s Woodward’s thoughts in an exclusive interview with Tiger Rag Magazine.

At Saints training camp, former Breaux Bridge and LSU wide receiver Travin Dural was on the practice field for a tryout. The Black and Gold released Dural a month ago. Free-agent running back Robert Kelley is also reportedly trying out for the Black and gold. He’s a New Orleans native who went to O-Perry Walker and Tulane University. Kelley has been spent time on the Redskins roster for three seasons.

Private high schools also known as “select” schools form a new organization within the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to help coordinate their efforts to host their own championship events in football, basketball, baseball and softball. Catholic High of Baton Rouge athletics director JP Kelly is the Interim CEO of the Louisiana Select Association…
Cut 10 (10) “…sports.”
Last January, LHSAA member principals voted to allow select schools to host their own championship events at venues separate from the public schools.

LSU football has received its first commitment for the 2021 class, four-star Texas defensive end Landyn Watson. He’s six-foot-three, 240-pounds and he’s rated as the 11th best weak-side defensive end in the country.

LSU basketball walk-on Will Reese has left the program so he can focus on his education. Reese was a two-sport star at Anacoco and led the school to back-to-back state titles in basketball in 2015 and 2016. Former Southeastern Guard Parker Edwards is expected to take Reese’s spot on the roster.

For years the LSU athletic department has used a portion of its revenues to help fund the academic side of the university. But in an exclusive interview with Tiger Rag Magazine, athletics director Scott Woodward says the transfer policy is being re-evaluated because they can not continue to give seven-million dollars plus to the university every year…
Cut 12 (11) “…athletic department”
The yearly donations began in 2012 at a time when higher education was on the receiving end of state budget cuts.

The Saints have cut wide receiver Cam Meredith. The Black and Gold signed Meredith during the 2018 offseason after he missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL. But his knee has not responded to the major surgery, plus some younger receivers have looked impressive at camp.

Leaders for select schools within the Louisiana High School Athletics Association have formed their own association called the Louisiana Select Association and the group will organize championship events in football, basketball, baseball and softball. The LHSAA member principals voted in January to separate public and private school championship events and Catholic High of Baton Rouge athletic director J-P Kelly says the Louisiana Select Association is working to secure sites for championship games, starting with football…
cut 12 (10) “…on board”
Kelly says the Mercedes Benz Superdome is still a possible site for select schools to play their championship football games. Or they could be played on college campuses at Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana or U-L Lafayette.

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward wants to change the transfer policy which has provided the academic side with millions of dollars generated by athletics. From 2012-to-2017, LSU athletics sent nearly 50-million dollars to the university. Woodward says it’s dangerous for a university to rely on recurring money from athletics
cut 13 (07) “…doing”
That’s Woodward’s thoughts in an exclusive interview with Tiger Rag Radio.

Leaders of select schools gathered in Lafayette today to create a sub organization called the Louisiana Select Association. The L-S-A says this is not an attempt to break away from the LHSAA. One major duty for the Louisiana Select Association is to determine where championship events in football, basketball, baseball and softball should be played. Venues in New and Lafayette are potential sites.

The Saints released wide receiver Cam Meredith today. The Black and Gold signed Meredith during the 2018 offseason after he missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL. He caught 66 passes in Chicago in 2016, but his knee has not responded to major surgery, plus some younger receivers have looked impressive at camp, including rookie undrafted free agent Emmanuel Butler from Northern Arizona.

Coach Sean Payton says defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins will likely won’t be back for training camp as he continues to rehab from a torn Achilles. Defensive end Cam Jordan says they have enough talent to fill in until Rankins is ready…
Cut 18 (17) “of the line”

The Saints have released wide receiver Cam Meredith after one injury-plagued season. New Orleans signed Meredith during the 2018 offseason after he missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL. Meredith only played in six games last year as his knee never quite bounced back from surgery.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is going through his 19th training camp and Who Dats hope it’s not his last in Black and Gold. Brees showed signs at the end of last season and into the playoffs that maybe Father Time is finally catching up to him. But the future Hall of Famer says he’s trying to hold Father Time back…
Cut 16 (18) “…beating it”
The 40-year-old Brees is the fourth oldest player in the NFL.

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward tells Tiger Rag Magazine that the athletics department does not plan on sending dollars to the university as has been a standard procedure for a number of years. From 2012-to-2017, LSU athletics cut checks for nearly 50-million dollars to the university. Woodward says it’s dangerous when universities rely on recurring money, especially from an auxiliary like the athletic department.

Select schools within the Louisiana High School Athletic Associated has created a sub-organization called the Louisiana Select Association. Leaders of the select organization say this should not be seen as an attempt to break away from the LHSAA. One major duty for the Louisiana Select Association is to determine where championship events in football, basketball, baseball and softball should be played. U-L Lafayette has expressed interest in hosting those games.

40-year-old Saints quarterback Drew Brees goes into this training camp as the fourth oldest player in the NFL. Saints defensive end Cam Jordan is not worried about number nine…
cut 17 (12) “….to do it”
Brees’ favorite target remains a hold out as Michael Thomas seeks a new contract. Thomas’ absence has given other receivers an opportunity to step up. Undrafted rookie receiver Emmanuel Butler has made several impressive catches during the first three days of training camp. Saints Coach Sean Payton calls Butler an intriguing prospect and Butler appreciates the praise…
cut 30 (13) “…on the 53”

24-7 sports ranks LSU’s recruiting class as the third-best in the nation, behind Clemson and Alabama. The Tigers have 22nd commitments, the latest one came late Friday when University High star defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy announced his intentions to sign with the Tigers. He’s listed as the state’s top recruit by 24-7 sports and helped the Cubs win back-to-back Division Two state titles.

LHSAA’s select schools will meet today in Lafayette as the group needs to discuss where it will hold its championship events in football, basketball, baseball and softball. They’ll also discuss forming their own association within the LHSAA. Teurlings Catholic Principal Mike Boyer says the meeting is not an attempt to leave the LHSAA, rather a structured effort to secure a common voice on behalf of select schools.

Two former LSU pitchers faced off in the Major Leagues yesterday and it was Aaron Nola who defeated Kevin Gausman as the Phillies beat the Braves nine to four to avoid a three-game sweep.