A federal judge ruled today LSU basketball coach Will Wade will not have to testify in the college basketball corruption trial that is set to begin on Monday. Wade and Arizona coach Sean Miller were previously subpoenaed, but Judge Edgardo Ramos said their testimonies would be irrelevant to the bribery charges college basketball middleman Christian Dawkins and fellow basketball consultant Merl Code are facing.

In football recruiting news…LSU lost the verbal pledge of four-star 2020 commitment Jaden Navarrette. The nation’s number 14 athlete announced today he plans to sign with Oregon instead. The outside linebacker from California committed to the Tigers earlier this month.

The LSU gymnastics squad will compete for a national championship tomorrow. The Tigers were one of two teams to advance to the four-team final after a slow start today in the semifinals. They ended up scoring higher than Utah and Michigan to advance to tomorrow night’s national championship meet.

The LSU baseball team will look to snap a four game losing streak tonight when they face Florida at 7 PM at Alex Box Stadium. The Gators played Gorilla ball last night as they hit four home runs in a 16-9 victory. Cole Henry will be on the hill for the Tigers tonight and he’ll face sophomore right-hander Jack Leftwich, who has four wins on the season.

The Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech are also trying to even up their series as well after blowing late leads last night. Tech is hosting Marshall for the weekend, while UL-Lafayette is at Texas Arlington.

ULM is hosting Little Rock. The Warhawks and Trojans will play a single game tonight at 6 PM and then a doubleheader tomorrow starting at noon.

Southeastern Louisiana is hosting Nicholls for a doubleheader today, while McNeese faces Northwestern State tonight and then a doubleheader tomorrow in Natchitoches.

Southern is riding a five-game winning streak and they’ll take on Texas Southern. Grambling will begin its series at Arkansas Pine Bluff tomorrow. And Tulane is at Memphis.

The LSU baseball team’s losing streak has reached four games after a 16-9 loss to Florida last night. Sophomore Ma’Khail Hilliard started for the injured Zack Hess and gave up six runs in the second inning. On the night, the Gators homerd four times. The Tigers will try again tonight, first pitch is at 7 PM. Freshman Cole Henry starts on the hill for the Tigers.

Louisiana Tech led 3-1 heading into the eighth inning last night, but lost to the Thundering Herd seven to three at J-C Love Field in Ruston. The bullpen meltdown spoiled a great start from senior right-hander Matt Miller, who struck out a career-high 10 over seven innings. Game two is at 4 PM.

Gunner Leger allowed five runs over the last two innings and the Cajuns lost to Texas-Arlington nine to eight. It’s the third time, UL Lafayette has lost a game while leading after eight innings.

Southeastern and Nicholls will play a doubleheader starting at two. Northwestern and McNeese begin their series in Natchitoches at 6:30.

With the hiring of Scott Woodward as LSU’s new athletics director, some Tiger fans are wondering what this might mean for football coach Ed Orgeron. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says the seat is far from getting hot for Coach O
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Moran says Woodward’s first order of duty is to figure out what’s going on with the men’s basketball program.

And there’s a new development involving Wade. A federal judge has ruled that Wade does not have to testify in a federal trial on college basketball corruption that begins next week. Defense attorneys in that case sought to have Wade and Arizona Coach Sean Miller take the stand, but prosecutors filed a motion that said the coaches are not the ones on trial in the case.

Ugly game for the 14th ranked LSU baseball team last night as they were soundly defeated 16-9 in game one of their three-game set against Florida. Ma’Khail Hilliard got the start for the injured Zack Hess and gave up six runs in two innings. The Gators hit four home runs on the night as LSU’s losing streak has reached four games. Game two of the series is tonight at 7 PM.

Louisaina Tech also lost last night as Marshall scored six runs in the last two innings to beat the Bulldogs seven to three. Tech got a great start from Matt Miller as he allowed one run in seven innings, but the bullpen couldn’t hold a two-run lead. Tyler Follis, Braxton Smith and Kyle Griffen were all touched up for runs.

The Ragin Cajuns Gunner Leger also had a tough night as he couldn’t hold on to a 8-4 lead in the eighth inning as Texas-Arlington rallied for a nine to eight walk off win. Leger allowed five runs on five hits for his third loss of the season.

New LSU AD Scott Woodward will be formally introduced on Tuesday and we’ll get to hear his ideas on improving Tiger athletics. Many athletic directors are dealing with declining attendance at college football games. Former AD Joe Alleva pushed the SEC to allow schools to sell beer in the stands and Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says…
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Moran says Woodward’s first priority will be trying to figure out what’s going on with the LSU men’s basketball program and its previously suspended head coach Will Wade.

Louisiana Tech has announced an eight-person class that will be enshrined into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in October. The headliners of the class are all-american running backs Ryan Moats and J-W Slack, legendary football coach Joe Raymond. Also going into the Hall, seven-time track and field All-American Chelsea Hayes and Eddie Holman, the Bulldogs baseball career wins and strikeout leader.

Baton Rouge native Scott Woodward is coming home to take over LSU Athletics after a four-year run as Texas A&M’s Athletic Director. Woodward made a big splash in College Station by hiring football coach Jimbo Fisher and basketball coach Buzz Williams. Robert Cessna with AggieSports.com says he’s a real winner.
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Woodward will be formally introduced on Tuesday. In a statement released by LSU, Woodward says returning home to the LSU family to lead the athletics department is humbling and exciting. He once served as the university’s director of external affairs.

The LSU-Florida baseball series will start at 8 PM tonight, pushed back two hours because of the severe weather moving through Baton Rouge.

The Pelicans new executive vice president David Griffen is not ruling out the possibility that Anthony Davis could return to New Orleans next season. Griffen says he plans to speak with Davis and his agent and the key is if A-D is 100-percent committed to the Pels…
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Griffin also says small market is no excuse for not winning championships. He points to San Antonio as a perfect example.

Southeastern Louisiana men’s basketball needs a new coach. Jay Ladner is leaving the program to take over as the head coach at his alma mater, Southern Miss. Ladner led the Lions to a Southland title in 2018.

LSU has officially announced that Scott Woodward is the university’s next athletic director. Woodward has been Texas A-and-M’s athletic director since 2016 and also had the same job at Washington for eight years. Woodward is a Baton Rouge native and previously worked at LSU as the director of external affairs from 2000 to 2004.

Weather permitting, LSU baseball is set to host Florida tonight and there’s a chance injured starters Chris Reid and Zach Watson can return to the field during this series. Coach Paul Mainieri says he’s not sure how effective Watson will be, but it would be great to get the center fielder back on the field…
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First pitch has been pushed back to 8 PM tonight.

Don’t tell new Pelicans executive vice president David Griffen that you can’t win an NBA title in a small maretk. Griffen was the general manager of the Cavaliers when that franchise won their first championship in 2016. Griffen says Cleveland and San Antonio are excellent examples of how a small market city can be successful in the NBA…
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Griffen is also not closing the door on Anthony Davis staying with the team, he plans to see if the disgruntled superstar wants to build something special in New Orleans.

Southeastern Louisiana needs to find a new basketball coach, Jay Ladner is returning to his alma mater to lead the Southern Miss basketball program. Ladner led S-L-U to a Southland Conference championship in 2018.

What a 24 hours for LSU athletics. Speculation started yesterday morning that Joe Alleva was out as athletics director and that afternoon LSU announced that Alleva was transitioning to a new role. And it didn’t take long for the school to find Alleva’s successor. Texas A-and-M athletic director and Baton Rouge native Scott Woodward is reportedly heading back to his alma mater to replace Alleva. Glen Guilbeau covers LSU for the USA Today Network…
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The Saints will open the 2019 season by hosting Houston on Monday night football. It begins a difficult September for the Black and Gold. After the Texans, New Orleans will visit the Rams and Seahawks and finish the month hosting Dallas on Sunday night football.

LSU is set to begin a three-game series tonight against Florida and there’s good news on the injury front. Coach Paul Mainieri says he’s been told Zack Hess, Zach Watson and Chris Reid could return from injury and play in this series…
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LSU is not sure if Hess will start on the mound tonight, but could come in as a reliever.

New Pelicans executive vice president David Griffen is not closing the door on Anthony Davis remaining in New Orleans. Griffen says he plans to sit down and talk with Davis and the conversation will not be very complicated…
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Griffen says he’s already spoken with Davis’ agent and there’s an excitement about what could be built in New Orleans.

LSU announces Joe Alleva is transitioning out of his role as athletic director to a new role as special assistant to the president for donor relations. Alleva has been the school’s A-D since 2008, but Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says he’s leaves as a widely unpopular figure….
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Alleva’s popularity began to take a hit with the attempted firing of Les Miles as head football coach towards the end of the 2015 season. It got worse for Alleva when basketball coach Will Wade was suspended in early March.

David Griffin was introduced today as the new Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations. During the press conference, Griffin said that head coach Alvin Gentry will return next season and he believes there’s a chance Anthony Davis could also return, despite his demand for a trade during the regular season.

Tonight, the NFL will release the schedule for all 32 teams, but there have been plenty of leaks and it’s been reported New Orleans will kick off the 2019 regular season by hosting Houston on Monday night football. It’s one of four primetime games for the Black and Gold. New Orleans will also host Dallas for Sunday night football during week four. Visit the Falcons on Thanksgiving night and host the Colts for Monday night football during Week 15. The Saints and Rams NFC championship game rematch will be week 2 in L-A.

Great come from behind win for UL-Lafayette last night as the Cajuns defeated the Tigers six to five thanks to two home runs in the eighth inning. Orynn Veillon and Handsome Monica went back-to-back and Jacob Schultz threw four shutout innings of relief. The Cajuns now travel to U-T Arlington, who leads the Sun Belt’s Western Division.

LSU gets ready to host Florida for a series that starts tomorrow. Coach Paul Mainieri says there’s a chance Zack Hess can pitch, even though he injured his groin in his last start.

Back to back jacks from Cajun hitters in the eighth inning resulted in a six to five win for UL-Lafayette over 15th ranked LSU in the Wally Pontiff Classic. The Cajuns trailed by two runs heading into the eighth inning, but Orynn Veillon blasted a two-run homer to tie the game and then two pitches later, Handsome Monica hit a monster shot to give UL-Lafayette a six-five lead. Both home runs were hit off LSU reliever Trent Vietmeier, while Cajuns right-hander Jacob Schultz threw four shutout innings of relief for his first win of the year. Cade Beloso drove in four runs for the Tigers.

Louisiana Tech blanked ULM five to nothing as five pitchers combined on the shutout, the second of the season for the Bulldogs. Steele Netterville homered and drove in two runs.

S-L-U outscored McNeese 12 to 3. Connor Manola and Evan Pace homered. And Grambling defeated Mississippi Valley nine to seven.

The Pelicans will introduce their new Vice President of Basketball Operations today, David Griffin. He helped the Cavaliers win an NBA title. And we’ll probably find out soon on whether he plans to retain Alvin Gentry as head coach.

The NFL will release its regular season schedule for 2019 tonight at seven. We know who the Black and Gold will play next season, we just don’t know the dates and times. The Saints will play their NFC South Rivals twice and they’ll also host the Cardinals, 49ers, Texans, Colts and Cowboys. New Orleans will travel to Chicago, Tennessee, Seattle, Jacksonville and Los Angeles in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game.

Two La Tech football games have been moved to Friday. Tech’s Conference USA home opener against F-I-U will now take place on Friday September 20th and the Bulldogs trip to Marshall will be on November 15th.

And longtime Northwestern State sports information director Doug Ireland has announced his retirement.

Tonight LSU and U-L Lafayette continue their baseball rivalry when the two teams meet at the Shrine on Airline in Metairie for the Wally Pontiff Junior Classic. The Cajuns are 19-and-20, but are coming off a series victory over South Alabama. LSU is coming off a series loss to Missouri. Three position players went down with injuries during the series, Zach Watson, Chris Reid and Hal Hughes. They are not expected to play tonight. First pitch is at 7.

Louisiana Tech looks to start a new winning streak tonight when they visit ULM. The Bulldogs 10-game winning streak was snapped on Sunday at F-A-U. It was there first loss since losing to ULM 9-4 on March 26th. That was ULM’s first win over the Bulldogs in 12 years.

Also tonight, Southeastern Louisiana is at McNeese in a nonconference. Grambling hosts Mississippi Vallen State, Alcorn State is at Southern and Tulane travels to UNO.

The NFL will release its regular season schedule for 2019 tomorrow night at 7 Pm. We already know who the Black and Gold will play next season, we just don’t know the dates and times. The Saints are set to play a home and home series against their NFC South Rivals and they’ll also host the Cardinals, 49ers, Texans, Colts and Cowboys. New Orleans will travel to Chicago, Tennessee, Seattle, Jacksonville and Los Angeles in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game.

Two Louisiana Tech football games have been moved to Friday. Tech’s Conference USA home opener against F-I-U will now take place on Friday September 20th and the Bulldogs visit to Marshall will be played on November 15th instead.

The Pelicans will introduce their new executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin tomorrow during a press conference set for 12:45.

And Former Pelicans Center DeMarcus Cousins could miss the rest of the season after an M-R-I has revealed he tore his left quad in the Warriors loss to the Clippers last season.

The 16th annual Wally Pontiff Junior Foundation Classic is tonight between the 15th ranked Tigers and the Cajuns. Center fielder Zach Watson, second baseman Hal Hughes and third baseman Chris Reid are expected to miss the game because of injuries. So LSU might only have 11 position players available. The Cajuns are 19-and-20 on the year, but they are coming off a series victory over South Alabama. First pitch in Metairie is at 7.

Louisiana Tech saw its 10-game winning streak end on Sunday with a loss to Florida Atlantic. The Bulldogs, who are ranked 21st in the nation according to Collegiate Baseball, will try to start another streak tonight against ULM. The Warhawks beat Tech 9-4 in Ruston earlier this year.

Also tonight…Southeastern visits McNeese for a nonconference game. Tulane travels to UNO, and Grambling hosts Mississippi Valley.

Tomorrow night, the NFL will release its regular season schedule for 2019.