Former LSU and NFL safety Ryan Clark is no longer employed by ESPN. He was one of several on-air employees laid off as part of another round of cuts for the sports network. Clark has worked as an NFL analyst for ESPN since 2015 and Out-kick writer Dan Zaksheske says the writing was on the wall for Clark’s dismissal since signing a new contract with ESPN in 2024….

Cut 4 (12) “…kind of thing.”

A heavy hitter in the New Orleans sports scene is leaving his post. Doug Thornton, who has managed the Caesars Superdome since 1997, is leaving his job on September 4th. The Dome hosted its first Saints game in 1975; and to this day, it still hosts Super Bowls, major college football games and other big events.

Cut 13 (09)  “…building to succeed.”

Thornton oversaw the massive renovation of the Dome following Hurricane Katrina. Another four-year, 560-million-dollar renovation was completed in 2024.

Southland Conference Football Media Days took place in Houston yesterday. Nicholls went four and four conference play in Tommy Rybacki’s first season as the head coach and he expects improvement in year two…

Cut 17 (19) “…great practice one”

Blaine McCorkle has won just one game since taking over as the Northwestern State head coach in 2024. He says year one, they cleared the rubble; year two, they laid the foundation, and now year three is the time to start changing the scoreboard.

Cut 18 (18) “…of the game.”

Ragin Cajuns athletics director Bryan Maggard is leaving Lafayette to return to Missouri as the deputy athletics director and chief operating officer. Maggard, who has served as A-D since 2017, hired football coaches Billy Napier and Michael Desormeaux and oversaw a 65-million dollar renovation to the football stadium. In recent years, Maggard has had to work around budget cuts.

Doug Thornton, who has been in charge of daily operations with the Superdome and the Smoothie King Center since 1997, is stepping down from his current role. Thornton has played a critical role in New Orleans hosting big sporting events.

Cut 14 (09) “…live music events.”

Thornton says one of his biggest career highlights is the reopening of the Superdome in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. Such an achievement helped put him in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Southland Conference Media Day was held in Houston yesterday. Southeastern Louisiana made the FCS playoffs with a 9-and-3 record last season. Quarterback Kyle Lowe returns to a team that ninth-year coach Frank Scelfo says has conference championship aspirations.

Cut 16 (15) “…to go to.”

McNeese coach Matt Viator (VEE-uh-tore) enters year two of his second stint in Lake Charles. The Cowboys were 5-and-7 last season. Starting quarterback Jake Strong is back, and Viator says he loves this year’s team.

Cut 19 (18) “…going next week.”

Two of LSU’s road opponents took the stage at SEC Media Days yesterday. LSU makes a trip to Tennessee November 21st. While it may not have the same vitriol as Kiffin’s return trip to Ole Miss in week three, fans in Knoxville have not forgotten about when the coach left them after just one season for USC in 2009. Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel says that’s a good thing.

Cut 18 (12) “…for his arrival.”

The Tigers visit former offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and Kentucky October 10th. First-year head coach Will Stein had high praise for his coordinator and Notre Dame transfer quarterback Kenny Minchey agrees.

Cut 17 (13) “…what he’s doing.”

Former LSU baseball star Tommy White had four hits in just his third major league game last night against the Diamondbacks. White was four-for-five at the plate with four singles and one run. The A’s took the 5-2 win and White is now batting .455 after going hitless Sunday.

Southland Conference Football Media Day is today in Houston. Southeastern finished second in the conference last year and returns most of its offensive production. Defensive lineman Peyton Anderson says the Lions have only gotten better.

Cut 22 (12) “…of that competitiveness.”

Nicholls was 4-and-4 in conference play under first-year head coach Tommy Rybacki. He says everything goes better the second time you do it.

Cut 21 (16) “…do better.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opened SEC Media Days by confirming there have been discussions among officials about the league breaking away from the NCAA…

Cut 28 (15) “…honest communication”

Sankey says the frustrations are over a governance system that does not allow the NCAA to enforce rules without them being challenged and overturned in court The commissioner gave no indication a breakaway is imminent, but his public comments come as the U-S Senate works on  federal legislation that attempts to bring rules and regulations to college athletics.

Southland football media day takes place today. UIW, Southeastern, McNeese and Nicholls are expected to contend for a conference title.

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Two of LSU’s opponents spoke on the first day of SEC Media Days. The Tigers will visit Kentucky on October 10^th. The Wildcats are led by new head coach Will Stein. Stein spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Oregon and is confident he can make Kentucky a winner in football…

Cut 16 (13) “…down and play”

The Tigers are at Tennessee on November 21^st. The Vos will have a quarterback battle in the preseason between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and top-15 freshman Faizon Brandon. Coach Josh Heupel (HYPE-ul)…

Cut 19 (18) “…field with

LSU is canceling a home-and-home series against Arizona State in 2029 and 2030. The two were scheduled to square off after years of postponement, going back to Hurricane Katrina, but the Tigers have decided to drop the series as they adjust future schedules for a nine-game conference slate.

SEC teams will play their first nine-game conference schedule this year, the most ever in a single season. At SEC Football Media Days today, Commissioner Greg Sankey said the conference is the best in the nation with the toughest schedule, but the College Football Playoff Committee has not pledged to reward the challenge of an extra game.

Cut 7 (11) “…about that reality.”

Sankey also said the future of the SEC championship could be in doubt after this year.

Cut 8 (08) “…College Football Playoff.”

First-year Kentucky head coach Will Stein named former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan to the same role on his new staff. The Tigers will face Sloan and the Wildcats October 10 in Lexington. Stein has high praise after a short time with his new coordinator.

Cut 21 (19) “…impressed with.”

Stein says Sloan will handle play-calling duties on Saturdays.

Former LSU receiver and Westgate High School alum Kayshon Boutte hosted a free youth football camp in his hometown of New Iberia yesterday. Boutte said he wants to prioritize giving back to his community and plans to make the camp an annual event. Now an NFL, wideout, Boutte has spent three seasons with the Patriots and helped New England to a Super Bowl appearance this year with over 500 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey kicked off SEC Football Media Days in Tampa. In his State of the SEC address, Sankey echoed official statements from the conference and many member schools that support the effort behind the Protect College Sports Act but say it needs changes. He says his top priority is that the legislation is enforceable.

Cut 6 (12) “…following the law.”

Sankey also said there have been real conversations about the SEC breaking away from the NCAA due to frustrations with the governing body and the reluctance of other Division-one members to facilitate change.

Former LSU All-American golfer Sam Burns of Shreveport had a two-stroke lead entering the fourth round of the British Open. But he bogeyed the first three holes on Sunday, lost the lead and never got it back. Burns finished third behind the winner Ryan Fox and the second-place finisher Cameron Young.

LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin will not take to the podium at Media Days until Thursday, the final day of the event. The trio of players accompanying Kiffin is linebackers Whit Weeks and T.J. Dottery, and tight end Trey’Dez Green. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says the Tigers have a really deserving group.

Cut 14 (12) “…preseason All-America.”

Former ULM running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared after being shot at a concert in Mississippi in May. Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz says today was his first day back to a full recovery but does not know what his recovery and return-to-play will look like.

Former LSU star Paul Skenes won his third start in a row on Sunday as the red-hot Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians seven to one. Skenes allowed one run over seven innings for his ninth win of the year.

Former LSU All-American golfer Sam Burns of Shreveport had a two-stroke lead entering the fourth round of the British Open. But he bogeyed the first three holes on Sunday, lost the lead and never got it back. Burns finished third behind the winner Ryan Fox and the second-place finisher Cameron Young. It’s the second time Burns nearly won a major this year as he finished in second place at the U-S Open, one shot back of the winner Wyndham Clark.

Former LSU star Paul Skenes won his third start in a row on Sunday as the red-hot Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians seven to one. Skenes allowed one run over seven innings for his ninth win of the year. Pittsburgh has won seven of its last ten and they are tied with St. Louis and Miami for the final wild card spot in the National League.

Former LSU Tiger Alex Bregman hit his tenth home run of the season as the Cubs clobbered the Twins ten to one to take the series over Minnesota.

_________________________________________________________

Doug Thornton, who has managed the Superdome since 1997, is stepping down in a few weeks. Thornton has worked out several lease deals with the state, he oversaw the renovations of the Dome and the Smoothie King Center, he was behind the creation of Champions Square and Thornton rode out Hurricane Katrina in the Dome and played a vital role in getting the iconic stadium ready for football the following season.

SEC Media Days begin today. The last few years, LSU went on the first day, but this year, Lane Kiffin, and three Tiger players will go on Thursday. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says it gives them a chance to see what other teams are saying before they take the podium in Tampa…

Cut 15  (07) “…we’re walking into”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey speaks today and he’ll be peppered with questions about the future of college sports and the college football playoff.

LSU announced week zero matchups with Northwestern State and ULM in 2026 and 2027. The Tigers will also host Southern for only the second time ever in 2028 and renew a historic in-state rivalry with Tulane in 2030- the first meeting between the schools since 2009.

LSU baseball outfielder commit Anthony Murphy decommitted from the Tigers after being selected in the 16^th round of the MLB Draft. Murphy is Perfect Game’s 39^th-ranked high schooler but would have had a tough path to see the field in Baton Rouge with three incoming transfer outfielders and a trio of top incoming freshmen.

LSU outfielder Daniel Harden announced his commitment to Houston after entering the transfer portal earlier this summer. The Prairieville native played in 22 games with two starts.

Former LSU All-American golfer and Shreveport native Sam Burns tied the lowest ever round at men’s major championship with a 62 at The Open Championship. Burns miraculously birdied the final three holes to enter the weekend five-under and only three strokes behind the leader, Lucas Herbert.

ULM lost eight straight games to close out the 2025 season. The Warhawks retained starting quarterback Aidan Armenta and four starting offensive linemen. Head coach Bryant Vincent says he has great talent in the trenches.

Cut 20 (18) “…just become infectious.”

The Warhawks host Louisiana Tech October 17 in the first game in the I-20 rivalry in over 25 years. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says fans on both sides can start creating their own memories and traditions in the historic rivalry.

Cut 6 (09) “…conference play.”

The Pelicans wrap up Summer League with a game against the Pacers Saturday night. Tip-off is at 8 p.m.

LSU announced week zero matchups with Northwestern State and ULM the next two seasons and a week one game against Tulane in 2030. The Tigers will also host Southern in week two of the 2028 season.

Ex-LSU golfer Sam Burns tied the lowest-ever round in a men’s major championship with a 62 at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Burns holed six birdies on the back nine and scored no bogies.

Former LSU star Tommy White makes his major league debut tonight as the A’s host the Nationals. Another former LSU star Gage Jump will make the start for the Athletics.

UL Lafayette is coming off a 6-and-7 season last year. Head coach Michael Desormeaux returns a lot of production but will depend on some young talents. He says he likes what he has in Lafayette.

Cut 16 (16) “…fast as possible.”

Five-star wideout Monshun Sales committed to Indiana. He’s 247Sports’ number-one receiver in the 2027 class and 13th-overall prospect. The Indianapolis native chose the hometown team over Texas, LSU, Alabama and Ohio State.

Louisiana Tech makes its Sun Belt debut October 10 against UL Lafayette. Offensive coordinator Tony Franklin retired, so it’s up to offensive line coach and former co-coordinator Nathan Young. Young inherits redshirt junior starting quarterback Blake Baker, who led the Dogs to a 4-and-1 record in games he stayed healthy in last year. Baker was sidelined with a torn ACL last season, but head coach Sonny Cumbie expects him to be back like he never left.

Cut 19 (13) “…before the injury.”

Former Lady Tigers star Flau’jae Johnson and the Storm take on Caitlin Clark and the Fever tonight at 6:30. The pair, of course, faced off in the 2023 national championship and 2024 Elite Eight.

Louisiana Tech participated in its first Sun Belt Conference football media day in 26 years yesterday. Coach Sonny Cumbie is coming off his first winning season in Ruston and the Bulldogs have the most returning production of any Sun Belt school. Cumbie was also able to retain defensive coordinator Luke Olsen and several defensive standouts…

Cut 18 (17) “…ready to emerge”

LA Tech visits ULM on October 17^th and Warhawks Coach Bryant Vincent expects a packed Malone Stadium…

Cut 21 (13) “…first year”

Kick off is to be announced.

__________________________________________________

The Cajuns are coming off a six-and seven season, but are expecting better results in 2026. Redshirt junior Lunch Winfield from Lutcher returns as the starting Q-B. Winfield won four straight games as the starter last year to salvage bowl eligibility. His top target, wide receiver Shelton Sampson Junior, is also back. Winfield says he and his receivers have put in the work this offseason…

Cut 17 (15) “…best we could”

Eleven LSU football players were named to Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL partnership, more than any other school. Headliners include linebacker Whit Weeks, tight end Trey’Dez Green and cornerback DJ Pickett.

Former LSU star Tommy White makes his major league debut tonight as the A’s host the Nationals. Another former LSU star Gage Jump will make the start for the Athletics.