After advancing past the first round of the playoffs last season, the Pelicans begin the long journey tonight of trying to get back to the postseason and advance even further. New Orleans opens the new season against one of the favorites in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets. Are the Pels ready to make that next step, Coach Alvin Gentry says we’ll have to wait and see
Cut 16 (23) “..to make”
The roster looks different this year. DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo are gone and replacing them are Elfrid Payton and Julius Randle, who will come off the bench tonight.

The viral video of LSU defensive end Breiden Fehoko performing a haka dance with his dad and brother prior to the game against Georgia has created a big stir on social media. the video is worth seeing….
cut 19 (14) “…about ti”
Fehoko says the chant during the haka comes from the Maori culture and back then they used it to prepare a warrior to go to war.

The Saints are back at practice today to get ready for Sunday’s game in Baltimore against the Ravens. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco is averaging 298 yards through the air, which is a career high and the Ravens defense is allowing 271 yards a game, which leads the NFL. Kick-off is at 3:05.

LSU’s offense is not ranked high compared to the other SEC teams, but it has been a balanced attack through seven games, 1,415 yards on the ground, compared to 1,415 yards through the air. Coach Ed Orgeron has been impressed with his offensive coaches daily preparation…
Cut 17 (17) “our staff”
And Joe Burrow is just the second quarterback in LSU history to beat three top ten ranked teams in the country. Alan Risher is the other.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves has started a Go Fund Me account to raise money to pay the 100-thousand dollar fine LSU faces for storming the field following the upset win over Georgia. Over 10-thousand dollars have already been raised.

The Saints return to the field this weekend as they will visit the 4-and-2 Baltimore Ravens. New Orleans has not defeated the Ravens since Sean Payton and Drew Brees arrived in the Big Easy. Payton says Baltimore has been a well coached team under John Harbaugh…
Cut 19 (12) “..this week”
An official injury report will come out tomorrow, but Payton sounds optimistic cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be okay after leaving the win over Washington with a concussion.

McNeese State is now ranked sixth in both the FCS STATS media and Coaches Poll. It’s their highest ranking since the end of the 2015 season. The 5-and-1 Cowboys are the lone undefeated team in Southland play at 4-0. McNeese is at Incarnate Word this Saturday.

After losing to Abilene Christian, the Colonels fell 11 spots in the coaches poll to 22. Nicholls is off this Saturday.

LSU is moving on from its big victory over Georgia and they are now getting ready to host 22nd ranked Mississippi State. The Bulldogs rushed for 285 yards in a 37-7 win over the Tigers last season and this year State is averaging 241 yards on the ground. Coach Ed Orgeron’s team slowed down Georgia’s run game, but Mississippi State has a different run attack
Cut 16 (20) “..different scheme”
Oregeron says offensive guard Garrett Brumfield remains out with a knee injury, but wide receiver Dee Anderson and nose tackle Tyler Shelvin will be available for Saturday. Anderson missed the Georgia win and Shelvin has played in just one game this season.

UL-Lafayette’s Andre Nunez is the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week. The Senior threw for a career-high 315 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes in a blowout win over New Mexico State.

Southern University quarterback Ladarius Skelton is the SWAC offensive player of the week. Skelton accounted for 370 total yards and four touchdowns in the Jaguars 38-to-nothing win over Prairie View.

Grambling linebacker De’Arius Christmas is the SWAC Defensive Player of the week. Christmas had eight tackles, two sacks and an interception as the Tigers topped Texas Southern 34-21.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says cornerback Marshon Lattimore is doing well after suffering a concussion in last week’s win over Washington. Payton sounded optimistic he’ll be able to play this Sunday against Baltimore.

The Pelicans traded reserve center Alexis Ajinca to the Clipper for small forward Wesley Johnson. Ajinca barely played for New Orleans, while Johnson averaged five points and three rebounds a game last season against Los Angeles.

LSU has been hit with a 100-thousand dollar fine from the SEC, because its fans rushed the field following the Tigers upset win over Georgia. Coach Ed Orgeron says it was quite the scene…
cut 10 (11) “…picture yet”
LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva says they agree with the league’s concerns that on field celebrations can be unsafe with fans rushing onto the field.

Louisiana Tech bounced back from a bad loss to UAB to trounce UTSA 31-3. Quarterback J’Mar Smith threw for 309 yards and one touchdown
Cut 18 (11) “…job basically”
The Bulldogs are 4-2, 2-1 in Conference USA with a homecoming game against UTEP coming up.

UL-Lafayette’s Andre Nunez has been named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week. The Senior from California threw for a career-high 315 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes in a 66-38 win over New Mexico State. Coach Billy Napier calls Nunez a student of the game…
cut 17 (20) “…going forward”
The Cajuns have a tough game coming up this week against 4-1 Appalachian State.

Southern University quarterback Ladarius Skelton has been named the SWAC offensive player of the week. Skelton accounted for 370 total yards and four touchdowns in the Jaguars 38-to-nothing win over Prairie View.

Grambling linebacker De’Arius Christmas is the SWAC Defensive Player of the week. Christmas had eight tackles, two sacks and an interception as the Tigers topped Texas Southern 34-21.

LSU is once again ranked 5th in the country after an electrifying 36-16 victory over previously unbeaten Georgia. The biggest win in Tiger Stadium in years improved LSU’s record to 6-1. But Quarterback Joe Burrow reminds everyone that it is just one win…
cut 12 (12) “….war room”
LSU hosts 22nd ranked Mississippi State on Saturday at 6 PM.

The SEC has fined LSU 100-thousand dollars because hundreds of fans stormed the field following the Tigers win over Georgia. LSU is a repeat offender, because fans also rushed the field after beating Ole Miss in 2014. The money will go towards an SEC Post-Graduate scholarship fund.

The Ragin Cajuns produced a record setting performance in a 66-38 win over New Mexico State on homecoming. UL Lafayette had 759 yards of total offense, which is a school record. Coach Billy Napier’s team started fast by scoring four first quarter touchdowns…
Cut 16 (13) “..establish here”
Senior quarterback Andre Nunez tied a school-record with five touchdown passes and named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week.

Kam McKnight rushed for two touchdowns in Louisiana Tech’s 31-3 win over U-T-S-A on Saturday. McKnight’s first touchdown ended the first drive of the game. Coach Skip Holtz on how the rest of the game played out…
cut 19 (15) “…competed tonight”
The 4-and-2 Bulldogs host UTEP for homecoming this Saturday.

Big win for the LSU Tigers on Saturday as they trounced Georgia 36-16 knocking them from the list of unbeaten teams. It was quite the performance for the Bayou Bengals, who were coming off a loss to Florida. Coach Ed Orgeron says the defeat in the Swamp inspired them..
cut 11 (12) “…their shoulder”
Now LSU gets ready for 22nd ranked Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are coming off a bye week and they are allowing just 13 points a game.

ULM’s Derrick Gore rushed for 147 yards and two touchdown as the Warhawks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 45-20 win over Coastal Carolina.

The Ragin Cajuns produced a school record 759 yards of total offense in a 66-38 homecoming win New Mexico State. Andre Nunez threw for 315 yards and five touchdowns.

After a bad loss to UAB, Louisiana Tech bounced back on Saturday with a 31-3 win over UTSA. J-Mar Smith threw for 309 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs are now 4-2, 2-1 in Conference USA. Coach Skip Holtz feels better about his team…
cut 20 (15) “….of us”
Tech will host UTEP for homecoming this Saturday.

Southeastern Louisiana lit up the scoreboard with a 62-52 win over Houston Batpist. Rough loss for Nicholls as they fell to Abilene Christian 28-12, Sam Houston trounced Northwestern State 42-28, Grambling beat Texas Southern 34-21 and Southern blanked Prarie View A-and-M 38-0.

LSU looks to knock off unbeaten Georgia on Saturday. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron on the keys to victory….

Cut 18 (09) “…it done”

Georgia is allowing just 13 points a game and they are holding opposing teams to just 283 yards a contest. LSU will be without their third-leading receiver. Coach Ed Orgeron says Dee Anderson is out with an injury, but it results in an opportunity to get Jontre Kirklin on the field. The former all-state quarterback from Lutcher has been practicing on offense this week, after starting his career at LSU as a defensive back.

It’s a perfect night for high school football tonight and there are some big matchups. Alexandria is at West Monroe. Oak Grove has been unstoppable this season and they host Ouachita Christian. In south Louisiana, Church Point is at Iota.

The Ragin Cajuns host New Mexico State on Saturday for homecoming. The Aggies are coming off a bye week and they have won their last two games, after dropping their first four games of the season. UL Lafayette Coach Billy Napier says New Mexico State has some good skill position players on offense…
Cut 16 (21) “..for us”
The Cajuns snapped a three-game losing streak last Saturday with a 42-27 win over Texas State.

The Pelicans lost their final preseason game last night 134-119 to Toronto and they finish the exhibition schedule without a victory. Very few teams in the NBA have don that. The regular season begins Wednesday in Houston.

LSU has yet lose back-to-back games with Ed Orgeron as its head coach. They’ll try to keep that streak going when they host second ranked Georgia. Cornerback Kristian Fulton says the team is disappointed it lost against Florida, but they got a great opportunity against the second ranked Bulldogs on Saturday
Cut 16 (15) “..move on”
Coach Ed Orgeron says you may see former All-State quarterback Jontre Kirklin in a wildcat package. The former Lutcher star was a reserve defensive back last season, but has been practicing with the receivers this week. Kirklin can provide a run or pass option when lining up at quarterback in a wildcat formation.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Billy Napier says his two quarterbacks will likely see playing time when UL Lafayette hosts New Mexico State for homecoming on Saturday. Andre Nunez is getting most of the snaps, but Napier likes how true sophomore Levi Lewis provided a spark in last Saturday’s win over Texas State.

Louisiana Tech is coming off a frustrating loss last week to UAB, where they scored just one touchdown. The Bulldogs are at Texas-San Antonio on Saturday. Tech should benefit this Saturday by the return of leading rusher Jaqwis Dancy, who has missed the last two weeks with an injury. Israel Tucker is also expected to play after getting just five carries against UAB.

Northwestern State welcomes Sam Houston State to Turpin Stadium on Saturday. The Demons need to get their offense going, they’ve only scored 27 points in their last two games.

Southeastern Louisiana should be able to score some points in Hammond on Saturday as Houston Baptist is allowing 45 points a game.

Nicholls State has a long bust trip ahead of them as they are Abilene Christian, which is at least a couple hours east of Fort, Worth Texas. The Wildcats are 2-and-4 on the season, but two of those losses were by a field goal. Kick-off on Saturday is at 2:30.

A sold out crowd is expected Saturday in Tiger Stadium as 13th ranked LSU hosts 2nd ranked Georgia. Cornerback Krisitan Fulton says the team is expecting a great atmosphere inside Death Valley…
cut 18 (13) “….on the game”
2009 was the last time LSU lost a home game in October. On that day number one ranked Florida beat the Bayou Bengals.

The Pelicans are the only NBA team that hasn’t won a preseason game. They’ll try to change that tonight when they host Toronto in the exhibition finale. The Advocate’s Scott Kushner says there are two roster openings still to be settled, backup point guard and backup strong forward. Tip-off is at 7 PM.

Tonight in the NFL, Doug Pederson’s Eagles visit Odell Beckham and the New York Giants.

ULM’s confidence has taken a hit as the Warhawks have lost four in a row. Coach Matt Viator says they are committed to turning the season around…
cut 20 (20) “…coaches too”
They’ll try to get the season turned around this Saturday at Coastal Carolina.

Louisiana Tech is also coming off a frustrating loss last week to UAB, where they scored just one touchdown. The Bulldogs are at Texas-San Antonio on Saturday. Tech should benefit this Saturday by the return of leading rusher Jaqwis Dancy, who has missed the last two weeks with an injury. Israel Tucker is also expected to play after getting just five carries against UAB.

Northwestern State hosts Sam Houston State on Saturday. The Demons need to get their offense going, they’ve only scored 27 points in their last two games.

Second ranked Georgia brings a 6-0 record to Baton Rouge this Saturday and they are second in the SEC in scoring, averaging 43 points a game. LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton says Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm is one of the top signal callers in college football…
Cut 17 (13) “the challenge”
And Georgia leads the SEC in rushing, averaging 245 yards a game.

Louisiana Tech is not facing an explosive offense this Saturday in San Antonio where they face the UTSA Roadrunners. Texas-San Antonio is averaging just 250 yards a game.

Southeastern Louisiana should be able to score some points in Hammond on Saturday as Houston Baptist is allowing 45 points a game.

ULM returns to Sun Belt action on Saturday at Coastal Carolina. The Warhawks have lost four straight, but Coach Matt Viator is trying to remain positive with his players…
Cut 19 (14) “..watch it happen”
Viator calls ULM’s 70-21 loss to Ole Miss a poor performance and the coaches are committed to turning the season around. ULM’s record is 2-4, while Coastal Carolina is 3-2.

The Pelicans are the only NBA team who is winless in preseason play. New Orleans dropped to 0-4 last night with a 140-128 defeat to Miami. Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore did not play. Coach Alvin Gentry says Moore has played as well as anyone in camp this year. New Orleans final preseason game is tonight against Toronto at the Smoothie King Center.