LSU has called a noon press conference to announce its new head football coach. It’s been reported that Ed Orgeron and Tom Herman were the two likely choices. Tiger Rag Magazine says Orgeron sat down with athletic director Joe Alleva yesterday morning after leading the Tigers to a 5-2 record as the interim head coach. There’s also been reports that LSU made an offer to Herman, who is 22-4 after two seasons at Houston.

The Saints and Rams will face each other in the Superdome on Sunday. Both teams are 4-6. Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator is Gregg Williams. He was the defensive coordinator for the Saints during the Super Bowl, but was suspended for the 2012 season because of the bounty scandel. Quarterback Drew Brees  chooses to focus on the positive…

cut 20 (13) “beat them”

Kickoff Sunday is at noon.

Ryan Higgins entered yesterday’s game against Southern Miss with just four interceptions on the season. The Louisiana Tech quarterback threw three picks yesterday as the Bulldogs lost to Southern Miss 39-24. Despite the loss, Tech will still play in the Conference USA Championship game.

The winner of today’s Bayou Classic matchup between Southern and Grambling will play in the SWAC Championship against two-time defending champion Alcorn State next Saturday. Both teams are 8-0 in the league and capable of scoring a lot of points.

Also today, UL Lafayette hosts Arkansas State in an 11 AM kickoff at Cajun Field. The Cajuns need to win to keep hope alive for a possible bowl bid.

In the high school football playoffs….the defending champs in Division 3, Notre Dame, they were upset by St. Charles Catholic 21-10 last night. The Comets will face Riverside on Friday afternoon in the Dome. In Two-A, Sterlington knocked off Kinder 49-42 and they’ll face Many in the semifinals.

Tiger Rag Magazine reports LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron met with athletic director Joe Alleva this morning. It was Orgeron’s opportunity to make his case to be the permanent head coach of the Tigers. Orgeron took over for the fired LSU Miles at the end of September and the team went 5-2 with “O” at the helm.

But Glen Guilbeau of Gannett newspapers and featured columnist for Tiger Rag, says LSU also has an offer into 41-year-old Houston Coach Tom Herman. But Guilbeau says Herman might be more interested in the Texas job, if it becomes available…
cut 11 (08) “…as better”

Louisiana Tech is playing for a chance to host the Conference USA Championship game. At halftime, they trail Southern Miss 23-17. The Bulldogs went into the game as a double digit favorite.

Houston’s Tom Herman has emerged as LSU’s top candidate to be the next head football coach of the Tigers. Glen Guilbeau of the USA Today Network and featured columinst for Tiger Rag Magazine says LSU representatives paid Herman a visit on Thanksgiving Day…
cut 9 (12) “…kind of hurry”
Guilbeau says LSU also approached Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, but he declined an offer that would pay him in the neighborhood of seven-million dollars a year. He says interim head coach Ed Orgeron remains a candidate as well.

Meanwhile, Houston Coach Tom Herman was interviewed by ESPN this morning and said don’t believe everything you read.

Fans are making their way into New Orleans for tomorrow’s Bayou Classic, between Southern and Grambling State. Both teams are undefeated in SWAC play.

Louisiana Tech closes out its regular season today as they host a struggling Southern Miss team. The Golden Eagles have lost five of their last six. Southern Miss starting quarterback Nick Mullens has missed the last two games with a head injury and he’s questionable for today’s contest. But Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says Southern Miss does have a one-thousand yard rusher in Ito Smith….
cut 16 (17) “…their problems”
Tech is a two touchdown favorite to win.

Tonight the High School playoffs continue. The defending champs in Class 3A, Lutcher, they’ll host Marksville. In Two-A, top seeded Many hosts 24th seeded West St. John, and in One-A, Haynesville plays host to Delhi Charter.

In the NBA, the Pelicans look to extend their four-game winning streak as they visit the Trail Blazers.

LSU was missing four starters last night, but it didn’t mattter as the Bayou Bengals fried the Texas A&M Aggies 54-39. Leonard Fournette was one of the four players who did not play, but his back-up, Derrius Guice rushed for a school record 285 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers had 622 yards in total offense. Now the question is, who will coach the Tigers from here on out. Houston’s Tom Herman has emerged as the top candidate, based on media reports.

This afternoon in Hattiesburg, Louisiana Tech closes out the regular season against Southern Miss. Last year, the Golden Eagles pounded the Bulldogs 58-24. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says they are not using revenge as motivation…
cut 17 (18) “…this year”
Kick-off is at 3:00.

There are two college football games in the state tomorrow. The 43rd Bayou Classic kicks-off at 4 PM in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. It’s the first time in the series history between the two teams that they’ve been both undefeated in league play.

The Ragin Cajuns host Arkansas State at 11 AM tomorrow. UL Lafayette is coming off a 35-21 loss to Georgia and Coach Mark Hudspeth says the players are confident, despite the loss to the Bulldogs…
cut 19 (19) “…our jobs”

And tonight there’s high school football playoff action…In Five-A West Monroe hosts St. Amant, while Landry-Walker is at Parkway. In Four-A, Neville is at Carencro, while Warren Easton travels to Minden.

LSU will be without two of its star players for tonight’s regular season finale against Texas A&M. Tigers running back Leonard Fournette reportedly did not make the trip to College Station, because of that sore ankle. And Coach Ed Orgeron has already said linebacker Kendell Beckwith is out. LSU cornerback Donte Jackson says Beckwith is a big loss, but other guys are ready to step up, like Donnie Alexander…
cut 30 (16) “….type thing”
Once this game is over, analysts expect LSU athletic director Joe Alleva will make a strong push for Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher. Florida State President John Thrasher says Fisher wants to stay in Tallahassee and calls reports tying him to LSU as speculation.

Saints running back Mark Ingram says he expects to play Sunday against Los Angeles. Ingram left last week’s loss to Carolina, after suffering a concussion. But he’s progressed well and practiced yesterday. And starting left tackle Terron Armstead is also hopeful he’ll play against the Rams. He practiced yesterday after missing the last two games with a sore knee.

The Pelicans are now one of the hottest teams in the NBA. New Orleans won its fourth straight last night as they toppled the Timberwolves 117-96. Another huge game for Anthony Davis as he had 45 points and 10 rebounds.

The LSU Tigers will play Old Dominion tonight after they were blown out by Wichita State 82-47 last night in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas.

LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron says running back Leonard Fournette remains a game time decision for tomorrow night’s contest against Texas A&M. Orgeron says Fournette is still battling a very sore ankle that was originally injured before the start of the regular sason. The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that Fournette did not even travel with the team today.

The LSU men’s basketball team’s first game at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas was an ugly affair for the Tigers. Witchita State sunk LSU 82-47. The Tigers shot 28-percent from the field and only two players finished in double figures, Antonio Blakeney had 12 and Duop Reath had 11. The Tigers will play again tomorrow night against either Louisville or Old Dominion.

Elsewhere, UL Lafayette faces James Madison, Louisiana Tech hosts Oklahoma Baptist at 6:30 and Southeastern Louisiana is at UTEP for an 8:00 tip in El Paso. The Lions have won two in a row.

The suddenly surging New Orleans Pelicans host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight. The Pels started the season 1-9, but they’ve won four of their last five, to improve to 5-10 and can win their fourth game in a row against a Minnesota club that’s 4-9. The NBA’s leading scorer, Anthony Davis, is expected to play tonight after logging just 9.5 minutes last night after he banged his knee into a courtside chair.

Saints Coach Sean Payton expected running back Mark Ingram to practice today. Ingram had to leave last Thursday’s loss to Carolina to what appeared to be a concussion. New Orleans hosts the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday. L-A has the sixth best pass defense in the NFL, while Saints Q-B Drew Brees leads the league in passing yards. Also, Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro has not heard back from the NFL about a four-game suspension for testing positive for adderall. So it looks like he’s good to play Sunday.

McNeese State quarterback James Tabary has been named Southland Conference newcomer of the year.

The LSU football team is on its way to College Station for tomorrow night’s game against Texas A&M. Tigers guard Will Clapp says after a frustrating loss to Florida, the team is anxious to play in this Thanksgiving…
cut 20 (13) “…prepare this week”
A win for the Tigers and they’ll finish the season at 7-4. The Liberty Bowl is likely destination for the Tigers, possibly the Outback Bowl.

There’s plenty of buzz for the Bayou Classic football game between Southern and Grambling State. Bayou Classic spokesperson Angela Young says tickets are going fast….
cut 25 (09) “…complete sellout”
Kickoff on Saturday is at 4 PM.

Saints Coach Sean Payton anticipates running back Mark Ingram will be able to practice today as the team begins preparations for Sunday’s game against Los Angeles. Ingram was placed into concussion protocol during the loss to Carolina.

UL Lafayette President Joe Savoie says they will take their time in choosing the school’s next athletic director. Scott Farmer hs stepped down and Deputy director of athletics Jessica Leger will serve as an interim AD. Savois says ex-Missouri A-D Mike Alden will serve as a consultant and they expect to hear from a lot of great candidates…
cut 18 (12) “….potential candidates”
Savoie says they would like to hire a sitting athletic director from another school or a senior-level administrator at a Division One program.

Josh Brooks, deputy athletic director at ULM, is leaving for Athens, where he’ll be athe Georgia’s executive associate athletic director.

For LSU to win tomorrow, they’ll have to contain one of the best pass rushers the SEC has ever seen. Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett has over 30 sackles in his career and is coming off a 4.5 sack performance against Texas-San Antonio. LSU Guard Will Clapp says they have great respect for Garrett….
cut 19 (12) “…their defense”
After a frustrating loss to Florida, Clapp says the team is anxious to play tomorrow night.

McNeese State quarterback James Tabary has been named Southland Conference newcomer of the year.

The Saints return to practice today as they get ready for Sunday’s game against Los Angeles. The Rams will start number one pick Jared Goff at quarterback and defensively they are 7th in yards allowed.

Scott Farmer is out as UL Lafayette’s athletic director. He stepped down after five years. There were a lot of successes during that time. The football team won four straight bowl games, multiple NCAA Tournament appearances by the baseball and softball programs. Farmer wishes his successor the best of luck….
cut 17 (16) “…his or her advice”
School president Joseph Savoie they’ll begin interviewing candidates to be A-D in early 2017.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri has promoted two former playes to take the place of Andy Cannizaro, who is now the head coach at Mississippi State. Nolan Cain will be a full-time assistant and recruiting coordinator, while Micah Gibbs will be a volunteer assistant and hitting coach.

The Pelicans won their third straight last night as they beat Atlanta 112-94.

Rumors are rampant the LSU Tigers will make a push for Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, once the Seminoles regular season ends on Saturday night. Tigers Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron says he’s telling his team to block out the noise…
Cut 17 (12) “job first “
Tigers linebacker Kendell Beckwith will not play Thursday against the Aggies. The Tigers leading tackler went down with a reported knee injury in the first half of the Florida game. Former Karr standout Donnie Alexander will get the start.

The Saints have had their issues on special teams. That’s why Coach Sean Payton has hired Kevin O’ Dea. O’Dea specializes in the snap, hold and kick. New Orleans has had two kicks blocked in the last two games. This Sunday’s game is at noon against the Los Angeles Rams.

In the NBA, the Pelicans are at Atlanta tonight.

Scott Farmer has stepped down as UL Lafayette’s atheltic director after five years. Farmer was emotional as he said good bye to the Ragin Cajun fan base…
cut 30 (16) “…to me”
Farmer will stay with the university and teach in the school’s kinesiology department. President Joe Savoie says there will be a national search for a new A-D.

Despite winning only one game, Northwestern State’s Jay Thomas will return for his fifth season as the Demons Head Coach.

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri has promoted volunteer coach and former Tigers pitcher Nolan Cain to assistant coach and recruiting coorinator. And former LSU catcher Micah Gibbs has been named volunteer coach and hitting coach

There’s plenty of speculation that LSU will make a strong push to hire Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher. But Fisher on today’s A-C-C teleconference said that he’s very hapy at Florida State and he’s fully invested in Florida State. Fisher is preparing the Seminoles to face the Florida Gators on Saturday night.

On Friday afternon, Louisiana Tech faces Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Last year, the Golden Eagles thumped the Bulldogs in Ruston, 58-24. Tech wide receiver Trent Taylor says they would like to return the favor and win big in Hattiesburg….
cut 19 (20) “…this week”
La Tech enters the season with an 8-3 record, while the Golden Eagles are 5-6.

UL Lafayette enters Saturday’s game against Arkansas State with a 4-6 record. So the Ragin Cajuns will need to beat the best team in the Sun Belt to keep its bowl hopes alive. Kick-off is at 11 AM.

Jay Thomas remains the head coach of Northwestern State. The Demons were 1-10 in Thomas’ fourth season at the helm, but he’ll be given one more year to turn things around in Natchitoches.

The Saints are trying to improve their special teams, which is why Coach Sean Payton has brought in Kevin O’Dea to help with the special teams unit. The last two weeks, New Orleans has had a kick blocked and rookie kicker Will Lutz has also had a couple others deflected. New Orleans hosts the Los Angels Rams at noon on Sunday.

In the NBA…the Pelicans are at Atlanta. New Orleans has won three of its last four and Anthony Davis is coming off back-to-back 38 point performances.

Tonight in college hoops,,,McNeese is at Memphis, Grambling visits Virginia, Nicholls takes on New Mexico State and ULM faces Bryant after losing to Seattle in overtime.