The Advocate newspaper has obtained an email sent by LSU’s athletic department to its student-athletes that says they respect and support athletes decision to speak out about the Alton Sterling case, but they also tell them to be mindful of media attention it may bring. LSU is also asking players not to wear LSU gear if they protest on social media or in the public.

LSU basketball guard Kieran Hayward has announced he’s transferring. The native from Australia played sparingly his freshman season. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham reports it’s possible that other players will leave too. LSU currently has 13 players on scholarship and that’s the maximum allowed by the NCAA and Head Coach Will Wade is still looking for another graduate transfer. Shooting guard Mark Alstork is set to visit later this month. The Alstork played at Wright State and is also looking at South Carolina and Louisville.

Saints and LSU superfan Jarrius Robetson’s health continues to improve after receiving a liver transplant on Sunday morning. The 15-year-old no longer has breathing tubes and is anxious to get out of bed.

Last night in major league baseball, former LSU pitcher Kevin Gausman was ejected in the second inning, when he hit Red Sox Xander Bogaerts with a curveball. Gausman couldn’t believe he was tossed. Red Sox pitchers have thrown at Baltimore’s Manny Machado twice in the last week. Boston won last night’s game four to two.

The LSU baseball team begins an eight-game homestand tomorrow night when they open a three-game series against South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 10-11 in league play and they have lost their last five SEC series, after starting the season ranked in the preseason Top 5.

Shreveport native Sam Burns was voted Southeastern Conference golfer of the year by the league’s coaches. Burns is ranked as the second best player in the country as the team heads into NCAA regional play.

The LSU baseball team will have its first full squad workout of the week today. It’s final exam week, so the Tigers haven’t been on the practice field as much. LSU begins a three-game series against South Carolina tomorrow. These are two schools that were ranked in the preseason top 5, but the Gamecocks have lost five straight SEC series. LSU is 13-8 in league play and they still have a chance at finishing with the best overall record in the league.

In action tonight…Arkansas is at Tennessee, while Texas A-and-M hosts Mississippi State. The Bulldogs and Auburn lead the SEC West with 14-7 records.

Ole Miss defeated ULM five to three last night to sweep a midweek series from the Warhawks. ULM is 12-34 overall and they’ll get ready to host the defending national champs Coastal Carolina in a three-game series that begins tomorrow.

Also this weekend, the Ragin Cajuns host Georgia Southern, while Southeastern faces Sam Houston State.

Guard Kieran Hayward posted on Twitter that he’s leaving the LSU men’s basketball program. The Tigers roster was one above the scholarship limit, so someone had to go. Hayward is a native of Australia and he averaged just one point a game.

Shreveport native Sam Burns was voted Southeastern Conference golfer of the year by the league’s coaches. Burns is the fifth player in school history to achieve such an honor. Burns is ranked as the second best player in the country as the team heads into NCAA regional play.

The LHSAA state and track field meet gets underway today at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium. Today it will be Class B and Class C schools.

The baseball playoffs have reached quarterfinal action. Today in Class One-A, Oak Grove takes on Grand Lake and Varnado travels to Delhi Charter. 26th seeded Block also visits Oberlin.

On the Select side…in division one, top-seeded John Curtis begins its best of three series with Evangel.

There are eight former LSU football players who went undrafted but have signed free-agent deals with NFL teams. They are Tashawn Bower with the Vikings, the Colts claimed Colin Jeter, the Raiders signed Rickey Jefferson, the Bears will give tight end DeSean Smith a chance, defensive back Dwayne Thomas has signed with the Patriots, the Saints have signed Travin Dural and offensive lineman Josh Boutte was signed by the Browns.

The Saints will hold a rookie minicamp next weekend. Seven draft picks, 12 undrafted free agents and some of the team’s younger and inexperenced players will participate.

Las Vegas oddmakers have former LSU running back Leonard Fournette has the favorite to win the NFL Rookie of the Year. Bovada-dot-com has his odds at seven to two. Carolina’s Christian McCaffery and Houston’s DeShaun Watson are also listed as favorites. The odds for the Saints to win the Super Bowl is 33-to-1. The Patriots are the favorites to win it all again at 7-to-2.

It’s been an emotional day in Baton Rouge today with the Department of Justice deciding against pursuing civil rights charges against two police officers who were involved in the shooting death of Alton Sterling. The Advocate Newspaper has obtained an email sent out by the LSU athletic department to its student-athletes telling them they respect and support their decisions if they decide to speak their opinions about the case. But they all asked the athletes to be mindful of media attention they may receive by what they say.

New Saints running back Adrian Peterson is making the rounds locally to talk about his mindset coming into New Orleans. He says he wanted to be with a team and an offense that can compete; and from the moment he got off the plane he already felt the love from the Who Dat Nation. His first game in Black and Gold will be against his old ball club, Minnesota. AP says it’s ironic, but exciting…:
CUT 25 (20) “for so long”
That interview is from NewOrleansSaints.com.

Alabama has approved a three-year contract extension through 2024 for Nick Saban that could pay the former LSU coach at least $65 million dollars a season. This would again make him the highest paid coach in college football.

McNeese bats continue to be on fire as the Cowboys pick up a 4-2 win over LSU-Alexandria last night. There were 17 strike outs thrown by McNeese pitchers and the win gave the team its 30th of the season. It was the first home game for the pokes in 16 days. They’ll host Texas A&M Corpus Christi this weekend.

Southeastern pounded on Tulane in New Orleans as the Lions soared to a 16-2 win. The Lions begins a six-game homestand Friday, hosting Sam Houston State. The Green Wave plays host to UCF this weekend.

ULM dropped 21-3 loss against hosts Ole Miss in the first of two midweek games…the next beginning at three pm this afternoon. The Warhawks host Coastal Carolina next.

UNO took on Grambling in a neutral-site game in Biloxi where the Privateers’ picked up a 10-1 victory.

LSU is off this week for finals. The Tigers host South Carolina in a three game set starting Friday.

UL-Lafayette will host Georgia Southern.

Recently signed running Adrian Peterson explained why he signed with the Saints in an interview that can be seen on new-orleans-saints-dot-com. Peterson says what’s not to like about the offense, especially the O-Line…
cut 30 (18) “…Drew Brees”
Peterson also says he’s ready to be a mentor to Mark Ingram, who rushed for over one-thousand yards for the first time in his career last season.

Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban has received a three-year contract extension that could pay him at least 65-million dollars through the 2024 season. Saban received a four-million dollar signing bonus, so his salary for this year is just over 11-million dollars.

The LSU baseball team has no midweek games this week as it’s final exam week on the Baton Rouge campus. The Tigers moved up three spots in the latest Collegiate Baseball to number 11. LSU is ranked 15th by Baseball America. The Tigers will begin a three-game series against South Carolina on Friday at Alex Box Stadium.

In action tonight…ULM begins a two-game midweek series at Ole Miss. UNO faces Grambling in Biloxi, Southeastern Louisiana visits Tulane. The Lions are looking for their fourth straight win over the Green Wave. And McNeese State hosts LSU-Alexandria. It’s the first home game for the Cowboys in 16 days.

After going 3-1 last week, including a sweep of Alabama, LSU remained No. 15 in the Baseball America poll, was up one to 12 in D1 Baseball, and 12 from 15 in Perfect game. The Tigers face South Carolina this weekend at The Box after a break this week for final exams.

McNeese State remains first in the Southland heading into tonight’s home contest against LSU-Alexandria in Lake Charles. The Cowboys are going for their 30th win of the season.

Southeastern wraps up a two-game season series with Tulane tonight in New Orleans. The Lions are riding a five-game winning streak. The Green Wave has won nine of its last 15 contests.

UNO takes on Grambling State in a neutral site game played in Biloxi.

Today ULM opens the final month of the regular season with a pair of midweek games against Ole Miss beginning tonight in Oxford.

At the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, in a sudden death playoff Monday, Cameron Smith hit a 3 and half foot birdie putt on the fourth hole which gave him and partner Jonas Blixt a win over Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown. Kisner helped forced the extra day following a 94 and a half foot chip shot for an Eagle following a 6 hour weather delay Sunday.

Southeastern second baseman Carson Crites was named the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week. The past week Crites went 8 for 16 at the plate with a pair of home runs, six RBIs and five runs scored.

Tigers basketball coach Will Wade announces that Jeremy Combs will transfer to LSU in the summer after he receives his degree from North Texas. The six-foot-seven forward will be eligible to play next season. Combs averaged 10 points and six rebounds last season, despite an ankle injury that forced him to miss 16 games. Wade and his wife Lauren welcomed a new baby girl Caroline Elizabeth this week.

The Saints had a big need to draft a pass rusher and in the sixth round they took defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad. The 6-3, 253-pounder had his issues at Miami. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season for punching another student. He was also suspended for one game for violation of team rules in 2015 and then was kicked off the team last year  after allegedly receiving improper benefits from a car rental company. Coach Sean Payton says Muhammad has made some mistakes, but he’s been a good teammate…

cut 19 (13) “…if he fell”

The Saints announced today they’ve signed 12 undrafted free agents, including former LSU wide receiver Travin Dural.

And former LSU and UL Lafayette quarterback Anthony Jennings announces he’s signed with the New York Jets.

Cameron Smith and Jonas Blizt won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans as they defeated Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown on the fourth playoff hole in the new team format for the PGA tournament. Smith’s hit a birdie putt from three and half feet to win the event, which needed to finish today, because of a six-hour weather delay on Sunday.

Tigers basketball coach Will Wade announces that Jeremy Combs will transfer to LSU in the summer after he receives his degree from North Texas. The six-foot-seven forward will be eligible to play next season. Combs averaged 10 points and six rebounds last season, despite an ankle injury that forced him to miss 16 games.

Despite recently signing Adrian Peterson, the Saints still drafted a running back in the third round, Alvin Kamara of Tennessee. Coach Sean Payton believes Kamara can coexist on a roster featuring Mark Ingram and A-P….
Cut 18 (23) “those guys”
The Saints have signed over a dozen unrestricted free agents, including former LSU wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge.

In golf, Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith won the team format at the Zurich Class of New Orleans today. They defeated Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown in a playoff that was pushed to Monday, because of a six-hour weather delay on Sunday.

There are nine SEC games left and there are eight teams within one game of the overall lead in the Southeastern Conference. LSU is one of those eight baseball teams after sweeping Alabama. The Tigers next game is Friday as they will not play a midweek game because of final exams.

The Ragin Cajuns were swept by UT-Arlington and now find themselves in second place in Sun Belt’s West Division, two and a half games back of the Mavericks. ULM is in last plact at 6-15.

McNeese State remains in first place in the Southland, despite losing two of three to Sam Houston State. The Bearkats are one game back of the Cowboys in the loss column for first place.

The Lions swept Stephn F Austin and they are now 15-9 in league play and they’ll host Sam Houston State next weekend.

Louisiana Tech swept Western Kentucky and today pitcher Nate Harris was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. The senior tossed his third complete game of the season on Saturday. The Bulldogs are now 11-10 in league play and in fifth place in Conference USA.

The Saints selected five players on defense and two offense with their seven picks in the 2017 NFL draft. The franchise believes they found a lock down cornerback for the next decade with their first round pick of Marshon Lattimore of Ohio State. But Coach Sean Payton says Lattimore will have to earn his spot on the field…:
Cut 17 (22) “outside corner”
New Orleans took a running back in the third round, Alvin Kamara. The Saints had a big need to draft a pass rusher and they waited until the sixth round, defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux of LSU was the fifth round pick of the Miami Dolphins. Tigers wide receiver Malachi Dupre was picked in the seventh round by the Packers. In all, LSU finished the 2017 NFL Draft with eight players selected.

11th-ranked LSU picked up a 4-3 11th inning win over Alabama Saturday to complete the sweep. The victory was LSU’s first in extra innings this season.

20th-ranked UL-Lafayette came up empty handed in a doubleheader against UT Arlington falling 10-2 and 9-3 on Sunday. Its the Ragin Cajuns first series sweep since 2013.

ULM was dealt a 6-1 defeat by Georgia State in the teams’ Sun Belt Conference series finale in Atlanta.

McNeese State, who remain with the lead in the Southland standings, came up short against Sam Houston Sunday as the Cowboys fall 8-6.

Nicholls clinched the series against Lamar with a 5-4 victory Sunday.

Southeastern erased an early Stephen F. Austin lead and cruised to a sweep of the Lumberjacks with an 11-7 win Sunday.

Louisiana Tech completed the three-game sweep over WKU on Sunday afternoon with a 5-1 victory for the Diamond Dogs.

Former Nicholls State offensive lineman Chris Bordelon and defensive back B.T. Sanders signed rookie free agent contracts after the NFL draft.

Louisiana Tech wide receiver Carols Henderson was taken in the 3rd round by the Broncos.

After drafting a cornerback and offensive tackle in the first round, the Saints have three more draft picks today. Picks 10 and 12 in the second round and pick 39 from the third round. Selecting a pass-rusher remains a top priority and it remains to be seend if New Orleans will take a quarterback. The second round begins at 6 PM.

Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette, was taken with the fourth overall pick, and visited with his new team today the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’ll wear number 27 for the Jags. Two picks after Fournette was taken, the New York Jets selected Jamal Adams. And Adams met with the New York media today.

Tre’Davious White was drafted by the Bills and he talked about how he shared a bed with his brother while growing up in Shreveport…
cut 30 (05) “…time soon”
White had 34 pass breakups during his LSU career.

The LSU Tigers go for the series victory against Alabama tonight. The Bayou Bengals beat Alabama last night eight to two as Alex Lange struck out 10 for a victory on the mound. Tonight, senior lefty Jared Poche gets the start for the Tigers. He’s 6-3 with a 3.28 ERA. The Crimson Tide will send senior Nick Eicholtz to the hill. He’s been hit around this season as his ERA is 5.49.

UL Lafayette begins a big series tonight in Texas as the Cajuns visit UT-Arlington. The Ragin Cajuns are looking to extend their nine game winning and their small lead for first place in the Sun Belt West Division. The Mavericks are right behind the Cajuns in the standings and they’ve won five in a row.

27th ranked McNeese State also begins a big series in Texas against Sam Houston State. These are two of the top teams in the Southland. The Cowboys have a 3.5 game lead in the conference standings over the Bearkats. McNeese is trying to win its first league title since 2000.