The Saints first practice of training camp is in the books. Veteran safety Jairus Byrd was seen working with the starters during the full-team drills. Coach Sean Payton says Byrd is ready to go after appearing in just 17 games the last two seasons…
cut 30 (20) “…extremely well”
A key to improving the Saints defense this season will be creating more turnovers, but so far Byrd has just one interception in his two seasons in New Orleans.

In baseball news…former LSU pitcher Anthony Ranaudo’s first major league hit was a home run, but Ranauado and the White Sox lost to the Cubs 8-1. Alex Bregman remains hitless after three games.

You never know what LSU football coach Les Miles will have to say when he addresses the Baton Rouge Rotary Club and that was the case again this year. The Mad Hatter talked about the day he was beat up by his elementary school bully, Bobby Piper, who kept stealing his lunch money…
cut 17 (21) “…ditch”
Miles and the Tigers begin fall camp next week.

The College Football playoff has listened to complaints about having the semifinals on New Year’s eve. The CFP says in future years the semifinals will either take place on New Year’s Day or Saturdays or if New Year’s eve is a federally observed holiday. So for instance, in the 2018 season, the semis will take place on December 29th.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles hits on a variety of topics during his annual speech before the Baton Rouge Rotary Club. One of them was about the tragic shooting of three law enforcement officers. Miles had this to say about the shooter…:
Cut 16 (21) “to me”
State Police Col. Mike Edmonson, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, and Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie were all there.

The New Orleans Saints have signed wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to a one-year deal, according to ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter. Formerly of the Giants and Colts, Nicks is entering his 8th season in the NFL. Last year, the wide receiver from North Carolina played in six games, catching seven passes for 54 yards.

Many Saints fans are expected to make their way to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where the Black and Gold are holding training camp. The region was hit with devastating flooding about a month ago, but Kristy Godby with the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the area has recovered…:
Cut 13 (09) “the floods”
This is the third year the Saints have held their camp at the Greenbrier.

Quarterback Levi Lewis, from Scotlandville Magnet High in Baton Rouge, committed to UL-Lafayette. Lewis becomes the Ragin’ Cajuns second Class of 2017 QB commit.

It’s a slow start to former LSU star Alex Bregman in the majors with the Houston Astros, but he placed first overall on MLB.com’s mid-season prospect rankings. It was his performance in the minors that bumped him up to the top spot on the list.

The Saints begin their third training camp at the Greenbrier as its reporting day in West Virginia. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says one of the big camp battles will be along the offensive line. He says last year’s first round pick Andrus Peat, Senio Kelemete and Tim Lelito will battle for starting positions at right and left guard…
cut 17 (12) “…two guard spots”
Detillier says kicker is another camp battle to watch. Kai Forbath is battling with former Buccaneer Connor Barth.

LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye said in a social media post that he anticipates he’ll make a full recovery in a very short amount of time. Delahoussaye was the lone survivor in a one-vehicle crash in Wisconsin that claimed the lives of two others.

Sam Houston State has been picked by the league’s coaches and sports information directors to win the Southland Conference this season. The Bearkats return 16 starters from a team that played in the FCS national semifinals last season. McNeese State is picked to end the season in second place, Southeastern and Northwestern are projected to finish in the middle of the pack, while Nicholls is expected to end the year in 10th place in the 11-team league.

LSU has received a verbal commitment from six-foot-four, 295-pound defensive tackle Neil Farrell. The 18th verbal pledge of the 2017 class is from Mobile. Farrell turned down scholarship offers from Alabama, Florida State and USC.

Former LSU basketball player Randy Livingston has been named as an assistant men’s basketball coach for the Tigers.

Alex Bregman remains hitless after two days in the major leagues.

And UL Lafayette announces they are selling the chairback seats from the old grandstand at Tigue Moore Field.

The Saints report to training camp today as they look to avoid a third straight losing season. New Orleans defense has been among the worst in the NFL the last couple of seasons. Dennis Allen is the defensive coordinator this year, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the team lacks quality pass rushers on the roster….
cut 16 (12) “…big question mark”
Hau’oli Kikaha was expected to be that pass rusher to go along with Cam Jordan, but Kikaha tore his ACL. The coaching staff will take a long look at Kasim Edebali, Obum Gwacham and Davis Tull.

Former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu has been placed on the physically unable to perform list by the Arizona Cardinals. The Honey Badger is still recovering from a torn ACL.

The Southland Conference Media Day will take place today in Lake Charles at L’auberge. Sam Houston State is the preseason favorite to win the league as the Bearkats return 16 starters from a team that reached the semifinals in the FCS playoffs last year. McNeese went 10-0 last year in the regular season, but they have a new coach and need to find a new starting quarterback.

LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye said in a social media post that he anticipates he’ll make a full recovery in a very short amount of time. Delahoussaye was the lone survivor in a one-vehicle crash in Wisconsin that claimed the lives of two others. Delahoussaye reportedly has second-degree burns on his left thigh and some bruising and stitches.

Former LSU basketball player Randy Livingston has been named as an assistant men’s basketball coach for the Tigers.

Alex Bregman remains hitless after two days in the major leagues.

And UL Lafayette announces they are selling the chairback seats from the old grandstand at Tigue Moore Field.

Saints players are arriving at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, as tomorrow is reporting today for training camp. Starting left tackle Terron Armstead will apparently start camp on the physically unable to perform list. Armstead is reportedly dealing with a soft-tissue injury and should return in a couple of weeks. For the third consecutive year, the Saints are holding camp at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.

Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz has expressed confidence that his team can reach a bowl game for a third consecutive season, even though they return just four starters on offense and two on defense. During an interview on ESPN-3, Holtz talked about his new starting quarterback, senior Ryan Higgins…
cut 30 (13) “…between your ears”
Last year, the Bulldogs went 9-4, 6-2 in Conference USA.

UL Lafayette football coach Mark Hudspeth says he’s looking forward to the compeitition at quarterback when fall camp begins next month. Jordan Davis, who played in four games, will have a chance to start this season, but Hudspeth says he’ll need to beat out former LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings…
cut 26 (25) “…each day”

Former LSU star Alex Bregman is expected back in the line-up tonight for the Astros. Bregman is still looking for his first major league hit after his 0-for-4 performance last night versus the Yankees.

And former LSU basketball player Randy Livingston has been added to Coach Johnny Jones staff as an assiatant coach.

The Saints are getting ready to begin training camp as the players are required to report to camp tomorrow. Starting left tackle Terron Armstead will reportedly start camp on the physically unable to perform list. The report goes on to say that Armstead is dealing with a soft-tissue injury and should return in a couple of weeks. For the third consecutive year, the Saints are holding camp at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.

After a nearly 4-hour meeting, the LHSAA Executive Committee decided Eddie Bonine will remain the director of the organization. Bonine referred to the LHSAA as a “proverbial dumpster fire” in a report to the N-F-H-S, which led to a special meeting. LHSAA President Vic Bonnaffee couldn’t elaborate what went into the decision to keep Bonine…:
Cut 13 (10) “no comment”
During the meeting Bonine apologized for his dumpster fire comment.

ULM is heading into the 2016 football season after winning just two games a year ago. Senior wide receiver AJalen Holley says the players are determined not to have another bad season…
cut 19 (12) “…get better”
ULM has nine starters returning on offense, four on the offensive line, but they’ve been picked to finish last in the league under first year head coach Matt Viator.

In SEC football news…Quarterback Treon Harris has decided to transfer from Florida. He’s the seventh quarterback to leave Gainesville in the last four years. Harris was also suspended three times during his time at Florida.

Former LSU star Alex Bregman is expected back in the line-up tonight for the Astros, who host the Yankees at Minute Maid Park. Bregman is still looking for his first major league hit after his 0-for-4 performance last night.

Former LSU star shortstop Alex Bregman made his debut in the majors last night, playing third base for the Astros. He went 0-4 on the night in Houston’s 2-1 loss to the Yankees at Minute Maid Park, but he put on an incredible performance on defense. He was greeted with a standing ovation as he stepped into the batter’s box for the first time in the 2nd — and he later told reporters it was the most fun he’s ever had.

Eddie Bonine remains the executive director of the LHSAA. Emelie Gunn has more details…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

UL Lafayette football coach Mark Hudspeth says he’s looking forward to the competition at quarterback when fall camp begins next month. He says even tho there’s uncertainty on who will start at QB, he believes the offense can still put up big numbers thanks to senior running back Elijah McGuire:
Cut 17 (12) “make plays”

New Warhawks Head Football Coach Matt Viator made his first appearance at Sun Belt Media Day. He was asked if the rebuilding job he faces at ULM was similar to one he faced at McNeese when he took over as the Cowboys Head Coach ten years ago…:
Cut 18 (20) “to do” (2x)

Former LSU star Alex Bregman will play third base and bat sixth tonight for the Houston Astros as the Albuquerque native makes his major league debut tonight. Bregman will try to get his first major league hit off of Michael Pineda and the Yankees. He’ll wear number two and he’s expected to also play left field as he tries to help the Astros get back to the playoffs.

LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye is lucky to be alive after surving a car crash that killed two others in Wisconsin. Delahoussaye was in the back seat of the car at the time of the accident and suffered minor injuries. The kicker is heading into his senior season at LSU and his high school football coach at New Iberia, Rick Hutson, says Delahoussaye says is really excited for this year…
cut 13 (04) “…played or not”
Delahoussaye was in Wisconsin to participate in the Kohl’s Kicking Camp and is expected back in New Iberia today.

After a lengthy meeting, the LHSAA executive committee has decided to keep executive director Eddie Bonine. We’ll have more on this story.

At Sun Belt Media Day, Commissioner Karl Benson believes the league has reached a level of stability and doesn’t believe any team would leave the league to join another non-Power 5 conference. But Benson understands that if the Big 12 comes calling, it would be foolish for a Sun Belt school not to listen.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth announced wide receiver Devin Scott is out for the season with a knee injury. Scott had 12 catches for 202 yards last season.

In the NFL….former Saint Junior Galette has torn his achilles tendon and he’ll miss the 2016 season for the Washington Redskins. Galette missed the 2015 season after tearing his Achilles in his other leg.

And in basketball…former LSU Tiger Tim Quarterman has signed a partially-guaranteed training camp contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Former LSU star Alex Bregman will make his major league debut tonight with the Houston Astros, who host the New York Yankees at 7 PM. Bregman has been hitting the cover off the ball in the minors. In Double and Triple-A, Bregman has a .306 batting average with 20 homers and 61 RBIs. He’ll likely play third base or left field with Houston, who is two and a half games back of Texas for first place in the American League West.

In football news…LSU kicker Colby Delhoussaye is expected back in Louisiana today after suffering what has been described as minor injuries in a fatal wreck in Wisconsin. Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler died in the crash, when the driver lost control on wet pavement and struck a tree. Delahoussaye was in the back seat of the car.

And LSU received a verbal commitment from four-star cornerback Kary Vincent, who has a 4-3 speed and he’s from Port Arthur, Texas.

The LHSAA Executive Committee has a special meeting this afternoon where the only item on the agenda is to discuss the comments made by executive director Eddie Bonine that referred to the organization as a “proverbial dumpster fire.” Executive committee member Tommy Hodges says they’ll discuss the controversial statement…:
cut 4 (06) “the state”
But he disputes reports that they are seeking to buy out Bonine’s contract.

The NFL has determined quarterback Peyton Manning did not use HGH or any performance enhancing drug. The’s league investigation included interviews with witnesses, a review of records and lab analysis.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office says sports radio host and former LSU basketball player Jordy Hultberg was arrested over the weekend on battery charges. Hultberg allegedly shoved his wife into a dresser after she caught him with another woman.

The LHSAA executive committee meets today to discuss negative comments made by executive director Eddie Bonine. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye was hospitalized in a car crash that killed 2 others in the vehicle Saturday night. According to reports, the accident happened in Wisconsin and the others killed were 22 year-old Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and 24 year-old Michigan State punter Mike Sadler. Authorities say Sadler was the driver and he apparently lost control of the vehicle on the wet road and hit a tree. Delahoussaye was the only survivor. He suffered minor injuries.

Former LSU baseball player Ryan Schimph set a rookie record for the Padres for home runs in a month following his ninth against Washington on Sunday. The Covington native who helped LSU to the 2009 College World Series title has been on fire since being called up to the Majors on July 1st.

As expected, the Houston Astros have called up former LSU star Alex Bregman. He’ll make his debut today against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park in Houston, likely at third base.

C-USA football media days kick off today in Irving. Southern Mississippi was picked to win league’s West Division. Louisiana Tech was picked to finish second.

UL-Lafayette Coach Mark Hudspeth and ULM coach Matt Viator will take part in Sun Belt Media Day which begins today at the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office says sports radio host and former LSU basketball player Jordy Hultberg was arrested over the weekend on battery charges. Hultberg allegedly shoved his wife into a dresser after she caught him with another woman.