We’re just under 50 days to the start of the college football season and the success of the LSU Tigers will largely depend on their offense. LSU’s top two wide receivers are back, Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre. Coach Les Miles says they should help quarterback Brandon Harris have a productive season….
cut 17 (20) “…at the bit”
10 LSU Tigers landed on the Preseason Media Days All-SEC teams. Four Tigers are on the first team, running back Leonard Fournette, center Ethan Pocic, linebacker Kendell Beckwith and cornerback Tre’Davious White.

Ragin Cajuns running back Elijah McGuire is one of 43 players on the Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award, which goes to college football’s most versatile player. The Houma native is the only active NCAA player with three-thousand yards rushing and one-thousand yards receiving.

Grambling State, the defending champs of the SWAC’s Western Division, has been picked to finish second in the West this year, behind Prairie View A-and-M. That’s according to a poll of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Southern running back Lenard Tillery is the preseason offensive player of the year. Tillery rushed for 12-hundred yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Former Nicholls standout Chris Thompson is returning to Thibodaux and he’ll serve as the Colonels defensive backs coach. Thompson was a two-time All-American at Nicholls in the early 2000s.

A horse by the name of “Fournette” won his first compeititive race today as the Arkansas-bred three-year-old won at Belmont Race Track in New York. Fournette’s odds to win the race were 14-to-1.

Tough day for former University High of Baton Rouge golfer Patrick Reed as he shot a three-over, 74 during the second round of the Britsh Open. Reed is eight shots back of leader Phil Mickelson, who is 10-under par.

We are 50 days away from LSU’s season opener against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. During his appearance at SEC Media Days, Coach Les Miles says the Tigers will be ready…:
Cut 16 (13) “this point”
Junior running back Leonard Fournette goes into the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate. He was the front-runner for the award for most of last season, but Fournette says individual accomplishments are not his top goal…:
Cut 18 (07) “to Louisiana”
The league’s media selected LSU to finish second overall and second in the Southeastern Conference Western Division. Alabama was predicted to win the SEC championship as the Crimson Tide earned 223 points. LSU was second at 59 points.

Former LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings is officially a Ragin Cajun. UL-Lafayette announced Thursday that Jennings will be immediately eligible to play this fall as a graduate transfer. Coach Mark Hudspeth said Jennings’ experience was a major draw as his current QB lineup do not have a single start between them. Jennings is slated to graduate from LSU in early August and still must get accepted into school.

Former LSU baseball standout and current Fresno shortstop Alex Bregman is back in Louisiana as the Grizzlies began a four game stint against the Zephyrs in Metairie last night. The Astros prospect received some of the loudest cheers when he stepped up to plate, and he later told reporters it was awesome to see some familiar faces, including that of former Tiger & Zephyrs shortstop Austin Nola.

It’s reported that the final defendant in the drug/rape case against former Saints star Darren Sharper plans to plead guilty today. Former St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Brandon Licciardi has agreed to accept a 17-year prison sentence.

The dean of football coaches in the Southeastern Conference addressed reporters at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama today…
cut 28 (15) “…dressed up some”
Coach Les Miles addressed a variety of topics, including the Alton Sterling shooting. He’s hoping the Tigers can unite Baton Rouge and encourages his players to make a difference in the community. Here’s what he said on the SEC Network about quarterback Brandon Harris and his improvement as a passer…
cut 29 (17) “….his time”

Alabama has been picked to win the SEC west by the media who attended the league’s Media Days. LSU was picked to finish second, with Ole Miss, Texas A-and-M, Arkansas, Auburn and Mississippi State rounding out the rest of the division. Tennessee is the preseason favorite in the east, with Florida expected to come in second place.

UL Lafayette has announced former LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings is now a Ragin Cajun. Jennings will have one season of eligibility remaining and can play in 2016, since he graduated from LSU. Jennings started 13 games for the Tigers.

There are reports the Saints are making a strong push to sign 35-year-old receiver Anquan Boldin. He caught 69 passes for the 49ers last season.

Former University High of Baton Rouge golfer Patrick Reed is in a tie for second place after one round of the British Open. Reed is at five-under par, Phil Mickelson is your leader at Royal Troon at eight under par.

LSU coach Les Miles hopes his football team can unite  Baton Rouge, which has dealt with civil unrest following the shooting of Alton Sterling. Miles says he’s also encouraging his players to do what they can to affect change. The coach says Baton Rouge is a great place to live and his football team can make it better…
cut 30 (15) “…postive”
In other LSU football news…kicker Trent Domingue is leaving the team after his scholarship was not renewed. He was 13-of-17 on field goal attempts last year. Domingue’s departure, opens the door for Colby Delahoussaye to be the Tigers starting kicker.

At the British Open, former University High of Baton Rouge golfer, Patrick Reed, is the 1st round clubhouse leader at five-under par.

Taking a look at the defending national champs in college football, a key returner on Alabama’s offense is tight end OJ Howard, who had five catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the Tide’s national championship win over Clemson. Coach Nick Saban says he’s expecting a big year from Howard…
cut 20 (10) “…stretching the field”

Tigers left-handed pitcher Jared Poche is returning for his senior season. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Poche’s return gives LSU a very good one-two punch at the top of their pitching rotation that also includes potential first round draft pick Alex Lange…
cut 18 (11) “…in the fold”
Poche has 27 wins during his three-year career at LSU.

Alabama took the stage Wednesday at SEC Media Days, and for the third straight season, The Crimson Tide heads into preseason camp without a starting quarterback named. There are four guys who will battle for the position once practice begins and they are Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell, Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts. Coach Nick Saban he’s not sure how the competition will develop:
Cut 19 (17) “fall camp”
Saban also defended his two players that were arrested in Monroe and said they will not be suspended. Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones were not indicted on gun and drug charges. To SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, Saban suggested the arresting officers were disgruntled LSU fans, because it seemed fishy that his guys were the only two arrested when there were four people inside the vehicle.

The expectations for the LSU baseball team are even higher for next year. That’s because left-hander Jared Poche will return for his senior season. Poche could have played professional ball after San Diego took him in the 14th round, but the Lutcher native has cut off negotiations with the Padres. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Poche’s return makes a good LSU baseball team on paper, even better…:
Cut 17 (12) “rotation”
Poche has 27 wins during his three-year career at LSU and is 11 victories shy of tying Scott Schultz, who is LSU’s all-time wins leader.

Tonight two former Tiger baseball stars will meet again as Alex Bregman and the Frenso Grizzlies begin a four game series against Austin Nola and the New Orleans Zephyrs. There were reports circling this week that Bregman could be called up by the Astros as soon as this weekend, but Houston’s NO. 2 overall pick last year tweeted Wednesday that he was heading to Louisiana..

Alabama Coach Nick Saban and SEC Network Personality Paul Finebaum had a tense exchange over the arrest of Crimson Tide football players Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones, who allegedly were smoking pot inside a vehicle at a Monroe park last May. Drug and weapon charges were dropped against the players and Saban questioned why his guys were the only two arrested when there were four inside the vehicle…
cut 30 (22) “…in the public”
Finebaum told the Advocate Newspaper that Saban insinuated off-air that the cop was an LSU fan, which is why only the Alabama football players were arrested.

Many SEC schools will wait until preseason camp starts until they name a quarterback, but Texas A-and-M Head Coach Kevin Sumlin has already decided Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight is his guy. At SEC Media days, Sumlin was asked why he named Knight his starter…
cut 18 (15) “…happy there”

Big news for the LSU baseball team. Left-handed starting pitcher Jared Poche will return for his senior season. Poche turned down a chance to play in the San Diego Padres minor league system. He was 9-and-4 last season.

Two former LSU shortstops will compete against each other for the next four days at Zephyr Field in Metairie. Alex Bregman and the Frenso Grizzlies begin a four game series against the Zephyrs tonight. Austin Nola plays for New Orleans.

Alabama Coach Nick Saban says left tackle Cam Robinson and defensive back Hootie Jones will not face suspension if they change their behavior internally. Robinson and Jones were arrested in May in Monroe on drug and gun charges but the charges were dropped. Saban was also asked about the Alton Sterling shooting and protests and said mutual respect from both sides is needed to understand the problem.

On the football field, Mississippi State will have a different look, because quarterback Dak Prescott has moved on to the NFL. So far, a starting QB for the upcoming season has yet to be named, but Bulldogs Coach Dan Mullen is glad wide receiver Fred Ross is back after catching a school-record 88 passes last season…
Cut 17 (13) “the quarterbacks”
LSU’s Malachi Dupre is on the Biletnikoff Award Watch list, which goes to the nation’s top receiver each season. Louisiana Tech’s Carlos Henderson and Trent Taylor are also on the list.

Former LSU baseball star Alex Bregman is back in Louisiana as his Triple-A team, Fresno, is in town to face the New Orleans Zephyrs for a four-game series. Bregman has hit five home runs and has driven in 14 runs in his first eight Triple-A games and is coming off a three-hit performance in the Futures Game in San Diego.

In basketball…the Pelicans announced they’ve released guard Toney Douglas, who started in 18 games for New Orleans last season and averaged nearly nine points a game.

LSU hoops will compete in the Battle Four Atlantis Tournament in the Bahammas and it was announced today they’ll play Witchita on November 23rd at 11 AM. The Tigers would play either Baylor or VCU on the second day of the event.

At SEC Media Days, Mississippi State Football Coach Dan Mullen fielded numerous questions about Jeffrey Simmons. He’s a five-star defensive end who was seen in a video punching a woman. Simmons has received a one-game suspension and is in counseling. Mullen says it’s his hope he can mold Simmons into a respectful adult..:
Cut 16 (15) “in life”
Reports also heard from Georgia Tuesday, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Taking the stage today will be Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Missouri. On deck Thursday will be LSU, Ole Miss and South Carolina.

In last night’s All Star Game, former LSU pitcher and Astros closer Will Harris ended up walking away from the game a hero in helping the American League defeat the National League 4-2. Harris escaped a major 8th inning bases-loaded jam to preserve the victory for the AL in the 87th Midsummer Classic on Tuesday night. It was the first All-Star game appearance for Harris. Former Ragin Cajun Jonathan Lucroy, catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, made his second appearance in an All Star game last night.

For the second straight season LSU linebacker Kendell Beckwith was named to the Butkus Award Watch List released Tuesday. The award is presented each season to the nation’s best linebacker.

LSU gymnastics signee Ruby Harrold was chosen Tuesday to the five-woman Great Britain team that will compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games next month. With her selection, at least 13 former, current or future LSU athletes will be in Rio for the Olympics August 5th-21st.

The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly waived guard Toney Douglas Tuesday.

Saints Head Coach Sean Payton told the NFL Network he has yet to see regression in the play of quarterback Drew Brees. The two have been together since the 2006 season and Brees is coming off a very good season, where he threw for 48-hundred yards and 32 touchdowns. And he hit a home run at a celebrity softball game at the All-Star game in San Diego.

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson celebrates his 89th birthday. He’s the third oldest owner in the NFL behind Chicago’s Virginia McCaskey and San Diego’s Alex Spanos.

Tonight is the Major League Baseball All-Star game. There are two players with Louisiana ties to the game. Former LSU pitcher Will Harris is making his first All-Star game appearance after sensational first half with the Houston Astros. And former Ragin Cajuns Jonathan Lucroy is in the All-star game for a second time in his career as he’s had a nice season for the Milwaukee Brewers.

LSU’s Kendell Beckwith has been named to the Butkus Award watch list which goes to the nation’s top linebacker.

LSU visits Florida on October 8th and the Gators have yet to settle on a starter this season. Luke Del Rio is the favorite to win the job and Florida head coach Jim McElwain says Austin Appleby is also competing for that job….
cut 18 (13) “…takes that step”

The Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings 70-66 in summer league action last night. Buddy Hield had 23 points on 10 of 23 shooting, he was 3-of-12 from three point territory. Cheick Diallo had five points and seven rebounds.

A big storyline heading into this SEC football season is the numerous quarterback battles that will take place during August camp. Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn has yet to decide on a starting quarterback this season. Jeremy Johnson, returning starter Sean White and junior college transfer John Franklin the Third will battle for snaps this fall. Auburn’s coach says the guy who gives them the best chance to win, will be the starting QB…
cut 17 (19) “…quarterback strengths”
LSU visits Auburn on September 24th and ULM faces the War Eagles on October 1st.

LSU’s Kendell Beckwith has been named to the Butkus Award watch list which goes tot he nation’s top linebacker.

Saints Head Coach Sean Payton told the NFL Network he has yet to see regression in the play of quarterback Drew Brees. The two have been together since the 2006 season and Brees is coming off a very good season, where he threw for 48-hundred yards and 32 touchdowns. And he hit a home run at a celebrity softball game at the All-Star game in San Diego.

The Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings in summer league action last night. Buddy Hield had 23 points on 10 of 23 shooting, he was 3-of-12 from three point territory. Cheick Diallo had five points and seven rebounds.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey made a phone call to LSU President F. King Alexander to talk about the protests in Baton Rouge over the shooting death of Alton Sterling by cops. The commissioner says this is one of those times in our nation where we weep, we mourn, for those families and cities who have experienced loss.