Bill Arnsparger, who guided the LSU Tigers to an SEC title in football in 1986, has passed away at his home in Alabama. Arnsparger was the head coach of the Fightning Tigers from 1984 to 1986, compiling a record of 28-8-and-2. Arnsparger also had a great run as an assistant coach in the NFL as his teams made the Super Bowl six times. He was the defensive coordinator of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins.

Three LSU Tigers have been named to the preseason All-SEC first team. They are sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, offensive lineman Vadal Alexander and defensive back Jalen Mills.

In a poll of the league’s head football coaches, Georgia Southern is picked to repeat as Sun Belt champions. UL Lafayette received three first-place votes and finished second in the voting. ULM was selected seventh in the 11-team preseason poll.

Former LSU all-american Aaron Nola will make his Major League debute on Tuesday as the right-hander will get the start for the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia picked Nola in the first round last year and he’s quickly moved up the Phillies minor league system. He was 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 18 starts in Double-A and Triple-A this season.

The SWAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors have picked Grambling State to win the West Division. Southern has been projected to finish in second place. Grambling is the favorite to win the West, even though they don’t have one player, who is first team All-SWAC offense or defense.

Former McNeese State basketball star Edmond Lawrence has passed away at the age of 62. The seven-footer was a four-time All-Southland Conference selection from 1973-76. Lawrence is the school’s all-time leading rebounder and shot blocker and he’s ranked second on McNeese’s all-time scoring list. “Big E” as he was nicknamed went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Three LSU Tigers have been named to the preseason All-SEC First team and they are running back Leonard Fournette, offensive lineman Vadal Alexander and defensive back Jalen Mills. Fournette was also on the second team as an all-purpose player and a third teamer as a return specialist.

UL Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire is one of 50 oplayers on the 2015 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch list. The junior from Houma rushed for 12-hundred yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

The SWAC is having its football media day today. Grambling State has been picked to win the Western Division, while the Southern Jaguars are expected to finish in second place.

And Conference USA needs to find a new commissioner. Current commish, Britton Banokwsky is leaving the league to become the executive director fo the College Football Playoff Foundation, which is the organization’s charitable arm.

Former LSU pitcher Aaron Nola has received the call to the big leagues. The Phillies plan to start their former first round pick on Tuesday when Philadephia hosts Tampa Bay at Citizens Bank Park. Nola is 10-and-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 18 starts between stops on the Double-A and Triple-A minor league levels.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association announces it has finalized a four-year agreement with the officials association, which means high school sporting events will go on as scheduled this fall. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says this is an agreement that needed to be done and he’s happy they were able to take the final step.
cut 13 (08) “of fall sports”
The LHSAA says the agreement results in raises for officials in seven sports, including football. The deal still needs to be approved by state principals during their January meeting.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association announces it has finalized a four-year agreement with the officials association, which means high school sporting events will go on as scheduled this fall. The deal still needs to be approved by state principals during their January meeting. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the agreement also allows for the establishment of a sports officials sub-committee to discuss future negotiations for fee schedules and other items…

cut 15 (06) “and so forth”

This agreement prevents a threatened work stoppage by Louisiana High School Officials Association referees and gives raises for officials in seven sports, including football.
In NBA Summer League play, the Pelicans improve to 4-0 after a 97-81 win over the Washington Wizards. Seth Curry finished with a game high 26 points for the Pels. Curry is the leading scorer in the Las Vegas Summer League. The Pelicans next face Golden State Saturday night.

The Pelicans have also announced the signing of former Alabama star Alonzo Gee. The free agent guard played for Denver and Portland last season, averaging 4.5 points a game.

Camping World, the nation’s number one retailer of RV’s, RV accessories, and RV-related services, has picked up the title sponsorship of the Independence Bowl. Independence Bowl Chairman Kyle McInnis says this agreement means the I-Bowl has a solid partner for several years…

cut 26 (11) “doesn’t happen”

McInnis says the sponsorship will last through the 2019 game.

UL-Lafayette standout running back Elijah McGuire has been named a candidate for the 2015 Doak Walker Award. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back. The junior from Houma rushed for over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. McGuire was previously named to the Paul Hornung Award and Maxwell Award watch lists. The Doak Walker Award will be handed out December 10th.

In a poll of media members, the LSU football team was picked to finish third in the highly competitive SEC West. For the Tigers to win the toughest division in football, they need better play out of the quarterback position. Coach Les Miles thinks they’ll get that…
cut 11 (09) “…more evident”
Last year’s starter, Anthony Jennings, is one of three players who is suspended from the team. But Miles is optimistic they’ll be able to return. The mad hatter is also counting on a big season from running back Leonard Fournette…
cut 9 (13) “…in the weight room”
And Miles says freshman running back Derrius Guice is OK, after passing out while preparing for the upcoming season. Miles expects some tests will be done on Guice.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association announces it has finalized a four-year agreement with the officials association, which will prevent a work stoppage by referees. The LHSAA says the agreement results in raises for officials in seven sports, including football.

Camping World is the new title sponsor of the Independence Bowl. The Hammond based company is the nation’s number one retailer of RV’s, RV accessories, and RV-related services. Independence Bowl Chairman Kyle McInnis says they are excited that the game is being sponsored by a large national company…
cut 15 (09) “….great partnership”
McInnis says the sponsorship will last through the 2019 game. This year’s game will be played on December 26th in Shreveport.

And the Pelicans have announced the signing of former Alabama star Alonzo Gee. The free agent guard played for Denver and Portland last season, averaging 4.5 points a game.

LSU Coach Les Miles expressed plenty of optimism about the upcoming season during his talk today at SEC Media Days in Hoover. When asked about the three suspended players, including Quarterback Anthony Jennings, Miles says he anticipates they will return…:
CUT 10 (10) “legal process”
Running back Derrius Guice collapsed at the football practice facility last night and Miles says they don’t know what the incoming freshman’s ailment is but he’s undergoing tests at a hospital in Baton Rouge.

Miles says they expect to still use two quarterbacks, Jennings and Brandon Harris and their play has improved…:
CUT 1 (09) “more evident”

The Media has picked LSU to finish third in the West, Alabama to win the West, but Auburn to win the overall SEC title.

The Steve Gleason Act is heading to President Obama’s desk for his signature. Former Saints player Steve Gleason, who has A-L-S, pushed this legislation after he learned that Medicare funding for speech generating devices was significantly scaled back. US Representative Steve Scalise of Metairie…:
cut 14 (10) “that voice”
The measure will make these devices more accessible to people who have ALS.

After stellar seasons in sports, Louisiana Tech says they’ve reached a record for donations made to its athletics program…:
CUT 11 (05) “for that”
Senior Associate Athletic Director Marco Borne says these massive donations point towards Louisiana Tech positioning itself for another outstanding year in sports and in the classroom. Tech football won a bowl game in December and the men’s basketball team just won its third straight regular season conference championship.

LSU Athletic Department Officials are so far not commenting on the condition of freshman signee tailback Derrius Guice who was seen leaving the football operations building in an ambulance Wednesday after collapsing according to sources. Coach Les Miles is expected to give an update today at SEC Media Days. Guice is 18 and was ranked as the No. 2 prep tailback in the nation out of Catholic High by Rivals.com.

Louisiana Tech announces a record for donations made to LTAC, which is the organization that helps fund the school’s athletic programs. The school says during the 2014-2015 fiscal year, 1.1 million dollars was donated to LTAC and the athletic department received another 1.5 million dollars in unrestricted donations. Senior Associate Athletic Director Marco Borne…:
CUT 1 (06) “program”
Tech football won a bowl game in December and the men’s basketball team just won its third straight regular season conference championship.

The Steve Gleason Act is heading to President Obama’s desk for his signature. The legislation is named after former Saints player Steve Gleason, who has A-L-S. The measure will make speech generating devices more accessible to people who battle this disease that impacts the brain’s ability to control muscle movement. US Representative Steve Scalise of Metairie…:
CUT 13 (08) “other people”
Gleason pushed this legislation after he learned that Medicare funding for these type of devices was significantly scaled back.

The SEC Network announces plans to run a new Storied documentary on Bo Rein who suddenly died in a plane crash before he ever coached his first game at LSU. The Tigers hired Rein at the end of the 1979 season in hopes of revitalizing the program. Rein died in the plan crash in January 1980 on the way home from a recruiting trip. The title of the documentary is “The Bo You Don’t Know” and is slated to run in September.

LSU’s SEC opener is September 12th at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are once again led by Louisiana native Dak Prescott, who led the Bulldogs to a 34-29 win over the Tigers last season. State head coach Dan Mullen says Prescott has improved in getting rid of the football…
cut 18 (22) “…the chains”
While Prescott is back, the Bulldogs have to replace seven starters on offense and eight on defense.

LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says defensive tackle Travonte Valentine is no longer on the football team. Valentine didn’t play at LSU last season, because of eligibility issues.

Louisiana Tech has been picked to repeat as West Division champs in a preseason vote conducted by a panel of media members that cover Conference USA schools. After winning the West last year, Tech brings back running back Kenneth Dixon, safety Xavier Woods, cornerback Adarius Barnes and safety Kentrell Brice, while also adding former Florida quarterback Jeff Driskell. Rice is picked to finish in second place in the West, and UTEP in third place. Western Kentucky is favorite in the East.

The Biletnikoff Award Watch list came out today. LSU’s Travin Dural from Breaux Bridge is on that list. So is Louisiana Tech receiver Trent Taylor, who had nine touchdowns last season. ULM wide receivers Rashon Ceaser and Ajalen Holley are both on the list.

And it’s been announced that the SEC Storied Documentary on former LSU football coach Bo Rein will air on the SEC Network on September 15th. Rein was hired in December 1979, but never coached a game, as he died in a plane crash a few weeks later.

LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette has confirmed reports that Tigers defensive tackle Travonte Valentine is no longer on the football team. The blue-chip recruit is reportedly taking his talents to Arizona Western Community College. Valentine didn’t play last season because of eligibility issues and he spent the spring on academic suspension.

LSU’s former defensive coordinator John Chavis will return to Baton Rouge on November 28th, when LSU hosts A&M. Aggies Coach Kevin Sumlin says Chavis leaving Baton Rouge for College Station is just another chapter in a spicy rivalry between the two schools…
cut 17 (17) “…the field”
Sumlin believes the hiring of Chavis will make them a tougher team physicall and mentally.

Louisiana Tech has been picked to repeat as West Division champs in a preseason vote conducted by a panel of media members that cover Conference USA schools. After winning the West last year, Tech brings back running back Kenneth Dixon, safety Xavier Woods, cornerback Adarius Barnes and safety Kentrell Brice, while also adding former Florida quarterback Jeff Driskell. Western Kentucky is favored to win the East Division, while last year’s CUSA champ, Marshall, is picked to finish second in the East.

The Biletnikoff Award Watch list came out today. LSU’s Travin Dural from Breaux Bridge is on that list. So is Louisiana Tech receiver Trent Taylor, who had nine touchdowns last season. ULM wide receivers Rashon Ceaser and Ajalen Holley are both on the list.

At the Major League Baseball All-Star game last night, former LSU Tiger DJ LeMahieu went 0-for-2 at the plate as the National League lost to the American League six to three in the midsummer classic.

Defensive coordinator John Chavis’ move from LSU to Texas A&M was a topic for discussion when Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin appeared at SEC Media Days. Sumlin admitted he went after Chavis after his LSU defenses kept Aggie offenses in check…

cut 16 (24) “needed it”

The “Chief” will return to Baton Rouge on November 28th, when LSU hosts A&M.

The Louisiana High School Coaches Association has hired Terence Williams as their new director. The former Redemptorist and Donaldsonville football coach is the second full-time director of the LHSCA, succeeding Gary Duhe who held the position for the past two years.

Former Dutchtown standout wide receiver Shelby Christy announced on twitter that he’ll be transferring to U-L Lafayette. Christy signed with Mississippi State out of high school, but didn’t play in the 2013 or 2014 seasons because of injuries. Due to NCAA transfer rules, he will not be able to play this season.

In last night’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout became the first player to hit a lead off home run in the game in 38 years as the American League defeated the National League 6-3. Trout also became the first player to take home the game’s MVP award two years in a row. Former LSU Tiger DJ LeMahieu went 0-2 at the plate for the National League. With the win, the American League champion will get home field advantage in this year’s World Series.

UNO has released its 2015-16 basketball schedule and it features the Privateers bringing back some non-conference in-state rivalries. UNO will face Tulane on December 2nd and UL-Lafayette on December 21st. The Privateers finished last season with an 11-18 record and their first Southland Conference Tournament appearance since 2010.

Former LSU Tiger star DJ LeMahieu will start at second base for the National League All-Star team in tonight’s midsummer classic. LeMahieu will bat ninth. On the season, he’s hitting .311 with four home runs and 35 RBIs.

At the SEC football Media Days, the newest coach in the league, Florida Jim McElwain met with reporters. He’ll bring his Gators to LSU on October 17th. McElwain takes over for the fired Will Muschamp, who struggled to put together a quality offense in Gainesville. McElwain says there’s talent on his roster to win games…
cut 18 (19) “….help us develop”
McElwain has to yet settle on a starting quarterback, the battle is between Will Grier and Treon Harris.

Former Dutchtown standout wide receiver Shelby Christy has announced on twitter he’s transferring to U-L Lafayette. Christy signed with Mississippi State out of high school, but didn’t play in 2013 or 2014 because of injuries. He will not be able to play this season because of NCAA transfer rules.

The Sun Belt has announced that UL Lafayette led all football teams in that conference with a 2.81 GPA.

Tulane and H-L Bourgeois High School is mourning the loss of one of their star football players. JaJuan Dawson’s body was recovered from a Dallas-area lake last night in an apparent drowning. He was 37-years-old. Dawson was a three-time All-Conference USA selection in the late 1990s.

Louisiana Tech places four players on the preseason All-Conference USA Team, they are Vernon Butler, Kenneth Dixon, Trent Taylor and Xavier Woods.