College football analyst Phil Steele believes the LSU Tigers will be one of the surprise teams in the upcoming college football season. Steele says LSU’s defense will be fast and one of the best in the country and he likes the offensive line…

cut 17 (12) ” the job”

But Steele is predicting that Alabama will win the SEC West.

Aaron Nola picked up his first career Major League Baseball victory Sunday as he lead the Philadelphia Phillies to an 11-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. The former LSU pitching ace gave up four runs on five hits in 7.2 innings, striking out six. Nola also helped his own cause at the plate as he picked up his first major league RBI. Nola is expected to start again Saturday against Atlanta.

The Yankees have called up former Tiger pitcher Nick Goody. Goody has a career 2.35 ERA in the minor leagues.

The Saints have released linebacker Junior Galette, apparently as the result of his recent off the field incidents. Galette has 22 sacks over the last two seasons and signed a lucrative four-year deal last September. In January, Galette was arrested on domestic violence charges, but the criminal charges were dropped. A Youtube video also recently surfaced that purportedly showed Galette swinging a belt at people during a brawl on a beach in Florida. He’s also been recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. By releasing Galette, the Saints may have rid themselves of a potential cancer in the locker room, but his contract will also cause salary cap problems over the next couple of seasons.

St. James High School quarterback Lowell Narcisse will announce his college commitment today. Narcisse is ranked by ESPN as the number one dual threat quarterback in the country for the class of 2017. The junior says his final four schools are LSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Clemson. In his sophomore season, Narcisse threw for over 3,100 yards and 31 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,400 yards and 18 scores. Narcisse will miss his junior season after tearing his ACL during St. James’ spring game.

The Saints have reportedly released their top pass rusher Junior Galette, apparently after the result of his recent off the field incidents. Galette has 22 sacks over the last two seasons and signed a lucrative four-year deal last September. Galette was arrested on domestic violence charges in January, but the criminal charges were dropped. A Youtube video also recently surfaced that purportedly showed Galette swinging a belt at people during a brawl on a beach in Florida. He’s also been recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. By releasing Galette, the Saints may have rid themselves of a potential cancer in the locker room, but his contract will also cause salary cap problems over the next couple of seasons.

A Buffalo television station is reporting that the Bills will likely let offensive line coach Aaron Kromer go. The former Saints assistant was arrested earlier this month after he allegedly punched a minor in the face during a dispute over beach chairs.

Some of the top high school football prospects in the country are at LSU’s elite camp this weekend. Bayou-Bengals-dot-com publisher Derek Ponamsky says this camp gives the coaches a chance to evaluate blue-chippers up close…
cut 30 (13) “…LSU does”
Felipe Franks one of the top quarterbacks in the country, who is already committed to LSU, is at the camp.

Notre Dame of Crowley Football Coach Lewis Cook has presented a proposal to end the public-private split of the high school football playoffs. Cook’s idea would separate the playoffs between metro and rural areas and have divisions based on enrollment. Cook says the proposal is receiving positive reviews.

A lot of eyes are on Lafayette today as a result of last night’s theater shooting that resulted in three fatalities and the injuring of nine others. On twitter, Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth said that he’s praying for peace and healing for their community.

A bunch of the top high school football prospects are on the LSU campus today for what is known as the Elite Camp. Some of the guys attending this camp are players who LSU would like to be part of the 2016 recruiting class that’s currently ranked as the best by 24-7 sports. Next year’s class already has 17 commitments and Bayou Bengals Insider dot com’s Derek Ponamsky is not expecting a bunch of new additions in the coming days…
cut 17 (11) “…see mode”
One of the players at the camp is Felipe Franks, who is one of the top high school quarterbacks, already committed to LSU.

Left-handed pitcher John Valek is reportedly transferring to LSU after spending the last three seasons at Akron. Valek was looking for a new school after Akron decided to cut its baseball program, because of financial reasons. Last season, Valek had a 6-6 record with a 3.25 ERA.

The LHSAA is still looking at ways they can solve their split playoff issue in football. Notre Dame football coach Lewis Cook has proposed a plan to divide the schools for the postseason by enrollment and whether they are school in a metro area or a rural area. Cook says his proposal is receiving positive reviews.

The Sun Belt Conference is reportedly looking at two schools that could be added to the league’s membership. They are Eastern Kentucky and Coastal Carolina. Commissioner Karl Benson has confirmed that Eastern Kentucky has contacted the Sun Belt. The addition of Eastern Kentucky or Coastal Carolina would give them at least 12 teams for basketball and baseball.

Some of the top high school football players in the nation are on the LSU campus this weekend for what is known as LSU’s Elite Prospect Camp. Derek Ponamsky, publisher of Bayou Bengals-dot-com, says headlining the talent is quarterback Feleipe Franks, who is committed to sign with LSU next year…

cut 16 (17) “in New Orleans”

Some of the guys attending this camp are players who LSU would like to be part of the 2016 recruiting class that’s currently ranked as the best in the country by 24-7 sports.

The Sun Belt Conference is reportedly looking at two schools that could be added to the league’s membership. They are Eastern Kentucky and Coastal Carolina. Commissioner Karl Benson has confirmed that Eastern Kentucky has contacted the Sun Belt. The addition of Eastern Kentucky or Coastal Carolina would give them at least 12 teams for basketball and baseball.

Three jockeys at the Evangeline Downs Race Track in Opelousas have been arrested and face charges for their roles in alleged race fixing scheme. Trooper Brooks David says 46-year-old Joseph Patin Junior, his 51-year-old brother, Billy Patin and 24-year-old LeSean Conyers engaged in questionable riding tactics, like pulling the reins, which affected the outcome of a race on June 19th…

cut 24 (09) “…any time”

The Patin brothers also face charges for using an illegal shocking device on horses during two races on July 4th.

East Feliciana High School lineman Tra’Vontae Booker has announced his commitment to play college football at UL-Lafayette. The 6′ 4″ 310 pounder has been a standout on the Tigers’ offensive line, where he has started for three seasons and earned first team All-District 6-2A honors. Booker is the 10th commitment in the Ragin’ Cajuns recruiting class. Booker is a projected defensive tackle for the Cajuns.

Three jockeys at the Evangeline Downs Race Track in Opelousas have been arrested and face charges for their roles in alleged race fixing scheme. Trooper Brooks David says 46-year-old Joseph Patin Junior, his 51-year-old brother, Billy Patin and 24-year-old LeSean Conyers engaged in questionable riding tactics, like pulling the reins, which affected the outcome of a race on June 19th…
cut 13 (09) “…any time”
The Patin brothers also face charges for using an illegal shocking device on horses during two races on July 4th.

The Sun Belt Conference is reportedly looking at two schools that could be added to the league’s membership. They are Eastern Kentucky and Coastal Carolina. Commissioner Karl Benson has confirmed that Eastern Kentucky has contacted the Sun Belt. The addition of Eastern Kentucky or Coastal Carolina would give them at least 12 teams for basketball and baseball.

Louisiana Tech football led the FBS last season with 42 takeaways. Bulldogs Head Coach Skip Holtz seems confident they can duplicate those results, if they put pressure on opposing quarterbacks…
cut 18 (17) “…of defense”
That sound is courtesy of the Conference USA.

LSU’s live on-campus mascot, Mike the Sixth, turns ten years old today. Ginger Guttner, with the LSU Vet school, says Mike is in the prime of his life as Bengal tigers in captivity typically live about 16 years…
cut 4 (06) ‘…while longer”
For his birthday, Mike ate a cake made of meat, wrapped in bacon, topped with boiled eggs and hardened goats milk to create the number 10.

Three jockeys at Evangeline Downs Race Track in Opelousas have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a scheme to fix a race on June 19th. State Police arrested 46-year-old Joseph Patin Junior, his 51-year-old brother, Billy Patin and 24-year-old LeSean Conyers. Master Trooper Brooks David says they started an investigation after receiving a complaint from the Louisiana Racing Commission….
cut 12 (10) “….to win”
David says the Patin brothers also face charges for using an illegal shocking device on the horses during two races on July 4th.
In the NBA…Commissioner Adam Silver is planning on making changes to how the league seeds its playoff teams and that would include no longer guaranteeing a postseason berth for a team that wins its division.
At Conference USA Media Days, Louisiana Tech quarterback Jeff Driskel was a popular person to speak with. Driskel spent four years at Florida, but was never able to achieve the success that most people anticipated when he came out of high school. Bulldogs Head Coach Skip Holtz told reporters that Driskel has earned the team’s respect since he arrived in Ruston…
cut 17 (19) “…him play”
Former LSU wide receiver Avery Peterson is transferring to Cincinnati. Peterson, who is the younger brother of former Tiger star Patrick Peterson, told ESPN he believes Cincinnati is a program on the rise. Avery played in only one game in two seasons at LSU. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school.

Louisiana Tech heads into the upcoming season as the favorite to win the West Division of Conference USA. The Bulldogs have about a dozen starters back from last year’s team that won the West, plus they add former Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel, who begins the season as the starter. Driskel spoke at Conference USA Media Days about transferring from the Gators…

cut 16 (18) “really close”

Tech went nine and five last season and won the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

Defending Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana has eight players on the league’s preseason All-conference football teams. The Lions placed two players on the first team, defensive backs Harlan Miller and Denzel Thompson. Northwestern State has six players on the preseason teams, McNeese State has four players, and Nicholls State has one player.

As Saints rookies reported early for training camp yesterday, the team placed three on their non-football injury list. The list does not specify what the injuries to late-round draft picks David Tull and Marcus Murphy, and rookie free agent Antonio Johnson are, but it does note that all three players remain on the team’s active roster. Saints veterans are scheduled to report for training camp at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on July 29th.

The Louisiana HIgh School Athletic Association has ruled that blue chip defensive end and LSU commitment Andre Anthony is ineligible to play football this season based on transfer rules. Anthony and another athlete were declared ineligible by the LHSAA because their transfer to Edna Karr High School came before the end of now defunct Miller-McCoy Academy’s school year in May. Karr officials have filed an appeal with the LHSAA. Anthony is rated among the top 20 defensive ends in the country according to Rivals-dot-com.

It was Conference USA Media Day today and Louisiana Tech goes into the upcoming season as a favorite to win the West Division. The Bulldogs have a new defensive coordinator. Blake Baker replaces Manny Diaz. Baker was the Bulldogs safeties coach last season and Head Coach Skip Holtz says the defensive scheme won’t change much with Baker, which is what the players wanted…
cut 30 (13) “…this year”
Tech led the FBS with 42 takeaways last season.
LSU Football Coach Les Miles says freshman running back Derris Guice is participating in team activities again after a trip to the hospital last week. Guice reportedly needed medical assistance for severe dehydration while working out at the LSU football practice facility.

Defending Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana has eight players on the league’s preseason All-conference football teams. The Lions placed two players on the first team, defensive backs Harlan Miller and Denzel Thompson. Northwestern State has six players on the preseason teams, including wide receiver Ed Eagan. McNeese State has four players, three on the first team, linebackers Wallace Scott and Bo Brown and defensive back Brent Spikes. Nicholls State has one player, running back Michael Henry.

In NBA News…the Pelicans have reportedly reached a one-year deal with 30-year-old center Kendrick Perkins, who is expected to bring defensive toughness to the Pels. Seth Curry, who averaged 25-points a game for the Pelicans summer league team has signed with Sacramento. And Jimmer Fredette is leaving New Orleans as he’s reportedly agreed to a training camp deal with San Antonio.
In major league baseball….former LSU pitcher Kevin Gausman will start for the Orioles tonight, who vist the first place New York Yankees.

It’s been a long season for the Philadelphia Phillies, who have the worst record in the Major Leagues, but Baton Rouge product and former LSU All-American Aaron Nola gave the city of Brotherly Love something to cheer about last night. Nola threw six strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out six in his major league debut for the Phillies. But Philadelphia still lost one to nothing to Tampa Bay as the only run Nola gave up was to the opposing pitcher, who hit a home run. Nola will make his next start on Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs.

In the NBA….the Pelicans have reportedly reached a one-year deal with 12-year veteran center Kendrick Perkins. The 30-year-old helped the Boston Celtics win an NBA Championship in 2008.

And Seth Curry has signed a two-year deal with the Sacramento Kings. Curry averaged nearly 25 points a game for the New Orleans Pelicans summer league team.

Defending Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana has eight players on the league’s preseason All-conference football teams. The Lions placed two players on the first team, defensive backs Harlan Miller and Denzel Thompson. Northwestern State has six players on the preseason teams, including wide receiver Ed Eagan. McNeese State has four players, three on the first team, linebackers Wallace Scott and Bo Brown and defensive back Brent Spikes and Nicholls State has one player, running back Michael Henry.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth has announced the dismassal of two football players…defensive lineman Marquis White and receiver C-J Bates. Hudspeth says they felt it was in the best interest of the program to part ways. White had 16 tackles last season, while Bates caught 12 passes.

Louisiana College has been picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference. Wildcats quarterback Eason Melancon has been named an A-S-C preseason player of the year.

Former LSU All-American Aaron Nola makes his major league debut tonight when he pitches for the Phillies, who host Tampa Bay. The 22-year-old only spent 13 months in the minors and compiled an ERA of 2.39 while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A this season. Former LSU Tiger pitching great Ben McDonald says his advice for Nola is to stay within himself…
cut 30 (18) “…that point”
25 years ago today, McDonald made his major league debut with Baltimore and and the former LSU star threw a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox.

Conference USA Media Days are tomorrow in south Florida. Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz will be there, along with safety Kentrell Brice and quarterback Jeff Driskel.

ULM Football Coach Todd Berry is very confident about the team he has going into the 2015 season. He calls it the best he’s had since arriving in Monroe to coach the Warhawks. ULM struggled to run the football last season, averaging just 70 yards a game on the ground. Berry expects better results this season….
cut 19 (14) “…with that”
Berry takes over the play-calling duties this season after the team went four and eight last year and lost five games by a touchdown or less.

In basketball…the Lady Techsters have released their schedule for the upcoming season. Coach Tyler Summit’s team opens the season on November 14th at Wisconsin. The Lady Techers will also visit the Bahamas where they’ll play UCLA and they have a three-game homestand in December where they’ll host Mississippi State, UL Lafayette and McNeese.