LSU Atheltic Director Joe Alleva sent out a statement this afternoon encourgaing Tiger fans to remain in the seating areas the next time LSU has a big win in Death Valley. Alleva says LSU represents the achievement of victory with dignity and they do no want to sacrifice safety or sportsmanship. The school has been fined five-thousand dollars for violating the league’s policy against fans rushing onto the field or court.

Meanwhile, work to fix the turf at Tiger Stadium is ongoing. Assistant Sports Turf Manager Hunter Sexton says fans cut out sections of the field as a souvenir…
cut 10 (05) “…their pockets”
Sexton says the bi-week will help the sod grow again and the field should be in good shape for the Alabama game November 8th.

In other football news…Louisiana Tech will be without running back Hunter Lee for the next several weeks because of a broken collarbone.

The Saints have placed wide receiver Joe Morgan on the reserve-suspended list. Coach Sean Payton gave no explanation for the move. Morgan has appeared in one game season. He missed all of 2013 because of an A-C-L injury, but in 2012, he averaged 35 yards a catch. But today’s news could mean the end of Morgan’s career in a Saints uniform.

The Sun Belt Conference has suspended the officiating crew who worked last week’s U-L Lafayette-Arkansas State game for one week. The game was chippy in the second half and brief scuffle broke out after a dangerous play by an Arkansas State player.

The 2014-15 NBA season gets underway for the New Orleans Pelicans tonight as they host the Orlando Magic. Reaching the postseason for the first time since 2011 is the goal for the Pels. Tyreke Evans hopes they can put it all together…
cut 18 (11) “…best of it”

Tonight the NBA season tips off as the New Orleans Pelicans host the Orlando Magic. Many league analysts say Pels power forward Anthony Davis is ready to take another step towards becoming an MVP candidate. He averaged nearly 21 points and ten rebounds last season and was one of the top performers on the US Team that won the gold medal in the World Championships. Tonight’s game gets underway at 7:00 in the Smoothie King Center.

Today is the NFL trade deadline. And the Saints are practicing today, which is rare for a Tuesday, but New Orleans has to, because they are at the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.

In the latest high school football polls…Rummel is the unanimous number one team in Class Five-A. Followed by Destrehan, Ponchatoula, Byrd and Jesuit. In One-A, Mangham is the unanimous number one team, followed by Haynesville, Vermilion Catholic, Kentwood and West St John.

LSU’s Kendell Beckwith has been named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Beckwith had a career-high 11 tackles in the Tigers 10-7 win over the Rebels. Running back Leonard Fournette was named the league’s Freshman of the Week. Forunette had 113 yards rushing and 41 yards receiving.

Louisiana Tech will look to stay undefeated in Conference USA play this Saturday when they host Western Kentucky. The Bulldogs are doing an excellent job forcing turnovers as they’s produced 20 of them this season. Safety Kentrell Brice has an interception and three forced fumbles and the Ruston native gives credit to Tech’s defensive coordinator
cut 20 (10) “…create so many turnovers”

The Sun Belt Conference has reprimanded Ragin Cajuns cornerback Corey Trim, along with offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue and UL strength coach Rusty Whitt for their roles in a brief scuffle that occurred in their game against Arkansas State. Four players were also reprimanded from Arkansas State.

The Pelicans tip-off the NBA regular season tonight by hosting the Orlando Magic. New Orleans has aspirations of battling through the very difficult Western Conference and reaching the playoffs for first time since 2011. The Pels have bolstered their roster with the additions of Omer Asik, John Salmons and Jimmer Fredette and Coach Monty Williams says getting off to a fast start is important…

cut 17 (10) “builds confidence”

Last season, a rash of injuries kept the Pelicans from competing for a playoff spot.

The Southeastern Conference fined LSU $5,000 after fans rushed the field after Saturday’s 10-7 win over then third ranked Ole Miss. The conference ban on fans entering the playing field went into effect in 2004 and this was LSU’s first violation. This last time LSU fans stormed the field was in 2001 when the Tigers defeated Auburn and secured a trip to the SEC Championship Game.

Louisiana Tech is 4-and-0 in Conference USA heading into Saturday’s homecoming match-up against Western Kentucky. Safety Kentrell Brice says the team is exicted they are undefeated in league action, but there’s more work to do…

cut 19 (12) “1-and-0″

The Bulldogs are doing an excellent job forcing turnovers as they’s produced 20 of them so far this season.

LSU linebacker Kendall Beckwith has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Beckwith led the Tigers with 10 tackles in their win over Ole Miss. He also had one tackle for a loss, one pass breakup, and one quarterback hurry. LSU Running back Leonard Fournette was also named the SEC Freshman Player of the Week after earning his third 100-yard rushing game of the season against the Rebels.

The Southeastern Conference announced today LSU will be fined five-thousand dollars, because thousands of fans spilled onto the field following the Tigers thrilling 10-7 win over Ole Miss on Saturday.

The league has also announced that’s LSU next game, November 8th against Alabama, will be televised by CBS and the game will kick-off at 7 PM.

Meanwhile, a private ceremony in Baton Rouge will be held for Martha Miles, the mother of Les Miles, who passed away the night before the win over Ole Miss. Miles received the game ball following the Tigers win over the Rebels…
cut 20 (19) “…great team”

What a performance last night by Saints running back Mark Ingram. The former Heisman Trophy winner rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown in the Saints 44-23 win over the Green Bay Packers. Ingram gives the credit to the guys blocking for him….
cut 30 (10) “…with my instincts”
The Saints will be back on the practice field tomorrow as they play again on Thursday against Carolina. A win over the Panthers and the Black and Gold will be back in first place in the NFC South.

Ragin Cajuns sophomore running back Elijah McCuire has been named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week. McGuire had a career-high 265 yards rushing and four touchdowns in UL Lafayette’s 55 to 40 win over Arkansas State.

McNeese State’s Brent Spikes is the Southland Defensive Player of the Week. Spikes had three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown in the Cowboys 41-21 win over Incarnate Word.

Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns as the Saints blew past the Green Bay Packers 44-23 last night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks had a 50-yard scoring catch and a 4-yard touchdown run as the Black & Gold improve to 3-4 on the season. The Saints face Carolina Thursday night in a showdown for first place in the NFC South.

The LSU Tigers won an old fashioned type of game on Saturday night against Ole Miss. They used a powerful running game and outstanding defense to beat the Rebels 10-7. The defense frustrated Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace, holding him to 176 yards passing and the Tigers running game produced 264 yards on the ground. Quarterback Anthony Jennings threw for 142 yards and a touchdown…

cut 19 (15) “stop us”

Louisiana Tech is one of 12 teams in the FBS that is undefeated in conference play. The Bulldogs improved to 4-and-0 in league action by beating Conference USA rival Southern Miss 31-20. The Bulldogs usually count on Kenneth Dixon to lead their rushing attack, but he was a weapon in the passing game, catching six passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Head Coach Skip Holtz…

Cut 17 (19) “the air”

Quarterback Cody Sokol threw three touchdown passes and had 423 yards through the air.

In other college football action over the weekend: In the Southland, McNeese downed Incarnate Word 41-21, Southeastern lost to Stephen F Austin 27-17, Nicholls was upended by Houston Baptist 31-21, and Northwestern State fell to Central Arkansas 58-35.

LSU and Ole Miss meet for the 103rd time on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. The Tigers head into tomorrow night’s game as a slight underdog against the undefeated Rebels. ESPN College GameDay host Chris Fowler says the matchup is intriguing because LSU is tough to beat at home, and they are trying to knock off a national title contender…
cut 13 (06) “…to it”
Kick-off is at 6:15.

ULM will play its first home football game since September 27th when they take on Texas State tomorrow night in Malone Stadium. The Warhawks are 2-and-1 in the Sun Belt and in the middle of the pack in the conference standings. Quarterback Pete Thomas says winning the league and playing in a bowl game are two goals still in reach….
cut 15 (10) “…get those done”
Kick off against the Bobcats is set for 6:00 on Saturday.

The Saints can possibly turn their season around with a win on Sunday night against Green Bay. The Packers have won four in a row and Quarterback Aaron Rogers has been unstoppable during this streak, with 13 touchdown passes. He goes up against a defense that ranks 28th in passing yards and 27th in points allowed. Kick-off is at 7:30.

Those involved in high school athletics are still buzzing about the sudden departure of L-H-S-A-A executive director Kenny Henderson. His last day on the job is Friday. The search for Henderson’s replacement has already started. Past-president of the LHSAA, Todd Guice, will chair a committee that will seek out qualified candidates….
cut 18 (20) “…budget”
An official reason on why Henderson lost his job was not given. But there’s been unrest within the association over the split of the football playoffs between public and private schools.

ESPN’s College Gameday is setting up on the LSU Parade Grounds. That’s where they’ll broadcast a three-hour pregame show tomorrow morning, prior to tomorrow night’s LSU-Ole Miss game. How big will the two defenses play tomorrow. The Tigers want to put pressure on Ole Miss Quarterback Bo Wallace, while the Rebels will look to add to the 15 interceptions they’ve already collected this season.

Other games of note tomorrow….Louisiana Tech is at Southern Miss, ULM hosts Texas State and Southeastern Louisiana is at Stephen F Austin.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is known for using motivational tactics. Well this time he’s used a cartoon to fire up his players for Sunday night’s game against Green Bay. The cartoon was placed in each player’s locker and it shows one man in a tunnel with a pickaxe inches away from finding diamonds, but giving up, while another man was running full speed towards the diamonds. The words “Never Give Up” are on the bottom.

Kenny Henderson is leaving his post as executive director of the Louisiana High School Atheltic Association. It’s said to be a mutual decision between Henderson and the LHSAA executive committee. Past President of the LHSAA and Ouachita Parish High principal Todd Guice would not say why Henderson will not serve out the remainder of his contract. There’s been unrest within the LHSAA about the recent split of public and private school football playoffs, but Guice says that one issue is not the reason for Henderson’s departure…
cut 17 (16) “…along that topic”
Guice says the search for Henderson’s replacement has already started.

The game of the night in high school football last night was in Shreveport as Byrd remained undefeated with a 24-17 win over Parkway in overtime.

Saints running backs Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson did not practice again today as the team continues preparations for its Sunday night game against Green Bay. There was a report earlier in the week that Thomas would miss a couple of weeks because of a shoulder injury. Robinson has a forearm injury, which could leave the Saints with just Mark Ingram and Travaris Cadet as the two healthy running backs for this weekend.

There’s been a shake-up at the top of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The LHSAA announced today its executive director Kenny Henderson and the association’s executive committee have decided it’s in the best interest that two sides go their separate ways. The decision means Tomorrow will be Henderson’s last day on the job. He’s been LHSAA’s executive director since 2007, but there’s been unrest within the association because of the football playoff split between public and private schools.

Tonight’s New Orleans Saints LHSAA Game of the Week is Ouachita Parish at Ruston.

LSU heads into Saturday’s game against third ranked Ole Miss as a three-and-a-half point underdog. But the Tigers are coming off what might be their best game of the season, a 41-3 victory over Kentucky. Rebels Head Coach Hugh Freeze says it looks to him that some of LSU’s young players are starting to mature…
cut 17 (17) “….bit more”
A low scoring game is possible in Tiger Stadium. LSU is allowing 17 points a game, while the Rebels are allowing ten points a contest.

The Pelicans conclude their preseason schedule tonight with a game against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip off from the Century Link Center in Bossier City is at seven-PM.

The Ragin Cajuns have been picked to finish second in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll. The Warhawks are expected to finish in sixth place.

The Saints and Packers are getting ready to face each other on Sunday night football. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rogers has thrown 18 touchdown passes and just one interception this season and the Pack have a four-game winning streak. New Orleans Q-B Drew Brees is receiving more criticism this season. He threw a costly interception last week and has been picked off seven times this season. He only threw 12 interceptions last year. Brees says the criticism is part of the game…
cut 19 (14) “…than later”
The Saints go into this contest with a turnover margin of minus-eight, while the Packers are a plus ten.

In other NFL news…there are reports coming out of Nashville that former LSU Tiger Zach Mettenberger will start at quarterback this Saturday for the Titans, who face the Houston Texans.

A big question mark heading into Saturday’s game against Ole Miss is whether the Tigers can mount any kind of passing attack against one of the nation’s best defenses. The Rebels have 15 interceptions, seven of them are by senior cornerback Senquez Golson. LSU ranks 98th in the country in passing yards per game.

Expect some points to be scored tonight when Parkway visits Byrd in high school football action. Byrd has scored 40 or more points in all but two of there games. The same could be said for Parkway, who is six and one on the season. Also tonight…Ouachita is at Ruston. Both teams are 4-and-3 on the season.

The Pelicans conclude their preseason schedule tonight with a game against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip off from the Century Link Center in Bossier City is at seven-PM.

The Ragin Cajuns have been picked to finish second in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll. The Warhawks are expected to finish in sixth place in the 11-team league. Georgia State is the preseason favorite.

The 24th ranked LSU Tigers host 3rd ranked Ole Miss this Saturday. This is the highest the Rebels have been ranked in the polls since 1964 and it’s the first time they are 7-0 since the 1962 season. Ole Miss has been winning with great defense, as they’ve allowed a nation low seven touchdowns and they lead the country with 15 interceptions.

In other college football action on Saturday….Northwestern State heads north to play Central Arkansas. Demons Coach Jay Thomas says the Bears have a well rounded offense…
cut 17 (10) “…very well”
Both teams have just one loss in league play.

In basketball news…the LSU Tigers have been picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference. Jordan Mickey is a first team all SEC selection.

The Ragin Cajuns are 3-and-0 in the Sun Belt, after beating conference rival Arkansas State 55 to 40 last night. But the players are not happy with what happened in the final minute of game. During U-L Lafayette’s final extra point try, an Arkansas State player made no attempt to block the kick and dove at offensive lineman Mykhael Quave’s knee. Quave had to be removed from the field on a cart. The Cajuns were extremely upset and here’s what Coach Mark Hudspeth had to say…
cut 30 (17) “…up to par”
The Cajuns next game is November first against South Alabama.

At the Saints practice facility….running back Pierre Thomas did not practice today. Neither did running back Khiry Robinson and center Jonathan Goodwin. Tight end Jimmy Graham was limited.