Several new names are popping up in LSU’s search for a new defensive coordinator. One of those names is Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, who made one-point-three million dollars last season. But Charles Hanagriff, sports director of 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge, says Smart looks at the LSU job as an opportunity to show he can coach, without Nick Saban looking over his shoulder…
cut 17 (09) “…bit faster”
Jeremy Flower of ESPN is also reporting that LSU has shown interest in Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke. And coaching-search-dot-com, says Dallas Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus is a name to an eye on. Eberfus was the defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2001-08.

And Johnathan Ford with Bleed Tech Blue is reporting that Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz will promote safeties coach Blake Baker to defensive coordinator. Baker was a three-year starter at Tulane in the early 2000s.

Pelicans star Anthony Davis scored 34 points last night, but that wasn’t enough as New Orleans fell to Boston 108-100. The Pels gave up 36 points in the 4th quarter to a Celtics team has only 13 wins on the year. New Orleans is now 18-and-19 overall, 6-and-14 on the road as they head to Detroit to face the Pistons on Wednesday night.

In college hoops…Southern improved to 3-and-1 in the SWAC with a 60-52 win over Jackson State. Grambling fell to 0-and-4 in the league as the Tigers lost to Alcorn State 72-70. Southeastern Louisiana was also a loser last night as Sam Houston State dribbled past the Lions 72-59.

Tonight…Northwestern State hosts Abilene Christian. Demons Coach Mike McConathy is going after win number 600 in his career. A win for Northwestern will also push its conference record to three and one. Nicholls State who seeks its first win in Southland conference play, hosts Houston Baptist tonight at six-thirty.

An interesting candidate has emerged for LSU’s vacant defensive coordinator position. Charles Hanagriff, of 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge, reports LSU officials have spoken to Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Smart could be looking for a change of scenery to help build his resume for a potential head coaching job down the road

cut 16 (12) “with him”

The 39-year-old Smart has been Alabama’s defensive coordinator the last seven seasons.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the national college football champions after pounding Oregon 42-20 last night in Dallas. The Buckeyes rushed for 296 yards and 5 touchdowns leading the school to their first national championship since 2002. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer becomes only the second coach to win a national championship at multiple schools. The Buckeyes end their season with a 14-1 record.

The Pelicans did not begin their 5-game road trip the way they wanted as they fell to the Boston Celtics 108-100 last night. Anthony Davis poured in 34 for the Pels, followed by Eric Gordon with 21 and Tyreke Evans’ 19. The Celtics had six players score in double digits. New Orleans falls to 18-19 and travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons tomorrow night.

A pretty rough night for state colleges on the hardwood…

In the Southland Conference, Southeastern Louisiana lost to Sam Houston 59-72. Zay Jackson scored 18 and Joshua Filmore added 17 as the Lions fall to 4-12, 1-2 in the Southland.

UNO was crushed by Incarnate Word 97-66. The Privateers are 1-2 in league play and 5-7 overall.

In the SWAC, Alcorn State outlasted Grambling 72-70 last night. And Southern was able to pull out a win over Jackson State, 60-52.

In Nachitoches tonight, Northwestern State head basketball coach Mike McConathy goes for his 600th career win as the Demons face Abilene Christian in Prather Coliseum.

Two names have surfaced in the search for a new defensive coordinator at LSU. The Baton Rouge Advocate reports Alabama’s Kirby Smart has been in contact with LSU, also Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has also been in touch. Smart is 39-years-old and just completed his seventh season as Alabama’s defensive coordinator. He previously spent one season as an assistant coach at LSU in 2004. Tucker is another former LSU assistant and will likely be let-go by the Bears once they hire a new coach. Chicago’s defenses have been historically bad the last two seasons.

Will New Orleans native Peyton Manning return next season? Manning didn’t play well in the Broncos playoff loss to the Colts yesterday and today, Denver head coach John Fox has decided to move on. Some speculate that Manning will not want to play for another head coach.

In other coaching news….it’s being reported that Louisiana Tech defensive line coach Oscar Giles has accepted a job with the University of Houston and Brad Bradshaw has been named the interim head coach at Bastrop.

In other coaching news….it’s being reported that Louisiana Tech defensive line coach Oscar Giles has accepted a job with the University of Houston and Brad Bradshaw has been named the interim head coach at Bastrop.

The Pelicans begin a five game road trip in Boston tonight. A three-team deal involving New Orleans was finally completed today. Defensive-minded guard Quincy Pondexter comes to New Orleans from Memphis, while Austin Rivers heads to the Celtics. It’s expected that Boston will trade Rivers to the Clippers.

Louisiana Tech’s Raheem Appleby has been named Conference USA Player of the Week. The senior guard averaged 23.5 points and shot 64-percent from the field in two victories on the road last week. The Bulldogs host UAB on Thursday night.

ULM’s Marvin Williams has been named Sun Belt Player of the Week. The senior from Memphis averaged nearly 21 points and nine rebounds in three victories last week. Williams and the Warhawks host Troy on Thursday night.

Have we seen the last of New Orleans native and future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning? The Isidore Newman grad didn’t play well in the Broncos 24-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Manning threw for 211 yards on 46 pass attempts and he goes one and done in the playoffs for the ninth time in his career. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Manning played with a torn right quad, but the Broncos dispute that report.

Meanwhile, the Colts are headed to the A-F-C Championship game, where they’ll face the Patriots. Former LSU Tiger Brandon LaFell caught the winning touchdown pass as New England rallied to beat Baltimore 35-31 on Saturday night.

Former Dutchtown star Eddie Lacy rushed for 101 yards in the Packers 26-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Green Bay will visit Seattle this Sunday at 2 P-M in the N-F-C Championship game.

Tonight in Dallas, it’s the college football playoff national championship game as Oregon faces Ohio State.

The Pelicans finalized a three-team trade today that results in New Orleans receiving forward Quincy Pondexter and a future second round pick. In exchange, the Pels send Austin Rivers to Boston and Russ Smith to memphis. The six-foot-six Pondexter has played in 30 games for Memphis, averaging 4.5 points and two rebounds a game. He also spent his rookie season in New Orleans during the 2010-11 season, averaging almost three points a game.

In college basketball…LSU is 1-and-1 in the SEC after winning in a double overtime against Georgia on Saturday night. This week the Tigers visit Ole Miss on Wednesday and host Texas A-and-M on Saturday.

Louisiana Tech is one of three teams undefeated in the Conference USA standings. The Bulldogs host UAB on Thursday and Middle Tennessee on Saturday.

The Ragin Cajuns are all alone in first place in the Sun Belt at 4-0 and they are at Georgia Southern on Thursday.

Former Dutchtown star Eddie Lacey rushed for 101 yards and quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for over three-hundred yards as the Green Bay Packers edged the Dallas Cowboys 26-21 in NFC Divisional Playoff action yesterday. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns as the Packers will travel to face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Sunday. The Seahawks upended the Carolina Panthers 31-17.

Peyton Manning threw for 211 yards and one touchdown as the Denver Broncos were upset last night in the AFC Playoffs by the visiting Indianapolis Colts 24-13. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns as Indianapolis advances to the AFC Championship game will take on the New England Patriots Sunday night. The Patriots edged Baltimore 35-31.

Was yesterday Peyton Manning’s last NFL game? In yesterday’s post game press conference, when asked if he would return next season, Manning responded ambiguously about his future saying “I could not say that”. This was the first time Manning has shown any doubt about returning to the field since the spinal fusion surgery on his neck.

The Pelicans are expected to finalize a four-team trade today. The Pels agreed to trade guard Austin Rivers to the Celtics on Saturday, part of a three-team deal, which included New Orleans acquiring Quincy Pondexter from the Memphis Grizzlies. The Pelicans also exchanged rookie Russ Smith for a future second-round pick. The Los Angeles Clippers are talking with the Celtics to acquire Rivers.

The Pelicans, who are 18-18 on the season, begin a week-long, five game road trip tonight in Boston.

This weekend in college basketball, LSU outlasted Georgia to pick up their first SEC win of the season 87-84 in double overtime. Tim Quarterman comes off the bench to lead all scorers with 27 as the Tigers improve their record to 12-3 on the season. LSU travels to Oxford to take on Ole Miss Wednesday night.

In the Sun Belt, ULM toppled Texas State, 62-59. The Warhawks have won three straight Sun Belt contests. ULM will try to make it four-in-a-row Thursday night as they host Troy.

Louisiana Tech remains undefeated in Conference USA after their 84-72 road win over Texas-San Antonio.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been added to the 2015 Pro Bowl roster. Brees will replace Steelers Q-B Ben Roethlisberger. For Brees, this is his ninth pro bowl selection. Brees threw for 4,952 yards and 33 touchdowns this past season.

In LSU news…there was a report former Saints defensive coordinator and Illinois and Florida head coach Ron Zook is a candidate to be LSU’s next defensive coordinator. But the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that’s not going to happen.

Former Warhawks Quarterback Cody Wells is back at ULM as he’s been named the’s school’s inside wide receivers coach. Head Coach Todd Berry has also announced that Mario Price will coach the running backs and also assume the role of recruiting coordinator.

Former Auburn and Mississippi State assistant Melvin Smith has been named co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Ragin Cajuns.

The Pelicans host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans will look to snap a two-game losing streak, while the Grizzlies have lost six of their last ten, but their leading scorer Zach Randolph may return tonight after missing the last nine games with a knee injury.

A highly ranked and recruited prep basketball star, Craig Victor, will transfer to LSU from Airzona. He’s six-foot-nine and he’ll be eligible to play in a game after the fall semester of 2015. Victor averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds at St Aug in New Orleans.

The LSU men’s basketball team will host Georgia on Saturday night in its SEC home opener. The Tigers lost in overtime to Missouri on Thursday. Also on Saturday, Louisiana Tech takes a three-game winning streak to Texas San Antonio. U-L-M goes after its thrid straight victory when it visits Texas State.

And in the SWAC….Grambling hosts Southern, the Tigers will look to snap a five-game losing streak. Tip-off is at 6 PM.

UL-Lafayette head football coach Mark Hudspeth has hired former Auburn assistant coach Melvin Smith to be his new assistant head coach. Smith will also serve as the Cajun’s defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator. While at Auburn, Smith helped the Tigers to the 2013 SEC Championship and the BCS Championship game.

The Ragin’ Cajuns also received a National Letter of Intent from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College defensive back Christian Goodlett. Goodlett selected UL-Lafayette over Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech.

LSU announced that its 2017 football season will kick-off at N-R-G Stadium in Houston in the Advocare Texas Kickoff against B-Y-U. It will be the first ever meeting between the Tigers and Cougars on the gridiron.

Louisiana Tech has announced its 2015 non-conference schedule. The Bulldogs kick-off the season September fifth in the newly expanded Joe Aillet Stadium against Southern. Tech travels to Kansas State on September 19th, host U-L Lafayette October 3rd and visit Mississippi State on October 17th.

In college basketball action last night, LSU dropped its SEC opener to Missouri in overtime, 74-67. Missouri sophomore forward Johnathan Williams III lead all scorers with 21 points. LSU sophomore guard Tim Quarterman came off the bench to lead the Tigers with 19 points. Missouri held Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin to just nine points each. LSU falls to 11-3 on the season and will host Georgia Saturday night.

UL-Lafayette remains undefeated in the Sun Belt as they downed Georgia State 84-80. Brian Williams lead the way with 20 points as all five Cajun starters scored in double figures. UL-L is 10-5 and a perfect 4-0 in conference play. They next face Georgia Southern on the road Thursday night.

Also in the Sun Belt, ULM improves to 2-1 in league play as they defeated Texas-Arlington 76-73. Senior Center Marvin Williams poured in 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win. The Warhawks are 8-6 overall on the season and will take on Texas State Saturday night.

And Louisiana Tech stays undefeated in Conference USA play with a 58-45 win over UTEP.

Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop reportedly interviewed with Les Miles, but decided to remain with the Nittany Lions. Glen Guilbeau says Shoop was the best candidate out there named so far….

cut 13 (08) “…Coach Chavis”

A top candidate for the vacant LSU Defensive Coordinator position is no longer under consideration. Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop reportedly interviewed, but decided to remain with the Nittany Lions. LSU beat writer for Gannett newspapers Guilbeau says Shoop was the best candidate Miles has spoken to so far…
CUT 13 (08) Q: ‘coach Chavis’

In college basketball…U-L Lafayette hosts Georgia State in a Big Sun Belt match-up. Both teams are 9-and-5 overall and Georgia State is led by Ryan Harrow, who is averaging 20 points a game. Cajuns Coach Coach Bob Marlin…
cut 19 (22) “…some success”
Tip-off is at 7:15.

Ryan Pace has left as the Saints director of player personnel to become the new general manager of the Chicago Bears. Pace has spent the last 14 seasons in the front office of the Black and Gold. Saints G-M Mickey Loomis said earlier this week that Pace is a talented person, who he expected to lose at some point.

LSU announced today that it will kick-off the 2017 season against B-Y-U in the Advocare Texas Kickoff at N-R-G Stadium in Houston. It will be the first meeting between the Tigers and B-Y-U on the gridiron.

Louisiana Tech has announced its 2015 non-conference schedule. The Bulldogs kick-off the season September fifth in the newly expanded Joe Aillet Stadium against Southern. Tech travels to Kansas State on September 19th, host U-L Lafayette October 3rd and visit Mississippi State on October 17th.

And the 2014 Duck Commander Independence Bowl had its highest TV rating since 2006.

The search for a new LSU defensive coordinator doesn’t appear to be going so well. Coach Les Miles has reportedly interviewed or spoke with several candidates, but so far a front-runner has yet to emerge. LSU beat reporter for Gannett Newspapers, Glen Guilbeau, says Miles may have to promote defensive line coach Brick Haley to replace the departed John Chavis…
cut 11 (07) “…look good”
Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop reportedly interviewed, but has decided to remain with the Nittany Lions. Guilbeau xays Shoop was the best candidate out there named so far.

Louisiana Tech has finalized its non-conference football schedule for next year. The Bulldogs will kick-off the season by hosting Southern on September 5th, Tech will visit Kansas State on September 19th, host U-L Lafayette October 3rd and travel to Mississippi State on October 17th.

And the 2014 Duck Commander Independence Bowl had its highest TV rating since 2006 with a 2.5 rating.

Tough loss for the Pelicans last night as they fell to the Charlotte Hornets 98-94. That spoiled another great outing from Anthony Davis, who had 32 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

In college basketball tonight…LSU and Louisiana Tech face tough challenges on the road. The Fighting Tigers are at Missouri. LSU Coach Johnny Jones likes how sophomore guard Tim Quarterman is playing…
cut 17 (11) “….fun part”

And Louisiana Tech is at UTEP. Bulldogs Coach Michael White is hoping for a big game out of Raheem Appleby, who is averaging 17 points a game…
cut 20 (20) “…our league”
Tip-off in El Paso is at 8 PM.