For the first time since 2004, Louisiana Tech and UL Lafayette will face off on the football field. The two head coaches for the respective teams are glad the in-state rivalry has been restored, but Bulldogs Head Coach Skip Holtz says getting a win on Saturday would ease the pain of the loss suffered against Oklahoma…:
CUT 16 (17) “move on”
Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth wants to change the fact that Tech has won the last six games in the series. He says slowing down Bulldogs running back Kenneth Dixon will be a key…:
CUT 17 (14) “other day”
Kickoff is at 7pm on ESPN 3.

The LSU Tigers play Sam Houston State for their first home game of the season and there are some new traffic patterns for fans to follow tomorrow. Tiger Athletic Foundation has made large investments to create more parking for fans. Sports information director Michael Bonnette says additional parking lots have opened allowing for more than 2,300 new parking spaces…:
CUT 7 (06) “more parking”
Bonnette says the stadium has been enhanced with new HD video and LED message boards and the fan experince at the games will be unlike ever before.

In the opening game of the 2014 NFL season, Green Bay was dominated by the Seahawks who went on to win 36-16 Thursday night in Seattle. The countdown is on for Black and Gold fans now who can’t wait for the noon kickoff between the Saints in Atlanta Sunday.

The NFL season kicks off tonight with Green Bay versus Seattle. Two teams the Saints will have to get past if New Orleans wants to get to the Super Bowl. The Black and Gold open the season on Sunday against Atlanta. Quarterback Drew Brees is good to go, even though he missed most of the preseason with an oblique injury…

cut 19 (14) “….game like”

The Saints won both games against the Falcons last year, but they were hotly contested games. 17-13, 23-17 were the scores for both games last year.

The US men’s basketball team overcame a slow start to rout Ukraine 95-71 in pool play at the FIBA World Championships today. It was another solid performance for the Pelicans Anthony Davis, who had 12 points and six rebounds.

The 12th ranked LSU Football team should have an opportunity to get better on offense this Saturday as the Tigers host Sam Houston State. After hitting on some big pass plays in the win over Wisconsin, wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge anticipates offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will open the playbook…

cut 17 (22) “….want to”

Dural had three catches for 151 yards and a touchdown last week.

The high school football season kicks off tonight. Good match-up in northwest Louisiana as Parkway takes on Calvary Baptist. In southeast Louisiana…St. James will host rival West St. John. It’s the first game in St. James brand new stadium and you can watch it on Fox Sports New Orleans.

LSU’s passing game is expected to get better after hitting on some big plays in the victory over Wisconsin. Wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge says after a shaky start against the Badgers, quarterback Anthony Jennings and the receivers got on the same page…:
CUT 16 (19) “to a victory”
LSU hosts Sam Houston State this Saturday. The Bearkats have played two games this season and so far they’re averaging 614 yards and 43 points a game. College football fans get a game tonight as Arizona plays at UTSA at 7pm on Fox Sports.

The Saints will kick-off the season on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Drew Brees says even though it’s just game one of a 16-game regular season schedule, this weekend’s match-up in the Georgia Dome could have postseason ramifications…:
CUT 18 (20) “playoff implications”
The game Sunday kicks off at 12noon.

In other Saints news, outside linebacker Junior Galette has been given a four-year extension worth $41.5 million and Robert Meachem is back. Gallette says his contract was signed Wednesday and he’ll reportedly receive 23-million dollars in guarantee money.

Saints Coach Sean Payton announced the team has re-signed kicker Shayne Graham and veteran wide receiver Robert Meachem. Both players were released on Saturday. In other Saints news…outside linebacker Junior Galette has signed a four-year contract extension that’s worth 41-million dollars. Galette will reportedly receive 23-million dollars in guarantee money. He started 16 games last season and recoreded a career-high 12 sacks.

A study out of Vanderbilt University, says money spent on college football coaches is of greater value to universities than CEO are to the corporations they work for. Vandy business and law professor, Randall Thomas, says when it comes to coach pay versus CEO pay, it’s much easier to justify a coach’s salary….
cut 30 (12) “…much murkier”
LSU’s Les Miles is paid four-point-three million dollars and he’s the seventh highest paid coach in the country.

The 12th ranked Fighting Tigers of LSU open up their home schedule on Saturday against Sam Houston State. The Bearkats play in a lower tier of college football than LSU, but they’ve been a dominate FCS program. Coach Les Miles says there’s a lot of talent on the Sam Houston State team….
cut 18 (18) “…very very quickly”
The Bearkats have played two games this season and so far they’re averaging 614 yards and 43 points a game.

The Ragin Cajuns scored 45 points last Saturday against Southern. This Saturday they’ll face in-state rival Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs are coming off a 48 to 16 loss to fourth ranked Oklahoma. But Tech Coach Skip Holtz was pleased with how quarterback Cody Sokol performed in the second-half.

The LSU Tigers won their season opener on Saturday, but a couple of their high-profile freshmen did not perform well in their collegiate debut. Leonard Fournette rushed for only 18 yards, while quarterback Brandon Harris couldn’t move the team in his only series of action. Coach Les Miles asks the fans not to be hard on them..:
CUT 16 (20) “a due process”
The Tigers moved up a spot in the coaches poll after their comeback victory over Wisconsin on Saturday. LSU, who return home this Saturday to face Sam Houston State, are now #12 in the poll after starting the season at 13.

If you’re going to the game this weekend, LSU reminds fans that they’ve adjusted traffic matters to include contraflow southbound on Nicholson Drive. Kickoff is 6:30pm.

The New Orleans Saints have re-signed place kicker Shayne Graham who had been with the club since late last season and through camp before being cut Saturday. The Black and Gold has also waived reserve QB Ryan Griffin.

According to new research out of Vanderbilt University, college football coaches are worth every penny of their high paid salaries because of the value they bring to the university. Study Co-Author Randall Thomas, a Vandy business and law professor, says many NCAA football programs are extremely valuable…:
CUT 4 (12) “of value”
LSU coach Les Miles gets $4.3 million a year and is the 7th highest paid coach. Study authors say you can’t look at a high number and wonder if Miles is worth that but rather his contract and whether it pays him based on the value he brings to the university.

LSU is ranked 12th in this week’s Associated Press and Coaches Top 25 poll, which came out today. The Tigers rallied to beat Wisconsin on Saturday night. Senior linebacker DJ Welter says Saturday’s win was a good learning experience as they get ready for their next opponent, Sam Houston State….
cut 18 (14) “…..on track”
Coach Les Miles said today that wide receiver Malachi Dupre, who missed the Wisconsin game because of an injury, is back at practice. and Miles says the four players who were suspended for the season opener have also returned to the team.

A statue to honor Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson was unveiled today on the steps leading into the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The statue has Benson holding the Lombardi Trophy above his head.

The Saints are back at practice tomorrow as they will get ready for Sunday’s season opener at Atlanta. Still no word on who will be kicking field goals for the Black and Gold. Veteran Shayne Graham and rookie Derek Dimke were with the kickers for the Saints during training camp, but both were cut last Saturday.

There are reports former SEC Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam will be added the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. Sam, who is the NFL’s first openly gay player to be drafted, was cut by the Rams over the weekend and has been looking for a team since then.

LSU running back Kenny Hilliard was one of the offensive stars in the Tigers come from behind win over Wisconsin on Saturday night. Hilliard rushed for 110 yards and one touchdown and the senior from Patterson says if he continues to take care of his body, he’ll have more games like that…
cut 17 (10) “…for his team”
Wisconsin Head Coach Gary Andersen says his star running back Melvin Gordon had a hip flexor and that’s why he saw limited carries against LSU.

There’s a chance some Saints fans in New Orleans will not be able to watch Sunday’s season opener against the Falcons. That’s because the Fox Affiliate in New Orleans is currently dark on DirectTV. The two sides are in negoitations for the channel to return to Direct TV, but for right now agreement has been reached.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s college football schedule, there’s an interesting in-state match-up. Louisiana Tech will travel to down to Lafayette to play the Ragin Cajuns. Expect to see freshman Gabe Fuselier to see more playing time after catching a couple of passes in UL Lafayette’ win over Southern. Meanwhile, Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz wants to see better play from his defense after they allowed Oklahoma to jump out to a 31-to-nothing lead last Saturday. The Sooners went on to win 48-16.

Southeastern Louisiana remains ranked number three in the latest FCS polls. The Lions opened the season on Saturday with an easy 44 to 3 win over Jacksonville. The Lions are back in action this Saturday as they host Southern Utah in a match-up of two teams who were in the FCS playoffs last season.

McNeese State is ranked sixth and seventh in the FCS polls. The Cowboys will kick-off their season on Saturday at nationally ranked Nebraska.

The first Louisiana Sports Writers Association high school football polls are out. Acadiana is ranked number one in 5A.

The first panel of honors by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association has been selected for the 2014 college football season. Kenny Hillard was named the Offensive Player of the Week. Hillard’s second half of rushing helped get the LSU offense rolling in the tigers 28-24 comeback win over Wisconsin on Saturday. ULM’s Mitch Lane, who also made the ESPN Sports Center Top 10 plays in their win over Wake Forest got Defensive Player of the week. And Special teams player of the week went to Louisiana-Lafayette punter Daniel Cadona who in the opening week got best average in the nation.

The top 25 teams in the Coaches Football Championship Subdivision polls are out. Southeastern Louisiana made the No 3 spot after their 44-3 win over Jacksonville over the weekend. McNeese State came in at NO.6. The Cowboys kick off their season Saturday at Nebraska.

The Saints are preparing for Sunday’s season opener against Atlanta. The Black and Gold signed ten players to their practice squad Monday, including former LSU and McNeese State tight end Nick Jacobs and safety Pierre Warren. Warren played well in the preseason with ten tackles and an interception. Practice squad players are not on team’s 53-man rosters but they do get paid to train as if they are. They can also be promoted to the full team and signed to the 53-man rosters of other teams.

Making big national news Monday in sports, the Houston Astros have fired manager Bo Porter in his second season with the club. Apparently GM Jeff Luhnow says it doesn’t have anything to do with the record this year, which is the second worst in the league, but they want to take things in a new direction. Tom Lawless has been named interim manager for the Astros.

LSU fans are still buzzing today about the Tigers come from behind win over Wisconsin Saturday night.  The Tigers offense didn’t do much in the first half, but by the end of the third quarter they were unstoppable.  LSU Associate Head Coach and Running Backs Coach Frank Wilson says some blocking adjustments on the offensive line helped…

cut 30 (10)  “frequently”

The Tigers will now get ready to play Sam Houston State, who has already played two games this season, winning one and losing the season opener to Eastern Washington.

The Saints are preparing for Sunday’s season opener against Atlanta.  The Black and Gold signed ten players to their practice squad today, including former LSU and McNeese State tight end Nick Jacobs and safety Pierre Warren.  Warren played well in the preseason with ten tackles and an interception.

Southeastern Louisiana remains ranked number three in the latest FCS polls.  The Lions opened the season on Saturday with an easy 44 to 3 win over Jacksonville.  The Lions are back in action this Saturday as they host Southern Utah in a match-up of two teams who were in the FCS playoffs last season.

McNeese State is ranked sixth and seventh in the FCS polls.  The Cowboys will kick-off their season on Saturday at nationally ranked Nebraska.  The Cornhuskers crushed Florida Atlantic this past Saturday 55 to 7.

ULM linebacker Mitch Lane was named the Sun Belt defensive player of the week.  Lane had six tackles against Wake Forest and returned an interception for a touchdown.  ULM held the Demon Deacons to just 94 total yards and the Warhawks currently rank second in the NCAA in sacks and is third in both rush defense and total defense.

In Major League Baseball, the Astros fired manager Bob Porter today.  Houston is 59-and-79, which is the fourth worst record in baseball.  Tom Lawless has been named interim manager.

The 2014 college football season is off to a thrilling start for the LSU Tigers. The Bayou Bengals rallied back from a 17-point third quarter deficit to beat Wisconsin 28-24. Associate Head Coach and running backs coach Frank Wilson says it was a great character win…:
CUT 12 (11) “times than not”
Anthony Jennings started at quarterback and played most of the game. He had a couple of shaky moments, but ended up throwing for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson says the coaching staff is pleased with how the sophomore played..:
CUT 14 (11) “the ball”
The Tigers home opener Saturday against Sam Houston State kicks off at 6:30pm.

In other college football scores from around the state over the weekend, Southeastern Louisiana had no problem with Jacksonville as the Lions got the 44-3 victory. Louisiana Tech fell to Oklahoma 48-16. Nicholls lost to Air Force 44-16. Northwestern state loses to Missouri State 34-27.

UL-Lafayette put away Southern 45-6. Quarterback Terrance Broadway threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.

The New Orleans Saints have made roster cuts and the Black and Gold’s 53 man roster is set. On of the more notable cuts the Saints made included future Hall of Fame player Champ Bailey. At Wide Receiver the Saints cut veteran WR Robert Meachum. The guys open the 2014 season next Sunday in Atlanta as they take on the Falcons.