College Sports

Panther strong, Panther proud

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor EUNICE – Pine Prairie native Isaiah Payne entered the LSU-Eunice program as an unfinished product. Gifted with athleticism, head coach Byron Starks saw Payne as a blank slate he could turn into a complete basketball player.

Bulldog strong, Bulldog proud

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor LAFAYETTE – A standout career ended on a standout note for former Ville Platte girls’ basketball standout Ty’Reona Doucet.

General Wade’s last stand

Come to find out, those strong offers he was talking about were more than smoke. They were apparent wildfires, and the only way they weren’t going to consume the LSU athletic program was to put them out at the origin spot.

The next step

Ethan Karonika had to split time with Sacred Heart teammate Caleb Hood during his senior football season. The 6-1, 190-pound quarterback ultimately didn’t put up the sort of season that may have been expected before his senior year began.

Transitioning Tigers win big on recruiting trail

The LSU Tigers, heading into their first year under new head coach Brian Kelly, are a program in transition. It’s to be expected in a regime change at the college level.

LSUE Baseball is preseason number one

EUNICE – It’s barely news anymore. LSU-Eunice baseball has sustained its place as the most dominant junior college baseball program in the United States. Year in and out, high school players and Division I transfers alike flock to the small-town college to play for head coach Jeff Willis.

An example of how loyalty remains

It was one of those anti-climactic bowl build-ups for LSU. After a 6-6 regular season that had saw its head coach get fired while opt-outs and injuries ran rampant, the Tigers managed to squeak into the Texas Bowl to play Kansas State. Then, the opt-outs continued.

Longing for old BCS remains after another playoff semifinal round

Another College Football Playoff Semifinal round has come and gone, and once again the big boys have dominated. On New Year’s Eve, we got something that was completely expected in Alabama and Georgia advancing to play each other, yet again, for a national championship.

Let’s geaux bowling in Texas

BATON ROUGE – LSU has had many questions to answer throughout the season. When will Ed Orgeron get fired? Who will be the new head coach? Currently, who will coordinate the offensive and defensive units under head coach Brian Kelly?

LSU hauls in a baker’s dozen on first day of NCAA’s Early Signing Period

BATON ROUGE – Christmas came early for Brian Kelly in his first recruiting cycle as the new head coach of LSU. LSU netted 13 signees on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA’s Early Signing Period. Headlining Wednesday’s signees were three of Louisiana’s top five prospects according to rivals.com.