Tiger bait: Florida true freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel is expected to make the first start in his college football career Saturday when the Gators come to town to take on the Tigers at 2:30 p.m. Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley says Driskel better keep an eye out for the Tigers’ electrifying cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, aka the “Honey Badger.” “We’re licking our chops,” Dooley quotes Mathieu as saying, with reference to squaring off opposite Driskel. “We know he’s a freshman. We know he’s surrounded by a bunch of good players, but we want to rattle that guy.” Read Dooley’s full column here.
Hoop dreams:Former LSU standouts Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustus have been selected for the All-WNBA team. Fowles plays for the Chicago Sky, and Augustus is with the Minnesota Lynx, which is one game away from winning its first WNBA Championship. The Lynx are up 2-0 in the best-of-three series against the Atlanta Dream, with game three set for 7 p.m. Friday.
Backing the Blues: The Relief-4-Blue fund has been established to assist the family of LSU running back Alfred Blue. The family recently suffered a devastating loss when a fire destroyed their home and all of their belongings. Blue’s three younger siblings, ranging in age from 4 to 15, resided there, as well as his mother and grandmother. Under NCAA rules, LSU is permitted to accept financial gifts and manage an account to assist the family. Those interested in making a contribution to the family via the Tiger Athletic Foundation can do so by clicking here. All contributions of any kind must go through this fund, per NCAA rules. Donors should note that financial contributions to this fund are not tax deductible and are not eligible for LSU Priority Points. Blue, a sophomore from Boutte, is coming off his best game as a Tiger, rushing for a team-high 72 yards and one touchdown in LSU’s 35-7 win over Kentucky last week. Blue currently ranks third on the team, with 148 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Hard time: Wayne Read, who hoodwinked more than two dozen members of the New Orleans Saints organization out of nearly $1.9 million by selling them bogus film tax credits, was sentenced Wednesday to four years in federal prison, The Times-Picayune reports. Read, 47, of Wonder Lake, Ill., pleaded guilty in May 2010 to interstate transportation of stolen funds and wire fraud, acknowledging he sold fictitious 2008 state tax credits. A victims list presented in a previous court proceeding noted that Read victimized 27 current and former Saints players, coaches and administrative personnel. Read the full story here.
