Standing by his quarterback: Although Jordan Jefferson’s career has been a puzzling mix of spectacular highlights and frustrating lapses, LSU coach Les Miles expresses confidence that the senior quarterback will be better than ever this fall. “The one thing he is is tough,” Miles said, while speaking to LSU alumni in the Shreveport area this week. “He’s competitive, and he’s really developing into a really good leader. If you look at him in the games he’s called upon to make plays, he’s made them.” Miles is technically on vacation, with fall camp now less than two months away, but still making appearances around the state. While Miles says junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger, senior Jarrett Lee and even new recruit Stephen Rivers will be expected to compete for playing time, the 6-foot-5, 224-pound Jefferson remains projected to open his third straight season as the Tigers’ starter. He will even be a featured guest at sports network ESPN today. Jefferson is 20-7 as an LSU starter since the end of his freshman year.
Going for second major: Y.E. Yang put himself in the running for his second major championship, shooting 3-under-par 68 to share the early lead in the U.S. Open today. Yang, who beat Tiger Woods in a showdown at the 2009 U.S. PGA Championship, made three birdies over his second nine holes at Congressional Country Club to make it to the clubhouse with the lead. Also at 3 under but still on the course were Palmer and Watson—Ryan Palmer and Bubba Watson, that is—a couple of Americans in the running to end the U.S. drought over the last four majors. Another shot back were Davis Love III and British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, who finished his round of 69. Defending champion Graeme McDowell, Chez Reavie and Stewart Cink all completed rounds of 1-under 70.
Will get honor next week: Warrick Dunn, the former Catholic High star who was a standout NFL running back, is set to receive the Jefferson Award for public service next week. Dunn will receive the prestigious award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The Jefferson Award has been dubbed the “Nobel Prize for Public Service,” and former winners include Oprah Winfrey and Colin Powell. Dunn heads a foundation that gives homes to single mothers in Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Tampa and Tallahassee, Fla. Dunn started the foundation in memory of his mother, Betty Smothers, a Baton Rouge Police officer who was killed when she was off-duty during a robbery attempt.
