More hardware: The awards just keep piling up for the LSU Tigers football team. Five LSU coaches have received coach of the year accolades from Football Scoop, including defensive coordinator John Chavis, running back coach Frank Wilson, offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, defensive line coach Brick Haley and defensive backs coach Ron Cooper. The awards have become big achievements within the coaching community, especially because past winners and a few other coaches select the recipients. See the entire list of coaches of the year at the Football Scoop website here.
Stadium struck: In the team’s first practice in the Superdome on Wednesday in preparation for Saturday’s New Orleans Bowl showdown with San Diego State, the UL Ragin’ Cajuns soaked up the experience of playing in an NFL stadium, The Daily Advertiser reports. For many Ragin’ Cajuns, it was the first time they’ve seen the Superdome from the field instead of the stands. For a smaller number, it was their first time ever to enter the stadium. “They [were] like, ‘Wow, I grew up sitting in the stands watching the [NFL’s New Orleans] Saints—and now I’m actually out here in the middle of the Superdome,” UL coach Mark Hudspeth told the newspaper. “I think the reality sort of hit in—that this is big-time.” Read the full story and see a photo gallery of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ practice in the Superdome here.
The buzz: The Hornets have wrapped up an agreement on a one-year contract with free agent Carl Landry, who is expected to step back into the starting power forward spot he had late last season and during New Orleans’ first-round playoff series. Landry’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, says the deal is worth about $8.8 million. The deal this morning came less than 24 hours after the Hornets traded All-Star guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers for shooting guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman and forward Al-Farouq Aminu. Bartelstein says his client agreed to only a one-year deal because of the Hornets’ “uncertain ownership situation.” The team is currently owned by the NBA, but is hoping to have local ownership by mid-January or February, team officials have said.
