By JIM EICHENHOFER, NBA.com

Joe Dumars took the stage at his first press conference in New Orleans in late April. He grabbed both sides of the podium; took a breath; paused. “Happy to be home,” he said, smiling. “It’s been a whirlwind journey for me.”

A whirlwind is an understatement. Dumars’ story is more of a basketball odyssey — from backyard hoops in his hometown of Natchitoches, La., to Bad Boy Pistons, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, landing in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and ultimately, returning home.

This spring, Dumars was hired by New Orleans to lead its basketball operations department and guide the Pelicans back to and beyond their recent level of winning (playoff appearances in 2022 and 2024, a 49-win regular season in 2023-24), after a painful 2024-25 that featured a devastating series of injuries and the franchise’s worst regular season record in two decades.

The roster Dumars inherits has talent — including two-time All-Star forward Zion Williamson, first-team All-NBA Defense selection Herb Jones, and rising standout forward Trey Murphy— and Dumars has added a few key pieces in veterans Jordan Poole, Kevon Looney and Saddiq Bey, along with rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. 

But the roster is only one ingredient in a recipe for success. “Right time, right place, right people,” Dumars has repeatedly echoed in the offseason. For him, New Orleans is exactly the right place — and the right fan base. “When you’re from here, you understand what it means to be a fan,” he said at his first press conference in New Orleans (and in case you were wondering, yes, he is a lifelong Saints fan).

“Sometimes opportunities come along and you just know,” he added with a nod. “That’s what has happened here with the Pelicans. And I want to thank Mrs. (Gayle) Benson (governor of the New Orleans Pelicans) for this opportunity to come home.” 

An old door and a bicycle wheel

In the early 1970s, you could find a young Joe Dumars dribbling a basketball on a patch of grass and red clay in Natchitoches — a small college town in north-central Louisiana. The improvised court may not have had any bells and whistles — his hoop was made from a bicycle wheel and an old unhinged door — but it stood directly across the street from a family friend’s store, where bright outdoor lights illuminated the neighborhood, allowing young Dumars to practice even after the sun went down.

Off the makeshift court, Dumars lived in a one-story house with his parents — Joe II and Ophelia Dumars — and six siblings. His father — a salt-of-the-earth World War II veteran — worked long shifts as a truck driver, while Ophelia worked as custodian at nearby Northwestern State University.

“They were old school — all about (hard) work (and) doing things right,” said Chris Maggio, a lifelong friend and now-retired former NSU president, whose father owned and operated the neighborhood store. “The mom demanded respect. They were ‘yes ma’am, no sir’ people who did things the right way.”

“They were the example,” said Dumars, recalling his parents from his office inside the Pelicans’ practice facility this summer. “They insisted (we) always carry (ourselves) with some dignity, with humility. The treatment of others was emphasized. That was a big theme in our house.”

Joe II and Ophelia expected good grades and steady attendance from the Dumars boys — and they delivered — but the brothers all truly excelled in athletics. None more so than Dumars, who could do just about anything he put his mind to. “He was a heck of a football player in middle school,” said Maggio.  “Tennis. He could swim… He was a great athlete.”

But while his brothers took to football, Dumars ultimately turned his attention to basketball, “the one sport you can truly practice by yourself,” he said. Once his older brothers moved out (four went on to play college football), he spent hours in his yard shooting baskets. “And to be quite frank, I also wanted to carve my own path. I always heard about my brothers, how good they were (at football). I thought, ‘I’m the youngest, I’m going to make my own name.’”

A home court advantage

Dumars was born in Shreveport, but grew up an hour south. As a teenager, Dumars played on a New Orleans-based AAU team featuring multiple future NBA players, including Karl Malone (native of Summerfield, La.) and John “Hot Rod” Williams (Sorrento, La.).

In 2025, a star-studded scholastic group like that would likely end up restricting college options to historic national powers like Duke, North Carolina or Kentucky – but Dumars, Malone and Williams all remained in-state. Dumars chose McNeese State in Lake Charles, while fellow future Hall of Famer Malone went to Louisiana Tech in Ruston. Williams opted for Tulane in New Orleans. “We all knew we were going to pick a place where we could step on the court and make an immediate impact,” said Dumars.

He used all of his eligibility at McNeese, playing four seasons and taking a patient approach to preparing for a pro career. “Staying four years, you can see that you got better and better every year,” he said. “You can see your growth. As opposed to playing one year, then having to project how good you could be. For me, not for everyone, that was huge. I could see it and feel it — from 18 to 22 years old — it was night and day how much better I got over those four years.”

By the end of his sophomore year at McNeese, Dumars suspected he had an NBA future, but he never looked too far ahead. Instead, he carried himself the way his father taught him to: work hard, stay humble, “I just wanted to be the best player on my team. The best player in the Southland Conference. I wasn’t even thinking about the NBA.”

“He seemed older, more mature,” said longtime friend and McNeese supporter Billy Rose. “No shenanigans. He carries himself just the way his dad did. No BS.”

Any journalist visiting Lake Charles looking for negative background stories about Dumars would be guaranteed to leave disappointed, Rose joked. “An investigative reporter would have to say, ‘Went there. Found nothing.’ He’s dull. But that’s what you want from your team’s superstar. No baggage.”

Going heads-down on hard work, patience and integrity ultimately paid off. Dumars was selected 18th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1985 NBA draft. He was named to the All-Rookie first team that year, and just four years later, won his first of two NBA championships (the first of which he was named Finals MVP) as part of the Bad Boys Pistons squad.

Despite the team’s aggressive reputation on the court, Dumars remained quiet, respectful and level-headed, as always. In the 1995-96 season, seven years after his father’s death, he received the first-ever NBA Sportsmanship Award — now called the Joe Dumars Trophy — perhaps the accomplishment that would have made his father proudest. 

“My dad never (told people) I had an NBA career,” said Dumars. “He said that I have a ‘really good job.’ He never got caught up in the hype or any of that. It was like, ‘Son, you have a really good job there. A well-paying job.’

“Treat people the right way, be respectful, (and) be humble. I take all of that with me. Everything he taught, I live that every day.”

At one point during Dumars’ lucrative Detroit playing career, he wanted to buy Ophelia a new house, to upgrade from the one-floor structure he grew up in. But — comfortable in their family home and neighborhood — Ophelia declined. Instead, her son simply added on to the property. Ophelia died in 2020, but the modest Natchitoches home is still owned by the Dumars family to this day.

All roads lead home

After working for the NBA’s league office in New York City in recent years as executive vice president and head of basketball operations, Dumars said during his April introductory press conference that there weren’t many opportunities that could cause him to leave that position. Leading basketball operations for his home state’s NBA franchise was an obvious exception.

He’s now tasked with bringing to New Orleans the same kind of success he produced as a player, as well as early in his tenure as Detroit’s top basketball executive (2004 NBA champions; 2005 Finals trip with Game 7 loss at San Antonio; six straight conference finals appearances from 2003-08).

“He’s going to lead the Pelicans with integrity,” said Maggio. “The players are going to respect him, and he’s going to respect the players, the coaches, the ownership, the community. He hasn’t changed at all since we were young.”

For Dumars, like most things, his new role starts with lessons learned at home. “When it’s at its best, the product on the (court) reflects the city,” he said in April. “New Orleans is resilient. They don’t fold here. They don’t just give up. You want the team to reflect that.

“This is an incredible fan base. I’m super happy to be here and super happy to be home.”

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By BRAD WELBORN, Northwestern State Sports Information

NATCHITOCHES — Patience is a virtue — and one the Northwestern State football team is learning to master through experience.

As perhaps the youngest team in America, the Demons have faced one of the toughest schedules in the country, testing a roster filled with underclassmen against championship-caliber opponents week after week. The results haven’t always shown up on the scoreboard, but the progress has, in flashes of big-play potential, in resilience, and in the growing confidence of a team building toward its future.

“We are one of the youngest teams in America, so for us young guys we have to step up,” redshirt freshman Braden Woods said. “I see that trend a lot in the locker room for the younger guys having to step up and compete with the older teams that we’re playing. It’s a great thing to see.”

That youth movement is no small thing — 23 players classified as true or redshirt freshmen have seen game action this season. For head coach Blaine McCorkle, now in his second season leading the rebuilding program, it’s a sign that the foundation for long-term success is being laid one rep, one lesson and one game at a time.

For Woods, a Natchitoches Central product, the journey has been a fast-moving one. He recorded his first career tackle, an eight-yard sack, in unforgettable fashion – against Minnesota, a Power Four opponent, earlier this season. Since then, his role has steadily expanded, especially in recent weeks as injuries and defensive scheme adjustments have created new opportunities. Woods has seized them, becoming a player defensive coordinator Matt Conner increasingly leans on.

He rewarded that trust with a career-high seven tackles and a sack in last week’s game against No. 15 Lamar, underscoring the kind of work ethic that his classmates possess and continue to display since day one.

“If I had one word to describe my class, it’s that we grind,” Woods said. “We know we’re not as big, strong or fast, so we just have to grind to get better week in and week out.”

That grind has come against a gauntlet of opponents — including two Power Four programs and two straight Top 20 FCS teams, one of the toughest schedules in the country this year and in program history — but the effort is starting to bear fruit. In that Lamar matchup, true freshman receivers Brendan Webb and Jimmie Duncan combined for 199 receiving yards on six catches, both hauling in passes of more than 50 yards. Those breakout plays offered a glimpse of the future — explosive, confident and ready to rise.

“This week in particular Coach McCorkle talked a lot about ‘the turning point,’” Woods said. “We knew we’ve been playing ranked teams. We played two really good P4 teams. So we’ve been grinding and getting better each week and we’re just waiting for that turning point. It could come tomorrow or next year, we don’t know, but I think it’s coming soon and this program is on the uprise.”

Signs of that turning point emerge every week, not just in numbers, but in moments that reveal the team’s heart. 

When senior center Caleb Billiot helped spin freshman quarterback Abram Johnston, the only freshman starting quarterback in the Southland Conference, into the end zone against Lamar to cap an eight-play scoring drive, it became more than a highlight. It was a snapshot of what McCorkle’s program is all about: veterans leading, young players learning and everyone pushing together.

“That’s the kind of grit our coaches like,” redshirt freshman offensive lineman Ralee Jackson said. “The relentless effort. Just trying to get everything you can. That’s exactly what Caleb showed. The coaches call him a ‘foxhole guy,’ somebody you can rely on and has your back. Him doing that type of thing shows how everybody should be playing at all times.”

Moments like that have also helped tighten the bond of a roster that’s growing up together.

“My freshman class got here and we got close fast,” Jackson said. “We were having game nights the first week we were here. All of us just gelling together. And the majority of the team being young I think makes us closer.”

That chemistry has carried onto the field, where underclassmen are not only gaining experience but contributing in meaningful ways. Jackson is one of three starting offensive lineman classified as a sophomore or younger, alongside Logan Brady (redshirt freshman) and Garrett Morphis (sophomore). 

They were three of the six redshirt freshman starters in NSU’s most recent game against Lamar. Only five more freshmen started for the other nine Southland teams combined.

“A lot of us are playing right now,” Jackson said. “We had six redshirt freshmen touch the ball last game. We had redshirt freshmen making tackles, making plays — whatever the case may be. That shows the guys that aren’t on the field yet that if we all work together and stay here for four or five years, we can totally flip this program. Coach McCorkle talks about that all the time. He makes sure that we know we’re really close and we need to stick to the process and stay consistent and we’ll get there.”

That process, and the patience it demands, has been McCorkle’s consistent message since his arrival.

“There’s a verse in Galatians we talk about as a team all the time.  Galatians 6:9 says: ‘Don’t grow weary in doing good, for in time you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up,’” McCorkle said. “Sowing and reaping don’t happen in the same season. You sow your seeds. You work, water and plant, and when the time comes, you harvest. It’d be nice to do it all in the same season, but it doesn’t always work that way. We’re doing a lot of sowing right now, but we know good days are ahead. Every day we are one day closer to turning the corner — and that’s exciting and gives us hope.”

Through the grind, the growing pains and the glimpses of promise like Webb and Duncan’s breakouts and Woods’ rising impact, that hope feels more tangible than ever.

“We can have a very narrow eyesight at times,” Jackson said. “So when things like that happen, it kind of opens things up. I think it takes away some doubts that people might have in the team or the players and shows them that we can do it — we just have to execute.”

The future of Demon football continues to be written every single week, on the field, in practice, in the classroom and in the hearts and minds of a connected group of players all striving for the same goal.

Contact Brad at welbornb@nsula.edu

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Looking through the thousands of photos on my computer, I ran across one of my Dad, and that put me in the frame of mind to share just what a special man he was to me.

Thomas Ernest “Doc” Harris was born in the hamlet of Friendship, Louisiana, on March 5, 1909. His mom was Edna Strain; his dad William Austin Harris, older brother to well-known, long-time state Superintendent of Education, T.H. Harris.

My grandfather was a hill farmer who eventually moved the family to Goldonna, another community about the size of Friendship.

In his growing up years, dad was sometimes described as a “rounder,” getting involved in all the stuff kids did back in those days. He was a good athlete, especially in track and field where pole vaulting was an event to which he excelled.

After high school, Dad wanted to see the world so he joined the U.S. Navy and upon returning home, he was attracted to LeMee Meek, a young lady in the neighboring town of Readhimer. They married, built a house in Goldonna and were parents to three children. I was the first to come along followed by my brother Tom and eventually to a sister, Linda.

I remember tagging along with him when one of his first jobs was going around the country-side selling Watkins Products. Later, he worked for the highway department and eventually landed a job with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a state trapper and eventually being promoted to Supervisor of Predator Control for the Department. It was during his 30-year career that my memories are most special.

I was the envy of kids back in school when they learned that my dad made his living trapping wolves and bobcats, creatures that were creating havoc among folks who had cattle, hogs and chickens. Among my most special memories was when I got to go with him early summer mornings to run his traps. Watching how he carefully set his traps and returning the next day to find a wolf, bobcat or fox in a trap I watched him set was especially exciting for a 10-year-old boy.

There was a report of a cougar hanging around a portion of rural Natchitoches Parish with dad’s assignment to trap it. He didn’t catch it, but he came close as the cougar stepped in his trap on a day when rain the night before had allowed sand to filter beneath the pan of the trap and when the cat stepped on it, it failed to trip. I have in my office today a concrete print of the cougar track Dad poured of that cat he came close to trapping.

Over the course of his career, it became evident that the red wolves he had been trapping were starting to fade out. Coyotes had moved into the state from Texas and began interbreeding with the wolves, rendering offspring that were no longer pure red wolves. His efforts changed from trapping them to trying to help preserve their fading numbers.

Today except for a remnant of pure red wolves in a protected areas in the Carolinas, they no longer roam the hills of our state and that’s a shame. Getting to hear the mournful howl of these animals at night on a Winn Parish hillside is a memory I cherish.

Dad had been gone to his Heavenly reward for almost 50 years. I feel blessed to have been the son of a special man who taught me how to hunt squirrels, sneak up on wood ducks and catch a bass and do it all in an ethical way.

He would be thrilled to know that his son took so much of what he taught me and turned it into becoming an outdoors writer, how I to make my living today.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

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The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office recently presented proceeds from the Kick Against Domestic Violence Kickball Tournament to Project Celebration, Inc., supporting local efforts to aid survivors of domestic abuse.

The event was made possible through the collaboration of the Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ivy Crown Community Services, Shreveport Fire Department, and the Shreveport City Marshal’s Office. Their participation helped raise awareness, promote prevention, and provide hope for survivors throughout the community.

Organizers announced that a new tournament date is currently being scheduled, with additional details to be released soon.

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A funeral service for Betty Jean McLaughlin Rawls, 81, will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Officiating will be John Warner.

Betty was born on February 19, 1944, to Raymond McLaughlin and Lucille McLaughlin Benbow in Pineville, Louisiana, and passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.

Betty Rawls was a woman of strength, wisdom, and heart. A graduate of Dry Prong School, she carried her intelligence and financial savvy into every chapter of her life. She was the proud owner of D’s All-In-One store in Plain Dealing, Louisiana, where her sharp mind and entrepreneurial spirit made a lasting impact on her community.

Betty was first married to Carroll D. Stephens, and later to Jerry Will Rawls, with whom she shared a life filled with love and resilience. She found joy in simple pleasures, fishing, browsing flea markets, shopping, spending time at the boats, and traveling. Her laughter, determination, and generous spirit made her unforgettable to all who knew her.

Her memory will live on in the hearts of those she loved and those who loved her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond McLaughlin and Lucille McLaughlin Benbow, and her brother, James McLaughlin.

Left to cherish her memory are her siblings, Elbert McLaughlin and his wife, Leona; Eloise Tingle; Samuel McLaughlin; and Thomas McLaughlin.

She is also lovingly remembered by her daughters, Rachel Johnson and her husband, Michael, along with their children, Amanda Johnson and her children, Brooklynn Anderson and Mason Roe, and Chad Johnson and his wife, Adela.

Her daughter Felisa Howie and her husband, Paul, also survive her, along with their children, Kole Howie and his wife, Melody; Gracie Davis and her husband, Joel; and Victoria Ganey and her husband, Dean.

Honoring Betty as pallbearers will be Chad Johnson, Kole Howie, Paul Howie, Joel Davis, Dean Ganey, and Stanley Hall.

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A funeral service for Terry Lynn Mastny, 68, will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 3200 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Arlington Cemetery in Homer, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Reverend Kelly Berne and Chaplain Mike Perser.

Terry was born on February 7, 1957, to Robert Lumir Mastny and Bertha Marie Sayers in Schuyler, Nebraska, and went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, October 24, 2025, in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Terry was a man of remarkable strength, generosity, and heart. A graduate of Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska, he earned his degree in Industrial Arts and distinguished himself as a two-time All-District athlete. His athletic excellence led to National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American honors, second team in 1977, and Kodak All-American recognition in 1978. He was inducted into the Chadron State College Hall of Fame in 2002. Terry went on to sign with the Buffalo Bills, the New York Jets, and the Shreveport Steamers, marking a proud chapter in his life as a professional athlete. He was also a proud member of the 6 Point Hunting Club for 37 years, a testament to his enduring love of the outdoors and the friendships he built through shared tradition.

Following his time in football, Terry dedicated himself to public service, joining the Shreveport Fire Department. As an EMT and paramedic, he completed extensive training through ARFF and Emergency Response programs, always striving to be prepared to help others in their most critical moments.

Terry was known not only for his accomplishments but for his extraordinary kindness. He gave freely, whether it was the shirt off his back, his time, or his talents. He could fix just about anything, and he often did, helping friends and family with repairs, renovations, and heartfelt support. His sense of humor was ever-present, and he had a gift for lifting spirits with a well-timed joke or a warm smile.

He loved to fish and hunt, often sharing those moments with his wife. Each year, he made a cherished trip to Illinois to hunt with his brothers, a tradition that spoke to his deep love for family. Yet Terry’s kindness extended far beyond bloodlines; he treated everyone with compassion and respect.

He began each day with gratitude, reminding those around him to “Thank God for waking you up this morning.” It was more than a phrase; it was a reflection of his faith, his optimism, and his unwavering belief in the goodness of life.

Terry’s legacy is one of service, laughter, and love. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Bertha Mastny of Schuyler, Nebraska, and his brother, Bobby Mastny.

Left to honor his memory are his devoted wife, Teresa Kay “T.K.” Mastny of Bossier City, Louisiana; his daughter, Rachel Stump and her husband, Mike, along with their children, Kaylee, Peyton, and Charley; his son, Ryan Mastny and his fiancée, Audrey, and their son, Logan; his brother, Vern Mastny and wife, Karen, of Illinois; and his sister, Betty Reznicek of Homer, Louisiana.

Honoring Terry as pallbearers will be David Terry, John Hall, Richard Young, Bubba Tharpe, Henry Simons, Rex Wilhite, and Ty Foster. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Shreveport Oilers Men’s fastpitch softball team.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to Gentiva Hospice, especially Belinda Montgomery, Dr. Koticha, and the ladies of the oncology staff at Christus Highland Medical Center for their exceptional kindness, care, and compassion during this time.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to be made in Terry’s honor to Asbury United Methodist Church at asburybossier.org, or to a church or charity of your choice that reflects his spirit of generosity and faith.

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The Shreveport Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a runaway juvenile.

On October 9, 2025, officers were called to the 6700 block of Rasberry Lane in reference to a reported runaway. The missing teen has been identified as Deneisha Lewis, a 17-year-old female.

Lewis is described as 5’4” tall, weighing approximately 134 pounds, with brown eyes and red hair. She was last known to be in the area of the 6700 block of Rasberry Lane in Shreveport.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Deneisha Lewis is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department at 318-673-7300. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the location of missing persons or the arrest of individuals involved in criminal activity.

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Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. swore in five new deputies for the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 27.

The new deputies are as follows:

Corrections – Sarah Daniels, Christopher Lee, Latasha Moore, Colin Wilson

Clerical – Aliyah Allison

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is actively recruiting new personnel. Applicants aged 21 years or older can apply for various positions, including corrections deputies/security, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, building and groundskeepers, part-time courthouse security personnel, and part-time work release drivers.

For more information on qualifications, benefits, and the application process, please visit caddosheriff.org (http://caddosheriff.org).

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“He was sure back in the sixties that everyone was hip,

Then they sent him off to Vietnam on his senior trip…”

• “Old Hippie,” The Bellamy Brothers

More than once when he saw me ride up on my bicycle, Jimmy and his Levis would get out of a Dodge Charger and leave his high school buddies and walk across the Dairy Maid parking lot and buy me a dipped cone or a milkshake.

Part of the reason was he had a crush on my big sister. Pretty good reason.

But the other part was that he really did like me, and most everybody liked Jimmy. He was a good-looking senior who had thick hair that seemed to part and layer by itself, a guy who didn’t care much for school and who had a big smile that was wholesome and not dishonest, a smile that made you think it was OK to not like school and to like girls and a Dodge Charger and hanging around the Dairy Maid instead.

It didn’t seem right to me that they could send a nice guy like that to Southeast Asia, wherever that was. But they did, and when he came home, he knew how to fly a helicopter. He even knew how to fly one with his hands broken, which is what happened when they crashed and then took off again, bullets and mortar everywhere, a lot of guys with him either killing the enemy or getting killed, Jimmy flying some dead and some wounded out of there, a long way from the Dairy Maid and the umbrella-shaded picnic tables and the girls and the ice cream cones.

His smile was different when he got home. I haven’t seen him in years and years, but every year around this time, around Veterans Day, I want to thank him again, not as a boy who didn’t understand, but as a grownup who understands at least a little more than was possible when he was sponsoring my milkshakes and French fries, before they’d taught him to fly, before he’d seen people die.

Jimmy and a lot of other guys I know were veterans – some of them veterans of combat – before they were even 20 years old.

I didn’t grow up with this other friend, but he’s the one I call each November 11 and again on Memorial Day. I was still playing Little League in South Carolina when he got shipped overseas from Cotton Valley, compliments of the United States Army, to spend his final two years as a teenager fighting North Vietnamese, then other people in other places.

For the fateful reason of being a few years older than I was, he and Jimmy and thousands of others went, and I did not. But they’ve never held it against me; no veteran I know ever has.

Our boys went to school together; his son rode with me and my son to a Texas Rangers game one bright May Friday years ago. This veteran and I got to coach Little League together and eat on Fridays during football season together.

We aren’t best friends and we live in different towns so we don’t even see each other much these days. But I would trust him with my life. He is always a little surprised, or seems that way, when I call him each Veterans Day.

I’ve never talked to him about the fire fights, or what he saw and heard. He’s barely mentioned it. But “barely” was enough for me to understand that while I was still playing electric football, he was learning how to fire a machine gun. At somebody. Who just might be shooting at him.

We can be friends and he can even tell me all the war stories. But we’ll never have that shared experience. All I can do is thank him, and mean it, and try to use honestly — and not abuse — all the American freedoms he and others fought for.

My friend was fortunate he didn’t get killed. He did his part without having to die. But a war changes things. Like the Bellamy Brothers sang, “…and they forced him to become a man, while he was still a boy…”

Each of us owes our lives to veterans who’ve fought to protect us. Some of them died decades before we were even born. It’s too late to thank them, but it’s not too late to thank, any day, the ones who’ve served and remain, the ones we see every day.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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Rising home prices are colliding with cautious valuations, creating new friction in Louisiana’s housing market.

By North Louisiana Business Journal Staff

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The Hidden Gap Between Appraisal and Reality

In theory, a home’s appraised value should align with what a willing buyer and willing seller agree to pay. In practice, it rarely works that neatly.

Across the United States—and increasingly in Louisiana—the appraisal gap has become a central friction point in residential real estate transactions.

According to CoreLogic data, roughly 8.6% of homes in mid-2024 appraised below the final contract price. That’s down from 10.7% a year earlier, but still represents tens of thousands of deals where financing, negotiations, or closings were disrupted because the appraised value didn’t keep up with what the market was willing to pay.

In high-demand or rapidly appreciating areas, that difference can amount to 5–10% of the sale price, forcing buyers to bring extra cash to the table or renegotiate entirely.

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Why the Appraisal Gap Exists

Appraisers are bound by comparable sales (“comps”), lending guidelines, and risk controls designed to prevent overvaluation. But those very safeguards often make valuations lag behind market momentum.

When contract prices outpace comparable sales, the appraisal becomes the brake that slows price acceleration—but it also creates barriers for ordinary buyers reliant on financing.

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How the Gap Plays Out at Closing

In a typical transaction:

1. The lender orders the appraisal.

2. If the appraised value is lower than the contract price, the lender caps financing at that value.

3. The buyer must then (a) pay the difference in cash, (b) renegotiate the price, (c) request a new appraisal, or (d) exit the deal under an appraisal contingency.

Appraisal shortfalls don’t always kill sales—but they can make them more expensive, slower, or more exclusive to cash-rich buyers.

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Why It Matters

The appraisal business serves as a stabilizer for credit markets, but that stability can unintentionally exclude moderate-income buyers.

Appraisals that lag market prices, or undervalue certain neighborhoods, shift homeownership toward wealthier or cash-based purchasers—and out of reach for those depending on standard loans.

They also shape wealth accumulation: undervalued homes mean less equity, weaker comps, and slower growth in neighborhood values.

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Sidebar: How Big Is the Gap?

(Sources: CoreLogic, Corporate Settlement Solutions, FHFA, 2023–2024 reports)

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What Comes Next

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the GSEs—Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—are tightening and modernizing appraisal policies.

New programs such as “value acceptance” and hybrid appraisals with property data collection may reduce friction and speed closings, while anti-bias initiatives aim to restore public confidence.

In Louisiana, where property values are rising unevenly between parishes, the impact could be mixed: fewer surprises in urban markets but persistent valuation shortfalls in smaller or majority-minority communities.

Ultimately, whether modernization closes the appraisal gap—or widens it—will determine how accessible homeownership remains for the state’s working and middle-class families.

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The Shreveport Police Department announced strategic updates aimed at improving public safety in the Red River District. Chief Smith and his command staff reviewed plans on Oct. 28 that include enhanced camera placements, improved lighting, updates to public spaces, and revisions to city ordinances.

The department emphasized collaboration with city partners to make downtown Shreveport safer, more vibrant, and more enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.

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Walk through any hospital in Louisiana and there’s a good chance you’ll meet a nurse, technologist, or healthcare leader who began their journey at Northwestern State University. From Natchitoches to Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville, NSU has become one of the state’s most respected names in healthcare education.

Healthcare is changing quickly, and so are the demands on those who deliver it. Hospitals need more trained professionals. Patients need more access to care. Families need people who can lead with skill and compassion. For many in Louisiana, that career path begins at NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health.

“Our students come from every corner of Louisiana and every stage of life,” said Dr. Aimee Badeaux, Dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. “Some are high school graduates looking for their first step. Others are licensed professionals seeking to grow in their careers. What unites them is a commitment to helping others, and that’s something we know how to develop.”

NSU offers one of the most comprehensive selections of healthcare programs in the region. Students can choose from associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across nursing, radiologic sciences, and allied health.

Among the most popular options:

• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and LPN to ASN
• Military Medic/Paramedic to ASN — the only program of its kind in Louisiana, offered in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), RN to BSN, LPN to BSN, and Accelerated BSN (BS to BSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with concentrations in Administration, Education, and multiple Nurse Practitioner tracks
• Doctoral-level Nurse Anesthesia, Executive Leadership, and Educational Leadership programs
• Bachelor and Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences — including the first Sonography program in North Louisiana
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health, with concentrations in Health Science & Technology and Health Sciences Leadership & Management

For working registered nurses, the RN to BSN program remains a top choice. The online format offers flexibility and affordability while maintaining a strong academic foundation.

“Many of our RN-BSN students are balancing full-time jobs and family commitments,” explained Dr. Greg Handel, Executive Vice President and Provost. “We built the program to meet them where they are. It’s affordable, accredited, and recognized nationally for quality.”

Students in NSU’s healthcare programs train in high-fidelity simulation laboratories that recreate real-world clinical settings. From emergency response to pediatric care, these labs allow students to practice critical skills in a safe environment before moving into hospitals and clinics.

Those partnerships with regional healthcare providers are another reason NSU graduates are in such high demand. Students complete clinical rotations with major hospitals, community clinics, and long-term care facilities throughout Louisiana, gaining the experience and confidence that employers look for.

“The hands-on training our students receive makes a real difference,” said Dr. Badeaux. “They graduate with practical skills and a sense of responsibility to their patients and communities.”

That preparation shows in the outcomes. NSU boasts NCLEX pass rates of 98% for ASN graduates and 96% for BSN graduates, consistently exceeding state and national averages.

The university has also earned top national recognition, including:

• #1 in Louisiana among Top Public Schools – U.S. News & World Report, 2026
• #1 Best Online Nursing Program – The Princeton Review, 2024
• #1 Best Nurse Practitioner and MSN Programs – NursePractitionerOnline.com and RegisteredNursing.org, 2025

In the past five years alone, Northwestern State has produced more registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and radiologic technologists than any other institution in the state.

Behind every successful graduate is a team of faculty who are both experienced clinicians and committed educators. With an average class size of 17, students receive the kind of personal attention that larger universities often can’t provide.

“Students succeed here because they’re known here,” said James T. Genovese, President of Northwestern State University. “We take pride in offering an environment where each student’s goals are understood, supported, and celebrated.”

As Louisiana’s population grows and healthcare needs become more complex, NSU continues to adapt. The university is expanding key programs to new sites, building stronger partnerships with hospitals, and investing in technology that enhances training and patient simulation.

Dr. Badeaux summarized it simply: “Every day, we’re educating the professionals who will care for our families tomorrow. That’s work we take seriously.”

For students and families exploring healthcare careers, Northwestern State University offers a trusted path — from the first day of class to the first day on the job. To learn more or connect with an advisor, visit www.nsula.edu/nursing.

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October 29, 1929—Black Tuesday—marked the collapse of the U.S. stock market and the beginning of the Great Depression. In a single day, billions of dollars evaporated, and a wave of panic swept the nation. But beyond the financial fallout, the event carried an eerie weight, as if Wall Street itself had been cursed.

In the days leading up to the crash, brokers and bankers worked in a frenzy, trying to keep the market afloat. When prices finally plummeted, chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses described men fainting, tearing up ledgers, and screaming in despair. Some investors, ruined in minutes, walked out of buildings and never returned home.

Newspapers at the time fueled the legend of desperate brokers leaping from skyscraper windows. While the number of suicides that day was exaggerated, there were enough tragedies in the weeks that followed to cement the image of Wall Street as a haunted district.

The “ghosts of Black Tuesday” lingered long after the crash. Families who lost everything often told stories of hearing phantom voices in their former offices or seeing apparitions of men in suits wandering near the Stock Exchange. Whether real hauntings or the product of grief, these tales captured the sense of loss that haunted a generation.

The Great Depression reshaped America. Breadlines, dust storms, and shuttered banks became the grim reality of the 1930s. Even today, economists and historians study October 29 as a turning point when prosperity gave way to hardship.

In New York, legends persist that certain offices on Wall Street are cursed. Night guards whisper of cold drafts, shadowy figures, and footsteps echoing through empty hallways long after business hours. For some, Black Tuesday isn’t just history—it’s a haunting.

Nearly a century later, October 29 remains a reminder of how quickly fortune can vanish, leaving behind only ghosts of ambition and despair.

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By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – Frank Wilson’s first press conference on Tuesday as LSU’s interim football coach was like a reassuring uncle telling you everything is going to be OK.

If you ever previously met Wilson, a 52-year-old New Orleans native and proud St. Augustine High grad who has had two tours of duty as LSU’s running backs coach, it was exactly what was expected.

Calm, reasonable, matter-of-fact, it-is-what-it-is rhetoric.

Whether it will be enough to lift a sinking 5-3 team, torpedoed by three straight SEC losses and Sunday’s shocking firing of head coach Brian Kelly, to get one more win to become bowl eligible is another matter.

For now, Wilson, one of the best recruiters in LSU history who in his nine previous seasons has coached or recruited 47 players who have played in the NFL, just wants the Tigers to exhale.

“One day at a time, right?” said Wilson, who’s 26-40 in six seasons as head coach (four at Texas-San António, two at McNeese State). “And they range in emotions, and they were and they’re delicate, and they require real conversation, in real care, and straight talk and honest talk and transparency.

“And in those moments, I think when you go about doing business that way, there’s tremendous appreciation, there’s clarity that at least they know we’ve tried to conduct our business in that manner so that the people in the building understand this is where we’re at.

“This is the short term. This is what we’re hopeful for, all right, but this is where we’re at right now.“Let’s be the best version of us right now, and maybe, and just maybe, we can do enough that could affect the outcome of the future, but we have no control of that. All we can do is deal with what’s in the present time, in real time, and being the best version of us.”

Taking over as interim on LSU’s second open date of the season before resuming play at No. 4 Alabama on 8 is also emotional for Wilson, a former Nicholls running back/defensive back.

Twenty of his 29 years as a coach, whether as assistant or head coach, have been Louisiana-based. Spread between two high schools (Karr, O.P. Walker) and three colleges (Nicholls, LSU from 2010-15 under Les Miles, McNeese in 2020-21 as head coach, LSU 2022 to the present under Kelly), Wilson has been a welcome and familiar face in the living room of recruits for over four decades.

“It’s a tremendous, humbling moment for me,” Wilson said. “It’s something that you would dream of, something that you don’t know if it would ever come true, but something you prepare yourself for, and you take steps to position yourself to be able to do those things.

“This opportunity is so much bigger than me. I just happen to be the caretaker at this moment for this wonderful institution that we so love. It’s our flagship state university. We have tremendous pride in it.

“I chose to come back here (in 2022) because there’s no place like LSU. When you speak of LSU, you can talk about the beautiful stadium, this beautiful (practice) facility that we’re in.

“But LSU is not bricks and mortar.  It’s the people who make LSU what it is. It’s the people in this building, it’s the people in this community, it’s the people in this state that gravitate, that pull you in, and it’s why we say forever LSU, because it’s not just a job for me.”

With offensive coordinator Joe Sloan fired Monday morning, one of Wilson’s priorities was tweaking his staff.

He named tight ends coach/running game coordinator Alex Atkins as the offensive play caller. Atkins joined LSU’s staff last January after serving as Florida State’s offensive coordinator from 2022-2024.

Also, offensive analyst and former Louisiana Tech star quarterback Tim Rattay will take over Sloan’s other duty as quarterbacks coach.

“Alex has a background as a play caller,” Wilson said. “Tim has a background as a play caller. I feel very confident they’ll give us the best opportunity in both the run and pass game collectively to present ourselves.”

“Collectively as an offensive staff, we will brainstorm. We’ll work holistically with one another to devise a game plan that gives us the best opportunity to win a football. That’s our sole and focal point.”

It all sounds good in theory. But even before injuries turned LSU’s depth-depleted offensive line into traffic cops waving opposing pass rushers directly to Tigers’ starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, it couldn’t block anybody.

The lack of improvement in LSU’s offense – 96^th nationally in total offense (365.5 yards per game), 122^nd in rushing offense (106.2 ypg) and 82^nd in scoring defense (25.5 points per game, including 21.6 in SEC play) – contributed to Kelly’s firing.

“We have tremendous weapons that we haven’t utilized to the full potential for whatever reason,” Wilson said.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Sunday’s firing of LSU football coach Brian Kelly is unquestionably the week’s hot topic in sports, and beyond.

Several local high school football coaches weighed in with their perspectives for this week’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal Coaches Roundtable, and considered whether the move will impact LSU’s 2026 recruiting class.

GARY COOPER, Booker T. Washington – “It’s the business we choose to be in. Coaches are judged by the performances of the players. Players don’t perform, it’s the coach’s fault.

“At the SEC level, the head coach is mostly a manager. Coordinators and position coaches are the ones directly involved in the game preparations.

“I don’t think this hurts their recruiting at all. LSU has all the financial resources and facilities to still bring in the top talent in the country.”

RODNEY GUIN, Calvary — “Nothing surprises me in college football any more.  I don’t think it will affect recruiting. Now, recruiting is based on NIL more than who is the coach, I would think.” 

COY BROTHERTON, Parkway — “I had a pretty good feeling it was coming.  I think Brian Kelly is a great coach and person, and I hate it didn’t work for him.  I hope the next coach is accepted and given a fair opportunity to succeed.

“I don’t think it hurts any recruiting.  Players seem to be committing based off money, playing time, or love for the state and school.   I don’t think that changes with a new coach.”

JOHN SELLA, Loyola – “It seemed like a lot of people saw it coming. When you’re beating Alabama and winning games people are willing to overlook a lot of things, but if you’re a jerk to everyone and losing it’s not a good look.

“It was clear he lost the locker room and maybe even some on the staff. Just abusing players and coaches on the sideline is crazy to me. It was almost like everyone was operating scared to mess up so they don’t get berated by the head coach. He’s won a lot more games than I have and at a very high level so I can’t say too much, but we are definitely very different people with very different personalities.

“As far as recruiting goes, I don’t think it changes too much. Everyone is just looking to buy the right players and if you have the money, you’ll find some.”

JUSTIN SCOGIN, Airline – “I think the whole thing is crazy. Although Brian Kelly hasn’t had the success and maybe the fit wasn’t great, I think we’re at a dangerous point in sports and society where we’re paying $40-50 million because we’re tired of someone.

“We live in a very ‘what have you done for me lately’ society that will eventually trickle down. For all the struggles offensively they have had, (fired offensive coordinator) Joe Sloan has always been great to me so the whole thing is just tough to get behind.” 

AUSTIN BROWN, Northwood – “I thought on the surface he was a great pick as a HC. But then he came in and started with the fake accent and trying to dance (on a recruiting TicToc). Plus, his political past just doesn’t fly down here in the South. He was a Yankee. 

“I hope it hurts the 2026 class. I also think they should hire (North DeSoto coach) Dennis Dunn!”

MATTHEW SEWELL, Haughton – “I’ve always thought Kelly has been a great coach. He’s won everywhere he’s ever been. I thought he’d do great at LSU, and he hasn’t done bad. Heck, he only lost two home night games and he went 34-14, coached in a conference championship game and coached a Heisman Trophy winner.

“At LSU, the expectations are so high and every single move and loss is magnified. It definitely seems that things were going in the wrong direction, but four weeks ago a lot of LSU fans thought they were going to win the national championship, and now they don’t have a head coach. 

“I tell you what: $53 million to not work? I wish I was Brian Kelly!”

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Last week’s 45-35 victory over Class 5A Huntington moved Class 2A Calvary to 7-1, with the only loss to 5A power Neville, and confirmed what veteran coach Rodney Guin thought about the 2025 Cavaliers.

“We’re actually probably a little ahead of schedule, past where I thought we might be,” he said. “We’re doing a lot of stuff right defensively, for sure, and offensively we’re getting better by the week. We’ve improved every week since Week 1, so it’s been very good.”

There’s still improvement to be made with two District 1-2A games left before Calvary enters the Select Division III postseason, but it’s obvious the Cavs have successfully handled graduation of an extremely talented and accomplished senior class last year.

This squad may actually be better in one key aspect. That’s something that Union Parish coach Joey Spatafora noted two weeks ago in the wake of Calvary’s 48-0 domination of his Farmers.

“They lost a lot of very good players,” he said while the teams were shaking hands, “but this team, watching film and then from what I saw tonight,  I think they play together better than other (Calvary) teams I’ve seen.”

Their coach considered the notion and concurred.

“It’s very valid. I don’t think it’s the most talented team we’ve had, but these guys work very, very hard and they’re super coachable,” said Guin. ”They’ve learned their roles, even if it’s small, and they take care of business. I do agree with that. They are playing compatible football, doing their jobs.”

The opportunity to play a non-district game against Huntington in Week 8 provided the late-season test Guin craves. They passed it with flying colors, earning the Cavaliers the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Team of the Week honor.

“We love having that 5A game toward the end of the schedule, to get a good look at where we’re at and what we need to change going into the playoffs,” said Guin.

For all of the stars who departed with diplomas, perhaps the toughest to replace was record-shattering quarterback Abram Wardell, who ended his career as the most accurate passer in national high school history. Sophomore Hudson Price won the chance to step in and has not disappointed.

“He’s progressing well, doing exactly what we ask him to do, throwing the ball well with a high completion percentage, and starting to run the football a little for us,” said Guin. “We’re pleased where he’s at.”

The Cavaliers’ offense has prospered thanks to the development of an offensive line group that has rotated personnel all season due to a series of injuries.

“They’re doing well. We’ve been banged up there a bunch, have had to play 8-9 guys in and out. We ran the ball 40 times the other night, which is a ton for us,” Guin said. “They have been a bright spot, no doubt.”

The tone-setters are senior Hunter Davis and junior Jacob Tibbett. Davis is battling a bum ankle and will rest up in the final two weeks of the regular season as the Cavs are expected to stretch their 13-year district winning streak to 70.

“We need those two guys playing well for us going into the playoffs,” said Guin.

Tibbett, a guard, is also an anchor defensively at middle linebacker.

“He may be the only guy who plays both ways a lot for us. The O-line’s developed so we’ve been able to rest him a lot and only use him offensively at certain times, because he’s very important to us defensively.”

That defense has also earned superior marks from Guin.

“We’ve tackled very well, all year long, been very, very sound. Pass coverage, we still have to get a little better there, but if you can stop people from running the ball, you always have a chance,” he said. “That’s why I am so excited. We’ve played the run very, very well all year long.”

The Cavs have also sparkled in the kicking game. Junior Braylun Huglon, whether at receiver or return specialist, is a threat to make a house call from anywhere.

The contributions of senior kicker Ty Knight had added a new dimension that lights up the scoreboard and helps keep opponents from doing the same thing.

“Ty has been a game changer for us,” said Guin. “He’s making field goals, he’s kicking off to the goalline, something we haven’t had very often in the past. I have no problem saying, ‘we’re kicking a field goal here, let’s go get it,’ because he has done extremely well all year long.”

Calvary, standing fourth both in the LSWA’s Class 2A poll and the more important LHSAA Select D-III power rankings, is right on track at the right time, said Guin.

“We’ve got a chance to do well in the playoffs. We thought that from Day 1, if we progressed, and we have,” he said. “Playoffs are the luck of the draw, but when they start, we’ll be in the top group, top 4-5, and there you’ve got a shot.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

NEW ORLEANS – After a halftime lead, the Centenary men’s basketball team fell 95-66 to Tulane in an exhibition contest on Tuesday evening at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.

The Gents were up 40-39 at halftime over the Green Wave in the first meeting between the two teams Nov. 19, 2010.

“Credit to (Tulane) coach (Ron) Hunter and his staff,” said new Centenary head coach J.A. Anglin.

“I have always had a great deal of respect for his teams going back to my days as an assistant in the Sun Belt Conference (when Hunter coached at Georgia State). Tulane is going to win a lot of games this season.

“I am very proud of our effort tonight. We competed with a very good Tulane team for 30 minutes. Happy with our effort on the glass in the first half,” said Anglin.

“All in all, it was a good experience for us. Great preparation for our trip to Georgia next weekend. We have a long way to go but today was a good first step.”

Centenary finished an impressive 14 of 17 from the free-throw line (82 percent), made 12 treys, grabbed 28 rebounds, and received 31 points from its bench.

Junior forward Dontarius Coleman led all scorers with 20 points in just 25 minutes played as he was 7 of 13 from the floor and 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Senior guard Quentin Beverly added 12 points and freshman swingman Kane Broussard scored nine as he hit a trio of treys.

The Gents begin their regular season on Friday, Nov. 7 in the Berry College Tournament in Mount Berry, Ga., and face Pfeiffer on Saturday, Nov. 8 in their second game of the weekend.

SCAC Men’s Basketball Media Days has kicked off, with scacsports.com providing access to interviews with the Gents. 

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By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

The first chill of fall has arrived just in time for the change of Centenary sports seasons.

The soccer teams’ regular season concludes Saturday, along with the end of the 2025 cross country slate. The Gents’ basketball team has its first exhibition game under its belt, and the regular season for both basketball teams will begin just as football wraps up its regular season next Saturday at home. Golf is now done for the fall.

SOCCER: The Ladies and Gents will finish the regular season in Houston on Saturday as they will face the University of St. Thomas Celts in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader set for 5/7:30 p.m.

The Ladies (1-13-3, 0-7-2 SCAC) fell 2-0 to Concordia in their home finale on Sunday. The Gents (7-8-2, 5-5 SCAC) allowed a pair of late goals to Concordia on Sunday to fall 3-1.

The Gents, despite losing three straight matches, are in the mix for a berth into next month’s SCAC Soccer Tournament heading into their final regular season match. The Gents, picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, have accumulated 15 points and are currently sixth in the conference standings. The event will be held Nov. 6-9 in Round Rock, Texas.

FOOTBALL: The Gents will play their final road game of the season on Saturday as they face the Hendrix College Warriors (4-3, 2-1 SCAC) in a conference matchup set for 6 o’clock in Conway, Ark.

Centenary (1-5, 1-2 SCAC) could not keep pace with the McMurry War Hawks on Saturday as the Gents fell 52-6 at Atkins Field. The Gents are back for their final home game Nov. 8 against Austin College, aiming to sweep the season series with the ‘Roos.

The SCAC postseason event is Nov. 15 in Little Rock, with pairings to be set after Nov. 8 games conclude.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY:  The Gents finish their season on Saturday at the SCAC Championship in Prairie View, Texas.

The team will run an 8K race starting at 9 a.m. Centenary finished fourth in the Grambling State XC Invite on Oct. 9 in its most recent action.

Freshman Zack Wroten had the Gents’ top finish (19:12.40) to place 13^th. The rookie has recorded the Gents’ top finish in all four meets this season.

BASKETBALL TICKETS: Season tickets and singe game tickets for the upcoming Centenary men’s and women’s seasons are now on sale online.

Single game ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for all children 12 and younger.

Both the men’s and women’s programs enter a new chapter as both have new head coaches this season. Shreveport native J.A. Anglin will lead the Gents and Minden product Rennie Bailey will lead the Ladies.

The Ladies’ first home game is set for Friday, Nov. 7 against ETBU at 6 in the Gold Dome while the Gents will take the court at home for the first time on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7, also against ETBU.

The Gents fell 95-66 to Tulane University in an exhibition contest on Tuesday in New Orleans. Dontarius Coleman led the way with 20 points.

MEN’S GOLF: The Gents shot a 40-over par 616 (314-302) to finish in a tie for sixth place in the Belhaven Invitational on Tuesday at The Refuge Golf Club in Flowood, Miss.

Junior Aubrey Snell, a former Parkway High School star, led the way as he finished fifth at 2-over par 146 (75-71) and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Snell, who tied for third place at the SCAC Preview earlier this month, now has seven top five finishes in his career.

The Gents have completed their fall season. The spring schedule will be announced soon.

VOLLEYBALL: The Ladies begin a season-long homestand on Saturday as they face the University of Dallas Crusaders at 1.

Centenary (2-19, 1-12 SCAC) has lost 12 matches in a row and aims for its first victory since a 3-1 win over the University of Ozarks on Sept. 28. Centenary wraps up the weekend with a non-conference contest against UC Santa Cruz on Sunday at 1.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

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(Part II)

Today we’ll continue our thoughts on the state of professional bass fishing and where it’s headed. Like the old saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever,” and I worry that the sponsorship or business side of fishing is getting tougher and more complicated as companies are now looking hard at how they spend their advertising dollars. 

Today’s anglers are fighting among themselves for a much smaller piece of the pie while the amount of sponsorship dollars has dwindled. It’s becoming more difficult for anglers to land sponsors who have now decided to tighten their belts with regards to advertisement. 

It’s Business 101, all about ROI (return on investment) as sponsors are no longer passing out money like candy. Companies have gotten more conservative on how much money they are willing to pay an angler to represent them. They’re also no longer hiring as many anglers to be a part of their marketing teams as they have in the past.  

Company marketing plans have changed and this all started when the old FLW Tour went under in 2019, followed in 2021 when FLW was absorbed by MLF (Major League Fishing). This has changed the landscape of professional bass fishing as anglers try to make a living.

Recently with a smaller market of sponsors for anglers to choose from, along with a tight economy, professional anglers are having to look at other ways to raise money in order to support their families, pay for entry fees and travel expenses. It has slowly become the land of the haves and the have nots. 

By that I mean, if you have money or come from money, you stand a better chance of making it as a professional angler than someone who is strapped for dollars, sleeping in their truck, and fishing for pay checks. 

The older generation of anglers who have helped make the sport what it is today are now being phased out by a younger generation that requires less money to sponsor. 

Let me explain. For years companies would hire professional anglers to do commercials and promote different products they offer. But as social media began to take hold, companies started turning to the younger generation due to their social media skills and their ability to navigate the web.

The difference between the older generation of anglers and the younger ones is that companies were having to pay a substantial amount of money to the older guys. The younger anglers, who are very social media savvy, are less demanding and will do promotions for pennies on the dollar or maybe a product exchange. 

This has changed the landscape for how professional anglers can make a living. Companies today want anglers who understand the dynamics of social media, can sell a product, and have good communication skills. Just winning tournaments is not enough any longer.

So where is all of this headed? Is the future dream of being a professional bass fisherman still a reality? Major League Fishing has recently cut the number of anglers in its circuit down from 65 to 51, eliminating 15 anglers! 

This of course helps with distribution of the so-called pie as there are now less anglers trying to lock down sponsors. I personally believe that anglers are going to have to reach out to sponsors that are not related to the fishing world like the FLW Tour did back in the early 2000s. 

FLW did an excellent job of bringing in companies like Tide, Snickers, Land of Lakes, Castrol Oil, Kellogg’s and Walmart. They basically followed the same marketing plan as NASCAR by reaching out to non-endemic sponsors. 

Being a professional bass angler is a great way to make a living and a dream for so many! Currently, there are a lot of questions as to what direction professional bass fishing is headed. 

But there’s one thing that has remained constant in this profession. Young anglers today face the same challenges that the older generation faced — how to make money and provide for their families! 

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A graveside service for Robert Ellis Bazzell, 87, will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd., Shreveport, Louisiana. A visitation will be held prior to the graveside from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr. in Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Robert’s nephew, Bro. Mark Moser.

Robert was a resident of Shreveport. He was born on July 15, 1938, in Robstown, Texas to Robert T. Bazzell and Nellie P. Ellis Bazzell and passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in Shreveport.

Robert lived his early childhood in Sinton, Texas until his parents moved to west Shreveport. He graduated from Greenwood High School in 1956 and then married Edna “Jane” Hanson on February 14, 1959. Robert worked at Libbey Owens Ford until an operations reduction in 1974. He then went to work at Fabsteel at both the Waskom, TX and Shreveport, LA locations until they ceased operations in 1985. He finished the majority of his working career at Buckelew’s Hardware.

If you knew Robert, you know he loved to laugh and loved to eat either his cooking or yours! Robert enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys, especially in their early years, and he loved pulling for the LSU Tigers full-time! He enjoyed coaching the Hillsdale Elementary School boys in football and baseball when his son was in school and followed them through their junior high and high school years. Robert also enjoyed playing golf for a good period of his life.

He was very active in the Masons and was extremely proud to have earned the honorary title of a 33rd-degree Mason within the Scottish Rite. He wholeheartedly loved the values of Masonry and dutifully served with his wife of 49 years, Jane, in the Order of the Eastern Star.

Robert lived his later years at Azalea Gardens Assisted Living and loved contributing there as a greeter, serving as President of the Homeowner’s Association, teaching Bible studies, and was well known for his over 150 completed puzzles. He also enjoyed spending time with his close friend, companion, and travel buddy, Peggy Akins.

He always wanted to be remembered as someone who made a difference with people and who was anchored in Christ. Robert had a strong faith in Jesus and mentioned several times in his last weeks that he kept praying to be taken home.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife Edna “Jane” Hanson Bazzell; one sister, Barbara Ann Moser; and one brother, Richard Sims Bazzell. Robert is survived by his daughter, Karen Bazzell Nyman (Quinn); and son, Ken Bazzell (DeAnn). Also left to remember Bappaw are his granddaughters, Morgan Taylor, Kelsey Rowell, and Erin Ormiston, along with two great-grandchildren, John Rowell and Margo Ormiston; and one more great-grandson due in January 2026.

Honoring Robert as pallbearers will be Jay Moser, Drew Rowell, Chris Ormiston, and Andrew Taylor. The family wishes to thank the staff at Heritage Manor West for their care of Robert during the last few months of his life and Life Path Hospice for their care of him during the last few days as he peacefully passed on to heavenly eternity.

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A service celebrating the life of Ms. Virgina McCray will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Good Samaritan Funeral Home located at 2200 Laurel Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103.

Family Hour will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Good Samaritan Funeral Home.

Mrs. McCray will be laid to rest at Lincoln Memorial Park, 6915 W 70th Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71129.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virgina, please visit our floral store.

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