Louisiana Tech Football head coach Sonny Cumbie announced the hiring of Lorenzo Joe as the Bulldogs’ wide receivers coach on Friday afternoon.
“We’re excited to welcome Lorenzo, Madisyn, and Kash to Ruston and Louisiana Tech,” Cumbie said. “Lorenzo will be a great mentor, leader, and be instrumental in the development of our receivers. He will make a huge impact within our program and with our players.”
Joe arrives in Ruston after spending the previous six seasons on Mike Gundy’s staff at Oklahoma State, where he served in various capacities while helping the Cowboys to a 51-26 overall record and five consecutive bowl appearances.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to be here at LA Tech and work under Coach Cumbie,” Joe said. “I am fired up to get to work and compete every day with my guys.”
Joe served as a prospect analyst in 2023. In that role, he helped guide the Cowboys’ recruiting efforts by evaluating film and analyzing data on prospective student-athletes.
From 2020-22, he worked primarily with the OSU wide receivers as a graduate assistant. During his three years as a graduate assistant, Oklahoma State had one All-America selection and three separate All-Big 12 selections at wide receiver. The Cowboys had at least one receiver eclipse 800 receiving yards in all three of Joe’s seasons.
In 2022, Oklahoma State ranked 20th nationally in passing offense with 279.5 yards per game. Under Joe’s guidance, wide receiver Brennan Presley was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 after registering 67 receptions for 813 yards and two touchdowns.
Oklahoma State posted a 12-2 mark, capped with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame, marking the second 12-win season in program history in 2021. The Cowboys ranked No. 12 in the FBS and first in the Big 12 with 328 first downs on the year. Joe tutored wide receiver Tay Martin, who led the Big 12 with 1,046 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, becoming just the 10th receiver in program history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a single season.
In his first year as wide receiver’s graduate assistant, he played a significant role in the success of Biletnikoff Finalist, First-team All-America and First -Team All-Big 12 wide receiver Tylan Wallace. Wallace would go on to be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
As a quality control coach in 2019, Joe helped guide OSU to an 8-5 season, with Wallace earning second-team All-Big 12 laurels.
During his inaugural season in Stillwater in 2018, Joe served as volunteer assistant coach, helping coach Oklahoma State to an undefeated non-conference record and a 7-6 overall mark highlighted by a 38-33 win over Missouri in the Liberty Bowl.
Joe graduated from the University of Texas in 2018, majoring in Physical Culture and Sports. A four-year letter winner at wide receiver, he played in 45 games while making 13 starts. During his four-year playing career, the Longhorns appeared in two bowl games. As a senior, he started 12 of the Longhorn’s 13 games while registering 20 receptions for 246 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a career-high 98 yards on five receptions while scoring a touchdown in a win over Kansas.
Joe is married to his wife, Madisyn, and has a son, Kash.
The Louisiana Tech baseball program will host its annual “First Pitch Banquet Dinner” on Friday, February 2, 2024, in the Thomas Assembly Center.
Doors to the event open at 5:30 p.m. for the interactive portion of the event including an autograph session, silent auction, carnival games, raffles, and more. Dinner and the formal programming will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now with only arena seating still available. Cost of an arena seat is $55 and includes dinner and all of the other amenities for the night (just not seating on the TAC floor).
Head coach Lane Burroughs is scheduled to speak, as he will give Bulldog fans a glimpse of what to expect when Louisiana Tech opens its season. Burroughs enters his eighth season with Louisiana Tech having led the Bulldogs to 233 wins in his tenure here.
Current Bulldog players will take on producing and performing in a Player Awards Show.
The Lady Aggies saved their best for last as a late fourth-quarter surge propelled Choudrant to a 40-33 win Monday night at the CHS Gym.
While Choudrant struggled offensively much of the game, the steady play of the Lady Aggies’ defense kept them within striking distance and provided an opportunity for a late come-from-behind win.
“Defense is what we preach and what we do best, and we did a good job on that side of the ball tonight,” said Lady Aggies coach Brandy Roberson. “And while it took a little late offense to pull off the win, it was still all set up by our defense.
“And it’s our defense that has kept us in games so far this season. We’re still looking to find who we are offensively — searching for ways to score more points. We’re making progress and getting better, and this was a big win. But we still need to find ways to score more points.”
The game stayed tight throughout the opening 24 minutes, with St. Frederick leading 7-6 at the end of the opening stanza, 14-12 at halftime and 26-24 heading into the final quarter of play.
“Again it’s that defense that kept us in it up to that point,” Roberson said. “This team works hard. They play hard. That’s how they stayed in it and gave themselves a chance to win — playing solid defense.”
The Lady Aggies finally found some offense in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Lady Warriors 16-7 to earn the win.
“While we did not play well offensively overall, we battled until the end,” Roberson said. “Playing that really hard defense created some scoring opportunities late in the game, and we made some big free throws at the end to finish up the game.
Reese Brown led Choudrant with 13 points while Brelyn Pyle added nine and Alyssa Bell chipped in with six.
Sadie Jones and Abby Frazier each hit for four points for Choudrant, which also received an early 3-pointer from Caroline May to account for half of the Lady Aggies’ first-quarter scoring.
Next up for the Lady Aggies (9-11) is a home game against Cedar Creek (6-7) at 6 p.m. today.
In a rollercoaster of a game, Choudrant turned things up a notch in the fourth quarter Monday night as the Aggies held on for a 56-50 home win over St. Frederick at the CHS Boys Gym.
The win pushed Choudrant to 13-7 on the season with the Aggies not slated to play again until the first weekend in January.
Against St. Frederick Monday night, the Warriors led 13-12 at the end of the opening stanza before the Aggies got hot in the second quarter, outscoring the Warriors 19-10 to build a 31-23 halftime advantage.
“It was a super exciting game and a great atmosphere,” Smith said. “The crowd brought it and our players fed off of that and played super intense from start to finish.
“That was a big win for us. A couple of weeks ago they beat us by 40, and when you lose to somebody by 40, it takes a disciplined, mature team to take a look inside themselves and come out and respond the way they did. I’m super proud of how they played and did that tonight for sure.”
Smith admitted the second-quarter surge game the Aggies bolstered confidence that helped them get through a tough third quarter during which the Warriors outscored Choudrant 17-7 to build a 40-38 advantage heading into the final stanza.
“The second quarter we just did a great job of matching up with them in our zone defense,” Smith said. “We just did a great job of not giving them easy shots. We knew they were a great 3-point shooting team. So going in the main message defensively was ‘no 3s.’
“We didn’t give up a 3-pointer the whole game. And they’re a team that has three or four guys that can really shoot it. That was a big key in us getting the win this time.”
Choudrant was down as many as six points in the fourth quarter before the Aggies made their move for the win.
“We actually pressed in the fourth quarter, which is something we typically don’t do,” Smith said. “But that ended up creating a couple of turnovers. Then Carson Carrico hit a big 3-pointer to cut St. Frederick’s lead to one point.
“Carson and Mike Jones hit some big free throws down the stretch.”
A miscue by the Warriors also helped the Aggies escape with the hard-fought win.
“Unfortunately for them, they had six players on the court and got hit with a technical foul,” Smith said. “Carson hit one of two of those free throws and then added a couple more later on. To have a sophomore you can count on to make those clutch free throws, and when you have the flexibility of having your big guys — in our case Mike and Lawson Stevens — push the ball down the court and make free throws, it’s quite the luxury.”
Jones led the Aggies with 25 points while Carrico added 17, including four 3-pointers.
Braden Soto chipped in with five points for Choudrant while Tredon Cage hit for four.
Next up for the Aggies is competing at St. Frederick’s Grady Jones Memorial Tournament on Jan. 6-7 with the Aggies facing D’Arbonne Woods on Jan. 6 before playing St. Frederick again on Jan. 7.
Grady Jones was the father of Choudrant principal Chris Jones and the grandfather of the Aggies’ Jones and his sister, Lady Aggies hoopster Sadie Jones.
The life of Dr. William S. Bundrick (center) will be celebrated today in Shreveport.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
The best friend student-athletes at Louisiana Tech could ever have for most of the past 50 years, Dr. William S. “Billy” Bundrick passed away Saturday, December 9.
A celebration of Dr. B’s extraordinary life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 19, at Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Rev. Max Zehner, Dr. Tom Harrison and Rev. James Davison III, one of Dr. B’s 11 grandchildren.
All family and friends are invited to join in the celebration; a private burial will take place after the service.
“His was a life remarkably lived,” said Wayne Smith, a four-year starter at point guard for the Bulldogs in the 1980s and an employee of Bundrick’s for more than 25 years. “It’s been an honor to serve Dr. B all these years. He was a wonderful man and friend who positively touched a lot of lives.”
“I just hate Dr. B has left us,” said former Tech Athletics Director Jim Oakes. “I am convinced Dr. Bundrick was the best team doctor in the country. No other team doctor had the incredible impact on an athletic program that Dr. Bundrick had on our program. His loyalty to Louisiana Tech is unparalleled. It is simply impossible to think where this athletic program would be without Dr. B.”
“I was so blessed to work with him for 30 years,” said former Tech athletics trainer Sam Wilkinson. “He did so much that nobody even knows about, and if he had a bad day, you never knew it. I can see him spending 30 minutes on the phone or in person with a mom, assuring her that her injured son or daughter was in good hands and would be all right.
“He treated our athletes as he’d treat his own son or daughter,” Wilkinson said. “To see how much he cared and how much time he spent with them … there were weeks when I wondered if he ever went to bed.”
A native of Shreveport, Dr. B was a graduate of C. E. Byrd High School, Louisiana Tech, and LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. In 1964, he began his lifetime love of practicing orthopedic and sports medicine.
At Tech he was a three-year letterman in football and co-captain. He served as team physician for over 40 years and was enshrined into the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. The Tower Medallion, Tech’s highest honor, was given to Billy in 1995. The Dr. Billy Bundrick Softball Field on the Tech campus is dedicated in his honor.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Northwest Louisiana, P.O. Box 5118, Bossier City, LA 71171, Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport, LA 71101, or other charities of the donor’s choice.
Regan Taylor November 30, 1938 – December 15, 2023 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Farmerville, Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:00 am Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Farmerville, Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 10:00 am Cemetery: Meridian Baptist Church Cemetery, Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Mickey Joseph (center) was introduced as the new Grambling State football coach today by AD Trayvean Scott and President Rick Gallot. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Minutes after being officially introduced as the new head football coach at Grambling State University, Mickey Joseph let the media and supporters know there are changes ahead for the GSU gridiron program.
Old-school changes.
“We’re going to restore the order,” Joseph said. “They (opponents) need to fear Grambling and that’s what we’re going to set out to do.”
Joseph said setting the proper environment will be key toward reviving the GSU football program.
“My focus is to create an environment where our athletes can excel in the classroom and win championships on the gridiron,” Joseph said. “We want them to be productive citizens in the local community and enjoy prolific careers once they graduate.”
“I’m here to win — on the field and off the field. I’m going to be a guy you can touch. I’m going to go into Walmart. I’m not going to hide. I’m not going to say I’m too big for this. I’m a real one, as the kids would say, and I’m going to continue to be that way.”
Joseph said he knows the standard set by College Hall of Fame Coach Eddie G. Robinson during his 57-year coaching career at GSU and that he will remember lessons learned from the legend as he tries to make his own mark on the Grambling State football program.
“Coach Rob set the stage,” Joseph said. “His shoes can’t be filled. But I know he’d want me to be myself and I know I can lead this program. We have to lead with integrity. You have to do things right by playing hard. … I want everyone to know we’re going to surround these kids with coaches that are going to demand that from them. That’s what Coach Rob did.
“Now we can’t practice like Coach Rob used to practice because now we have a 20-hour (per week) rule. But we’re going to ask the kids to give us their best at the practices — to play hard and do things how we want things done.”
Joseph said passion and aggression will be part of his coaching style on both sides of the ball.
“I’m passionate — I coach with a lot of emotion,” Joseph said. “If my arms are folded that means I’m upset about something. But I have to make the kids feel me. They’re going to take on my personality. We’re going to play hard. We’re going to play to the echo of the whistle. We’re going to be passionate about the way we do things.
“On the offensive side of the ball, we’re going to be very aggressive. We’re going to be an RPO team, we’re going to keep you off balance. On defense, we’re going to come get you and play man. We’re going to be really sound on special teams”
He’ll also focus on the basics before anything else.
“Fundamentals will override the schemes,” Joseph said. “We’re going to be fundamentally sound.”
Joseph, who also served as running backs coach at Louisiana Tech in 2016, was wide receivers coach for LSU from 2017-2021, also serving as assistant head coach from 2020-21. He was most recently assistant head coach and then interim coach at Nebraska for the 2022 season and said that lessons learned from those roles will come into play as he takes over at Grambling.
“Structure,” Joseph said of the biggest takeaway he’ll be bringing with him from LSU and Nebraska. “I’ve talked to (GSU President Richard Gallot and Vice President for Athletics Dr. Scott) about it. By having structure — getting more pieces into the program. It’s 2023, about to be 2024. You’ve got to have help with these kids, because right now if you ask 10 coaches to run behind 125 kids, that can’t happen. So we’re going to bring more structure to the program and we’re going to get these kids to do things right on the field and off the field.”
“We’re going to touch every high school in the state of Louisiana when it comes to recruiting,” Joseph said. “Because I think right here in the state of Louisiana, pound-for-pound it’s the best state for high school football. So we’re going to draw a five-hour radius around Grambling and basically stay in state to recruit these kids.”
As far as staff, Joseph said he hadn’t yet looked at that before Monday’s press conference but left all doors open at that point as far as the potential of keeping any of the coaching staff who served under Hue Jackson, who was fired earlier this month after going 8-14 over two seasons.
“I’m going to sit down and look at that after this is over because that’s one of the toughest things —- talking about the future of this staff,” Joseph said. “ Most of the guys in this building I know. So I have to sit down and look and talk about it, but at the end of the day, we’re going to do what’s best for Grambling.”
Joseph does already have a plan set about the way he’ll handle the NCAA transfer portal.
“I have a plan —- 85-15,” Joseph said about his views on the transfer portal. “That means 15% of the roster will come from the transfer portal, and 85% will be investing in and recruiting high school players. I think that these days with the transfer portal, people are forgetting that the high school kid needs to be developed — that you can’t give up on him after three semesters saying he can’t play.”
Joseph knows it’s the younger players who mean most for the long-term future success of his Tigers.
“What happened at Nebraska is the recruiting fell off —- you have to recruit. That’s your lifeline,” Joseph said. “At the end of the day, good players make good coaches. I was a good (receivers) coach (at LSU) because I had Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall Jr. I had all three of those dudes on the field at one time.
“And we want to do that here. We want kids here who want to play in the NFL. So we’re going to recruit NFL-caliber talent. You can’t be scared of those types of kids. I think it’s going to be really competitive around here, but we’re trying to recruit kids who want to play in the NFL.”
Joseph admitted he’s talked to older brother Vance, former head coach of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals who now serves as defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, about taking over as head coach at Grambling.
“His advice is, ‘Mickey, invest in the kids. When they walk into the building, they’re going to be the most important people,’ “ Joseph said what he was told by his brother. “If we’re in a staff meeting and a kid needs me, we’re going to stop that meeting so I can talk to that kid
“We’re going to invest in those kids, because at the end of the day, if we can get those kids to do right and play hard, we’re going to win more games than we lose. But Vance calls every morning at 5 o’clock — 3 o’clock his time. I don’t know when he sleeps.”
In the end, Joseph believes building team trust is a key to building Grambling back into a consistently winning program.
We’re going to put the fear in our opponents. We want them to know when we walk down that hill (at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium), we’re going to give them 60 minutes of hell. That’s the only way I know how to do it.”
“I think the kids are going to trust me because I’m going to trust them,” Joseph said. “I’m going to have an open door policy. The kids are going to love me and I’m going to love them and we’re going to make this thing work.”
(Mayor Ronny Walker presents Jerrod Baugh with framed LPJ articles to celebrate championship. Photo Credit: Reggie McLeroy)
By Kyle Roberts
Thirty-three years is a long time.
And that’s why Railroad Park was “Party Central” Saturday afternoon for a community excited to celebrate its 2023 football state championship winning Ruston Bearcat squad.
Hundreds of fans encircled Railroad Park’s stage as the football players, coaches and staff signed autographs and celebrated with a pep rally by the Ruston High spirit groups.
And Ruston mayor Ronny Walker presented a framed printout of the Lincoln Parish Journal’s coverage of both the state championship win and the special moment in the postgame press conference with both Bearcats senior Jadon Mayfield and junior Josh Brantley.
“To see this many people come out for this on a rainy day like this and cold outside is incredible,” Walker said. “And especially for a state championship that we haven’t seen in 33 years. This is a very special group. And the reason we gave him the picture of the article was because of what the two young men said during the press conference. That’s important for him to remember. And all of us remember that. He’s not just developing players, he’s developing young men.”
Baugh was very appreciative of the overwhelming community support; not just Saturday, but for the entirety of the season.
“I think it was a really good opportunity for the kids and the coaches to show some appreciation for what the community has done throughout the season,” Baugh said. “I mean, they followed us regardless of how far the trips were going in New Orleans and going to Cabot and then going back to New Orleans; they have been there.
“It was good for the kids to get to enjoy the parade and kind of be the the spotlight. And I think it’s earned. As a coach, you try to guard against all during the football season. But I really wanted the kids to be able to enjoy that.”
Principal Dan Gressett had nothing but praise for the community and his school for a great year of support for the football team.
“It seems like when we’re winning in football, everything else seems to go a lot smoother,” Gressett said. “It’s a big day for Ruston High School. I’m just proud of our coaches, all of our players– everybody involved. Spirit groups, the band, our student section every Friday night. Just an exciting time and a lot of good things going on at Ruston High right now.”
Ruston High won its first state championship since 1990 last Saturday in a 31-17 win over Zachary High in the Superdome.
GRAMBLING – Grambling State’s new head football coach won’t have to be shown his way around campus. Veteran assistant Mickey Joseph, a New Orleans native and former star quarterback at Nebraska, has been on the Tigers’ staff before.
GSU has scheduled a 10 a.m. press conference today to announce its new coach. Sunday, sources close to the program said that selection will be Joseph, who was receivers coach and special teams coordinator at Grambling on Broderick Fobbs’ initial staff in 2014-15, and then worked at Louisiana Tech and LSU.
Grambling went 16-8 in Joseph’s two seasons there, winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title in 2015, after helping Fobbs pull off one of the more remarkable turnarounds in Division I football after the 2013 season included a player strike to culminate the low ebb in the program’s history.
He was on the LSU staff as wide receivers coach when the Tigers won the 2019 national championship, mentoring current NFL stars Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati) and Justin Jefferson (Minnesota), and Parkway High product Terrace Marshall Jr. (Carolina).
Joseph was most recently assistant head coach and then interim coach at Nebraska for the last nine games of the 2022 season. He did not coach in 2023.
He reportedly was under consideration for the vacant head coaching posts at Grambling’s Southwestern Athletic Conference arch-rival, Southern, and also at another SWAC school, Texas Southern. SI.com’s Kyle T. Mosley reported Sunday night Joseph’s offensive coordinator will be recently fired Southern head coach Eric Dooley, who was very successful as offensive coordinator on Fobbs’ Grambling’s staff until getting the Prairie View A&M head coaching post in 2018. Dooley and Joseph worked together at Grambling, and the Tigers were 39-11 overall and won the 2016 Black college national championship with Dooley calling plays.
Joseph, who was running backs coach on Skip Holtz’ staff at Louisiana Tech in 2016, was wide receivers coach for Ed Orgeron at LSU from 2017-2021, serving as assistant head coach from 2020-21.
He has experience at two more Historically Black College and University (HBCU) institutions. Joseph served as assistant coach at Oklahoma’s Langston University from 2008-11 before taking over head coaching duties and going 13-7 in 2011-12. Joseph then was receivers coach, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Alcorn State in 2013.
A native of Marrerro who was a phenomenal player at Archbishop Shaw High School, Joseph was a standout quarterback when Nebraska ranked among college football’s elite under Tom Osborne, but injuries curtailed his career. After getting started in coaching, he worked at Tulane and Nicholls State.
Grambling’s post opened when Hue Jackson was fired following his second season, which ended at 5-6 after a Bayou Classic loss to Southern. Jackson was 3-8 in his first year with the Tigers.
The artwork of the late Annie Weinstein Richardson will be displayed and celebrated during an open house hosted by Annie’s fellow members of Fringe – An Art Experience.
“An Afternoon with Annie” will be Wednesday, December 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Fringe Gallery located at 111 E. Mississippi Ave. in Ruston.
Featured as part of “An Afternoon with Annie” will be the personal collection of paintings she chose to keep in her home, some of which have not been shown before. Included will be notes and memorabilia left by her friends in the gallery and in the Little Free Art Gallery outside near the patio.
Annie’s approach to painting was exacting. Her process included mark making, edges, specific color choices and embedded collage from personal or found bits of paper. She began her process intuitively with spontaneous gestures that allowed her subconscious to take the lead.
After that, she employed a strong and uncompromising work method as she searched for just the right mark or movement. Her finished works were always personal, and while many had a dream-like quality, they were always intentional.
Annie encouraged young artists with her positive attention, encouraging others and sharing her experience and knowledge. Many will remember her for her artistic generosity.
Richardson passed away on Nov. 14 from injuries sustained in the Nov. 13 attack on the Louisiana Tech campus.
Keynote speaker Eric Kelly talked about determination, destiny, and creating a unique pace for success Friday morning as he served as keynote speaker during Grambling State University’s Fall 2023 Commencement Exercises in the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
In his current position, Kelly oversees a portfolio of technology companies comprised of Overland Tandberg, a global Hybrid Cloud software and infrastructure enterprise where he led the public to private company acquisition; Bridge 2 Technologies, a next-generation SAAS software enterprise; OT Global Technologies, a global IT solution provider, and OT Global Protection, a healthcare technology company.
Those companies manufacture, develop, service, and operate in more than 100 countries.
“I’m here to deliver a message of determination, destiny, and what it means when you hear the phrase ‘in the room where it happens.’ I want you to take a look around. You are in the room where it is happening,” Kelley said. “And from this point forward I want you to be determined that you are always in the room where it happens.
“And if necessary, like today, create the room where it happens. It’s up to you to continue your legacy of making your mark on the world as GSU Tigers by using the network and larger surrounding ecosystem.”
Kelly then pointed out the significance of earning a college degree.
“Graduating college is a monumental experience and an accomplishment worth celebrating,” Kelly said. “Now I know tomorrow you will start a new chapter, but before you do I want everyone to understand that graduating college today has catapulted you to an elite status. This is a status that less than 7% of people in the world achieve.”
“I think when I was sitting in my seat like you are today, trying to spot family and friends and take over the world, or at least my world as I knew it. Back then, technology was a burgeoning idea well on its way to being one of the leading industries in the country as well as the world. The world of technology is not slowing down. In fact, it is accelerating.”
Kelly then pointed out some similarities that nearly all major technology companies share.
“For one, they were started by people who were aged from 20 – 30,” Kelly said. “In addition, many of the founders were not technologists. Some didn’t finish college. … But the combined value of these companies is over $7 trillion.
“Now it’s your turn to become the leaders of tomorrow. You already have the foundation, the intellect, the creativity, and the GramFam network to be able to succeed. I’ve been in the tech industry for 40 years. It doesn’t mean I know everything, but I have learned quite a few things on my journey, spanning from working in the (President Barack) Obama administration to being one of the only African American to be chairman and CEO of two publicly traded companies. But the most important thing about my journey is that I didn’t get here alone. I had help and I still do.”
Kelly then reminded the graduates that they have help, too.
“Being members of a close-knit Grambling community, where everybody is somebody, as you go out into the world, move forward with the conviction of those who laid the groundwork of support, courage and vision before you,” Kelly said. “Confidence in knowing you already have everything it takes to begin your journey.
“Be sure to invest in your network because your network will become important toward building your net worth. You should always use setbacks as welcome opportunities to perfect your skill set or pivot altogether. It is simply not enough to have a vision of a dream without the will to create an action plan and work on that plan day in and day out. Strategy without execution is a daydream. And execution without strategy could be a nightmare. No matter what you decide to do next, success looks different on everyone.”
He also talked about the importance of values.
“Define your values,” Kelly said. “The sooner you can define your values regardless of what career path you decide to embark on, the sooner you will begin walking the talk of your vision. Values are directly connected to your behaviors and how you will carry yourself throughout life.
“When your values are set, no one can tell you who you are except you. Establishing a solid set of values will help you be bold and create your own career path.”
Kelly told the graduates playing “the long game” is another key to success.
“This means embracing the world of technology,” Kelly said. “Your generation is uniquely positioned and positively equipped to accelerate your careers through technology. The world of technology as we know it today revolves around speed — everything we do now seems to be happening at light speed.
“Playing the long game for people in my generation means playing chess, not checkers. Playing the long game means you’re strategizing on the mark you’d like to leave on the world, your legacy, your imprint and your influence. Playing the long game also makes your vision sustainable for years to come.”
Kelly’s last piece of advice to the graduates was to embrace the unknown while keeping their foot on the gas.
“Most leaders at the top of their game do not know it all,” Kelly said. “What they don’t know, they hire experts on their teams to bring them up to speed and get the job done. Keeping your foot on the gas does not mean that every day you’ll be going 80 miles per hour. Some days it may be 60, while others you might slow down to 5 (mph). And there will be days where you will need to stop and park the car completely. The point of the matter is to keep going, but go at your own pace.
“Do not get caught up in the timing of others’ success, because your path is unique to you, and that is exactly why you are so valuable to the world.”
Dortavia Barnes of Tallulah, a criminal justice major from Tallulah, Louisiana, was GSU’s valedictorian after posting a 3.84 GPA and earning President’s List accolades every semester she studied at GSU.
Barnes plans to go on to law school and become a criminal defense attorney.
GSU President Rick Gallot also conferred a posthumous bachelor’s degree to Glencie Q. Metz, who passed away on June 22, 2017, at the age of 19.
Two of GSU’s graduates — Amayah Joseph and J’Hada Satterfield — were also honored with ROTC commissions and will enter the U.S. Army as second lieutenants.
A pair of Lincoln Parish football players earned impressive academic honors and were recognized during halftime of the Nonselect Division I state championship game last weekend at the Caesars Superdome.
Cedar Creek’s Lawson Lillo and Ruston High’s Nate Johnson were among a prestigious group of young men from high schools across the state that received certificates as part of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Academic All-State 4.0 team.
These young men completed their academic high school careers with a perfect 4.0 grade point averages.
Lillo was a two-way starter for the Cougars football program the past few years, lettering four years on varsity. He was named to the All-Lincoln Parish Journal team this year on defense. He has also earned numerous honors as part of the Cedar Creek Powerlifting Team.
Johnson was a starting safety for the state champion Bearcats football team this season and a multi-year starter for head coach Jerrod Baugh. He was also named to the All-LPJ gridiron team.
Ruston’s Nate Johnson (5) earned honors on and off the field this season. (photo by Josh McDaniel)
On Sunday, December 17, 2023, shortly before 10:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on LA-877 at LA-17. The crash claimed the life of 66-year-old Cheryl Muns of Epps.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by 30-year-old Mary Cantrell, was traveling west on LA-877. At the same time, a 2020 Nissan Kicks was traveling south on LA-17. For reasons still under investigation, the Chevrolet failed to yield at the stop sign located on LA-877 at LA-17 and traveled into the path of the Nissan. As a result of this action, the Nissan struck the Chevrolet.
Muns, who was properly restrained and the front seat passenger in the Nissan, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Nissan, who was properly restrained, suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Cantrell, who was properly restrained, suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Two juvenile passengers of the Chevrolet were properly restrained and uninjured. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, we urge all motorists to prioritize safety on the roads. Avoid driving while distracted or impaired at all costs, as these choices pose serious threats to yourself and others sharing the road. Stay focused, alert, and responsible every time you get behind the wheel. Your commitment to roadway safety is a crucial step towards ensuring the well-being of everyone in our community.
In 2023, Troop F has investigated 42 fatal crashes, resulting in 50 deaths.
A separate storyline in Ruston’s Friday night matchup with Frankston High was the decades-long friendship between the two head coaches, Ryan Bond and Scotty Albritton.
Of course, the friendship had to weather the storm of two highly competitive ballers who openly admit their disdain for each other during their playing days for their respective high schools.
“Sometimes we’d play each other four times in a season,” Albritton said. “Maybe a home-and-home, or we’d meet up in a tournament. We were big rivals in high school. We really did not like each other.”
Standing next to Albritton, Bond couldn’t help but laugh.
“We did not get along very well,” Bond said. “That’s a kind word for it.”
Both high school graduates in 1992 (Albritton from Cedar Creek High School here in Ruston and Bond from Weston High School in Jackson Parish), the pair would end up at Louisiana Tech University, uniting as Dunkin’ Dogs once Albritton made the team their sophomore season.
From there, a lifetime friendship would be forged.
“We ended up becoming great friends, we’d room together on road trips and we we became such good friends that we ended up being roommates in a house on campus,” Albritton said. “And, you know, the friendship there is just just increase.”
“We went from bitter rivals to him being in my wedding and coming overseas to watch me play (after college),” Bond said. “Now, I’d do anything for him and his family.”
And now, the pair have a 1-1 record against each other. The two previously faced off nearly a decade ago at a tournament hosted by Evangel when Albritton was the head coach at Lindale High School in Texas while Bond was at Weston High. The larger-enrollment Lindale would get the victory.
“He said he remembered the butt-whoopin’ we gave him that night, but when I went back and looked at the score, it was only a 19-point win for us,” Albritton said before laughing. “So I told him before the game tonight that you can’t beat us by more than 19 points.”
And the final score Friday night? 58-39– a 19-point win, this time for Bond’s Ruston Bearcat team.
And, perhaps, on the schedule next season could see a return trip and the rubber match for two great friends.
“We’re going to try to get out there next year,” Bond said. “But tonight, I really appreciate him coming over here.”
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a Downsville man last Tuesday morning after it was discovered he was wanted for felonies in Ouachita Parish and in Mississippi.
Johnny L. Franks, 54, was stopped on Crocker Road about 3 a.m. Tuesday morning for not utilizing a turn signal. Once Franks was identified, a records check indicated he was wanted in Mississippi for possession of methamphetamine and in Ouachita Parish for simple burglary.
Once the warrants were confirmed, Franks was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and later transferred to the Ouachita Correctional Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Each school in Lincoln Parish has at least one School Resource Officer, and Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Officer Mitch Jenkins is Ruston Elementary School’s SRO — and RES faculty, staff and students were ready to celebrate in style.
Last Friday, the school’s carline and daycare drivers honored Jenkins by decorating their windows or making signs showing appreciation, and the faculty and staff were able to shower him with gifts to celebrate.
“We wanted him to know how special we think he is,” said Mandy Brown, RES principal.
RES surprised Jenkins with a gift card to Lowes, a basket of his favorite treats from faculty and signed cards from everyone.
“He is a dedicated worker and rarely misses a day,” said Brown. “He is loved by all of our parents, students and faculty.
“I am reassured knowing that Officer Jenkins is on campus and is putting the safety and welfare of our faculty and students at his top priority.”
Officer Jenkins stopped by each car that had a sign and took a picture with them.
“I guess it’s really not me, it’s the guys in which I work with plus this school here, I think is the best,” said Jenkins. “All the kids here, the parents that come through the carline and the kids that ride the bus, they are just awesome.”
Jenkins spends time talking to kids at recess, helping with carline and fostering relationships with everyone at RES.
“I’m a shy kind of guy,” Jenkins said. “I don’t show much emotion, but they kind of got to me thing morning.”
A Ruston man was arrested last Wednesday evening after police responded to a call of suspicious activity and discovered a man wanted on numerous warrants.
Ruston Police responded to a residence at the corner of Line Avenue and Edgewood Street about 9 p.m. Wednesday night regarding suspicious activity. In interviewing several individuals in the yard, one man identified as the Anthony J. Graham, 31, was discovered to be wanted on seven warrants for failure to appear in Ruston City Court. Graham was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
During booking, a tissue containing suspected methamphetamine was found in one of Graham’s socks. He was charged with introduction of contraband into a penal facility and warrants charging him with failure to appear in court on four counts of no driver’s license, no license plate, and failure to register a vehicle. Bail was set at $36,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, Dec. 18 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 5:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning meeting (Ruston City Hall) 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6 p.m.: LA Tech women’s basketball (TAC)
Tuesday, Dec. 19 9:30 a.m.: Ribbon cutting for Egghead Video Productions (203 W. Alabama, Suite 1) 2 p.m.: RIbbon cutting for Lula Perl Cafe (103 Pelican Blvd.) 5-8 p.m.: Ice skating (Ruston Sports Complex) 5-7 p.m.: Holiday Opening Reception at Connective Captures of Lincoln Parish (Lincoln Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Wednesday, Dec. 20 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome Noon: GSU women’s basketball (Hobdy Assembly Center)
Cedar Creek connected on 11 three-pointers and the Cougars rode that hot shooting to a 66-53 road win at Quitman tonight.
The Cougars (7-4) avenged a 64-54 loss to the Wolverines (13-6) in the championship game of the Neill Kilgore Memorial Tournament last Saturday night at the Brickhouse.
“This was a huge huge win for us,” said Cedar Creek head coach Lance Waldron. “It was on the road at their place. This was a big-time win for our program against a really good team.”
Jake Doan led four Cougars in double figures with 18 points followed by Jack Bell with 14, Luke Waldron with 13 and Connor Johnson with 11. Brett Bell added six and Landon Hall four points in the win.
“Quitman focused on Jake and so we had to make adjustments and have other people step up and we did,” said Waldron. “It was a team effort.”
Cedar Creek jumped out to a 17-12 lead after the first quarter as Luke Waldron scored eight points, including a pair of three-pointers. The second quarter saw Hall, Johnson Doan each score four points for Creek as the Cougars took a 31-28 advantage into the lockerroom.
“We felt like our game plan going in was to get the ball inside to Jack and some of the other guys, to get a match-up we like inside,” said Waldron. “We did that. But our outside shot was falling tonight. We made 11 three-pointers. In the championship game of our tournament it wouldn’t fall. We didn’t want to rely on the three, but we shot real well tonight.”
The third quarter saw the two teams go back and forth with each team scoring 15 points in the frame, led by six from Jack Bell and five from Doan.
With the Cougars holding onto the slim 46-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Cedar Creek wouldn’t allow the home team to rally. Five different Cougars connected on a three-pointer in the fourth quarter as Cedar Creek outscored Quitman 20-10 to pull away for the win.
“We did everything well,” said Waldron. “We played together. Our guys came into the game focused. We didn’t get rattled. When you go to Quitman, it’s an exciting atmosphere, and it’s always packed. We went over there and stayed focused and we didn’t get rattled. Quitman won our tournament last week, and I felt like we got rattled in that game. But we stayed focused the whole game tonight.
“We finally won a game against a winning program. (Quitman coach) Mike Black does a really good job so to go over there and win was huge. It’s hard to beat those guys. They are used to winning.”
Following a tough loss to Wossman Thursday night, Ruston’s boys (4-6) picked up a win over Frankston High out of Texas by a final score of 58-39 in Memorial Gym on the campus of Louisiana Tech University.
“It’s an improvement from yesterday,” Ruston High head coach Ryan Bond said. “Like I said last night, I knew we’ve got really good players– we’ve got great players. And it’s just getting them back in basketball shape. And I know Frankston’s a little bit different than last night, but we knew it be. We were hoping it was a chance to work on some things and kind of find our identity. You know, we’ve got some pieces, but the guys just have to learn to work together.”
Ruston jumped out to an early 15-11 lead after the first quarter before extending the lead at halftime to 35-16 after holding Frankston to five points in the second quarter.
“It’s difficult without practice days,” Bond said. “If we had more practice days with no games. But, you know, we’re in the middle of the season. So it’s just a conditioning.”
Following Thursday night’s loss, Bond said he was pleased with how the Bearcats responded in the Frankston victory.
“I think the ball movement; taking care of the ball was the biggest thing,” Bond said. “We rebounded better, especially at the start the game. Our defensive intensity was better. I thought we let off in the second half, but that happens when you get up 19. I thought we were ourselves a little bit more.”
Freshman KeShun Malcolm led Ruston’s scorers with 13 points on the night, senior Zhy Scott chipped in with 11 points.
Ruston will return to the road for a Monday night matchup at Gibsland-Coleman. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.
RUSTON – Despite key runs by the Magnolia Lady Panthers throughout the ballgame that kept Ruston at bay for most of Friday night, it was toughness down the stretch that brought the Lady Bearcats to a 69-66 win in Memorial Gym after trailing nearly the entire night.
“Credit Magnolia; they played very hard tonight and our girls felt the same way,” Ruston head coach Meredith Graf said. “We were just purely being out-hustled and outworked at certain points. And so when you get in that striking distance of two, four or even six points, and you’re right there, we would shoot ourselves in the foot on silly things. And it’s something that our team has been very conscious of lately. We’re trying to work through that and trying to figure out how to prevent some of those things.
“But overall, the main thing is I told them you only have to be up, you know, with zero seconds on the clock.”
Ruston took its first lead of the night at 66-64 with a layup by senior Jaliyah McWain through traffic with 1:11 to play following a three-pointer by senior Zaccheya Jackson to tie the game 64-64 25 seconds earlier.
The Lady Bearcats would outscore the Lady Panthers 5-2 down the stretch for the victory following a loss to Wossman Thursday night at home 71-42.
Ruston would get down 18-13 after the first quarter before fighting back in the second quarter to cut Magnolia’s lead to 40-37 at the half.
Tough plays by McWain included back-to-back layups after an in-bound steal near the four minute mark to cut the lead to one-score. Senior Jordan Tate also fought her way to grab key offensive boards before halftime.
The third quarter would see Ruston tie the game 52-52 with 1:02 on the clock after freshman Angelica Green knocked down a pair of three pointers. Magnolia would use a quick 4-0 run to take a 56-52 lead into the fourth quarter, but it would not be enough as Ruston would get the win after out-scoring the Lady Panthers 17-10 in the final quarter.
“I’m really proud of Angelica,” Graf said of her freshman. “We gave her the assignment to guard their best player who is very fast and has a lot of skill. (Her three-pointers) really gave us a good boost to get over that hump, so to speak. And so for her to come in and be able to do that for us is super exciting. The teammates are pumped for her, and it’s just one of those things anytime we can get something like that out of a younger player, we want to take that.”
McWain finished the night with 18 points, while Jackson totaled 14.
The Lady Bearcats return to action Monday, Dec. 18, at Gibsland-Coleman for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
Brelyn Pyle scored six points in the win over Saline. (photo by Snazzy Shenanigans Photography)
By T. Scott Boatright
Coming off a big 33-21 win at Saline on Friday night, the Choudrant Lady Aggies are looking to build on that victory as they play host to St. Frederick at 6 p.m. today in the CHS Main Gym.
Choudrant took control early on against Saline, outscoring the Lady Cougars 16-4 in the opening stanza en route to a 20-10 halftime advantage.
“We played really well defensively against Saline so I am hoping that carries over into the St. Frederick game,” said Lady Aggies coach Brandy Roberson. “We have done a decent job of playing defense this year, we just have to work on scoring more.”
That defense stymied Saline late as the Lady Aggies held the Lady Cougars 12 points in the third quarter and only two points in the fourth.
“Defense is our foundation,” Roberson said. “We have to get better offensively, but our defense is very important for us, especially as we looking to improve on our scoring.”
Breese Brown led the Lady Aggies against Calvin with 13 points while Brelyn Pyle hit for six points, Abby Frazier hit for five and Piper Jackson and Sadie Jones chipped in with four points each.
“Reese is playing really well,” Roberson said. “She is averaging 12 points a game and 5 steals, which plays a huge role in her defense and scoring ability.”
Next up is a great unknown as the Lady Aggies (8-11) play host to St. Frederick at 6 p.m. tonight. The Lady Warriors are 0-1 after falling 51-18 on Dec. 11.
“I don’t know anything about St. Fred’s,” Roberson admitted. “I am just hoping that if we go out there and play good defense and play our game, that we will be OK.”
