With football at all levels officially over after the Saints dazzling victory last night, it’s time to get the Advocate’s LSU baseball blog, Line Drives, fired back up for the 2010 season.

I will be posting information, news, notebooks and features here on a regular basis and at times every day as the Tigers go through their quest to win another national championship.

There will be stuff on here to complement the newspaper’s coverage, as well as stuff you’ll only find here.

You’re welcome to comment on anything you see or don’t see by e-mailing me at rrosetta@theadvocate.com.

So, away we go…

SEC releases 2010 baseball schedule

LSU will appear on regional or national television networks 16 times during the 2010 SEC regular season according to a release from the league office Monday.

The Tigers will be on TV for series at Tennessee (Friday and Saturday), at home against Georgia (all three games), at Auburn (Friday, Saturday), at Ole Miss (all three games), at Florida (all three games), Vanderbilt at home (Saturday), at Kentucky (Saturday) and against Mississippi State at home (Saturday).

The SEC television contract includes games on ESPN and ESPN2, ESPNU, CSS, FSN and SportSouth.

All games at the league tournament will also be broadcast, with the May 30 championship game on ESPN2.

Click here for a complete SEC TV schedule.

LSU will announce which games will be carried locally soon.

LSU safety and pitcher/outfielder Chad Jones is leaving school for the 2010 NFL Draft.

His father, Al Jones, sent the following e-mail to the Advocate and several other media outlets.

Louisiana State University football free safety, Chad Jones, announced today his plans to enter the 2010 National Football League draft, forfeiting his senior year on the field for football and his last two seasons of baseball for the university.

The decision to enter the NFL draft this year didn’t come easy for Jones whose loyalty to his Tiger teams and coaches is hard to beat.  “My heart will always be at LSU, especially with my coaches and teammates who played an instrumental role in my college football and baseball experiences.  I know another season at LSU would be fun and successful and that I could accomplish more on the field with the Tigers, but this opportunity with the NFL is impossible for me to pass,” said Jones.

The New Orleans native started his career at St. Augustine High School before evacuating to Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge following Hurricane Katrina.  A two-sport athlete, Jones was considered the number one safety in America and was also a star outfielder and left-handed pitcher in high school.  In fact, Jones was drafted in 2007 by the Houston Astros to play Major League Baseball, but decided instead to attend LSU on a football scholarship to play both football and baseball for the Tigers that same year.

That decision to go to college made history when Jones earned two National Championship titles at LSU – 2007 for football and 2009 for baseball.

“Since I was a kid growing up in a family with a strong football tradition, I’ve always dreamed of playing football in college and hoped one day I’d make it to the NFL,” said Jones. “After many discussions with my family and Coach Miles, I feel it’s the right time for me to enter the NFL draft.”

Jones’ father, Al Jones, played football for Tulane and served as captain of the 1978 team.  His older brother and football teammate at LSU, Rahim Alem, also has SEC honors, including 2008 All SEC defensive end, plans to enter the NFL in 2010 as well. 

“It’s very rare to have brothers play for the same university at the same time,” said Al Jones, father of Chad Jones and Rahim Alem.  “It is also rare for brothers to be in the same NFL draft class. This is an exciting time for the family,” added Patti Jones, mother of the two athletes.

A leader on the field, Jones has been named 2009 Second-Team All SEC, 2007 Freshman All-American, 2007 Freshman All SEC, SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, and Walter Camp National Defense Player of the Week, to name a few.

The 21-year old finished his college football career at the Capital One Bowl where the Tigers fell to Penn State 19 to 17.  Over his career in football at LSU, Jones played in 40 games posting a 29-11 record where he fought for 157 tackles and 5 interceptions.

Jones will select agent and begin training for the upcoming NFL Combines in the coming days.

From LSU media relations

Fans are invited to watch the LSU baseball squad conduct a scrimmage Saturday in Alex Box Stadium prior to the Tigers' national championship ring ceremony.

Admission is free to both the scrimmage and the ring ceremony, and concessions will be available throughout the festitivies.

Gates to the stadium will open at 11 a.m., and the team will begin its workout on the field at Noon. The scrimmage starts at 1 p.m. and is scheduled to last approximately 90 minutes.

The team will receive its rings in Alex Box Stadium during a special ceremony that begins at 4 p.m. The ceremony will feature remarks from Director of Athletics Joe Alleva and coach Paul Mainieri, along with a video presentation that captures the spirit of the 2009 national championship club.

The Tigers will sign autographs for one hour following the conclusion of the ceremony on the concourse level inside Alex Box Stadium.

11 a.m. - Gates to Alex Box Stadium Openn

Noon - LSU squad starts practice

1 p.m. - Scrimmage begins

2:30 p.m. - Scrimmage ends

4 p.m. - National Championship Ring Ceremony begins

4:45 p.m. - Team Autograph Session begins

5:45 - Autograph Session ends
 

From LSU media relations

An autograph session with LSU’s 2009 national championship baseball team will be held on Saturday after the Tigers receive their 2009 College World Series championship rings.

The team will receive rings at Alex Box Stadium during a special ceremony that begins at 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and all gates to the stadium will open at 3:30 p.m.

The ceremony will feature remarks from Director of Athletics Joe Alleva and coach Paul Mainieri, along with a video presentation that captures the spirit of the 2009 national championship club.

The Tigers will sign autographs for one hour following the conclusion of the ceremony on the concourse level inside Alex Box Stadium.

“This team had tremendous chemistry and work ethic, and it proudly represented LSU and our entire state,” Mainieri said. “This ceremony will be a fitting tribute to the accomplishments of our players, coaches and staff.”

From LSU media relations

The 2009 LSU baseball team will receive its national championship rings at 4 p.m. Saturday at Alex Box Stadium.

Each member of the squad will receive his ring from LSU Director of Athletics Joe Alleva during a special ceremony that will take place prior to the LSU-Tulane football game.

The ring ceremony is free and open to the public. Gates 1 and 3 of Alex Box Stadium will open at 3:30 p.m.

“The symbol of excellence in college athletics is a national championship ring, and we’re thrilled to hold this ceremony and honor our team in a unique way," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "This might be the last time the 2009 team is together for a while, and we certainly encourage all Tiger fans to join us and witness a very meaningful event.

“We would love to have everyone who is on campus tailgating for the football game join us for the ceremony.”

The event will feature remarks from Alleva and Mainieri, along with a video presentation that captures the spirit of the 2009 national championship club.

“This team had tremendous chemistry and work ethic, and it proudly represented LSU and our entire state,” Mainieri said. “This ceremony will be a fitting tribute to the accomplishments of our players, coaches and staff.”
 

Provided photo/

Beau Didier

One to watch
After missing last season, redshirt freshman Beau Didier started swinging a bat in June and should be ready for modified duty when LSU begins fall practice in October.

The big infielder underwent ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, or Tommy John surgery, early last season. In his only at-bat, the Federal Way, Wash., native slammed a pinch-hit home run in his only at-bat last season.

LSU coach Paul Mainieri said Didier will bat in fall practice and be limited to playing first base to protect the rebuilt elbow.

“He looks good,” Mainieri said. “He’s a big, strong that kid might really be something for us.”

Didier will be in the battle for the starting jobs at third base and can also play first base or left field.

Claim to fame
New Tigers sophomore Trey Watkins is expected to vie for playing time in the outfield after carving out NJCAA Division II All-American honors last spring at LSU-Eunice after an eye-popping offensive season: .418 batting average, 95 runs scored and 58 steals in 61 attempts.
 
But Watkins might be just as proud of his accomplishments on another playing field.
 
Watkins played football and baseball at Destrehan and was a starting defensive back for both of the Wildcats 5A state championship teams.
 
When Mainieri asked Watkins if he had ever intercepted former teammate and current LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson in practice, Watkins told him “All the time, Coach.”
 
Jefferson didn’t deny it.
 
“He was a good cornerback and he did get me a few times,” Jefferson said before adding a disclaimer with a smile. “But I wasn’t used to throwing the ball as much back then.” 
 
 

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri said Monday afternoon that pitcher Brody Colvin is apparently headed to Major League baseball instead of LSU.

Colvin was on campus Monday and went through freshman orientation, Mainieri said, but a last-day signing bonus offer of $900,000 from the Philadelphia Phillies lured him away. Philadelphia drafted Colvin the seventh round of the 2009 MLB draft.

Colvin and Mainieri have not spoken since the final offer was made, but the LSU coach said he believes Colvin has accepted the offer and will pursue pro baseball.

Earlier Monday various reports in New York City indicated that LSU signee Slade Heathcott had agreed to a multi-million dollar bonus with the New York Yankees. The Yankees picked Heathcott with the 28th pick of the first round.

LSU claimed the school's sixth national championship by finishing off Texas, 11-4, in the decisive game of the College World Series championship series.

The Tigers added a run in the ninth on Sean Ochinko's leadoff home run inside the left-field foul pole. Ochinko finished with a 4-for-5 night and three runs batted in after being benched Tuesday night.

Louis Coleman survived a four-pitch leadoff walk by finishing the championship run and his college career by striking out the side.

Coleman got Connor Rowe to swing at a 1-2 frisbee slider for the final strike. Then Coleman fired his glove into the air before catcher Micah Gibbs and the rest of the Tigers convened for the obligatory dog pile.

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