The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page D2

Page 2D Times SH-1000526248 chapter of my Driskel said in a statement. have nothing but good things to say about the University of Florida and the football program On Saturday, reports surfaced that Driskel was headed to Tech as apotential replacement for Conference USA Newcomer of the Year Cody Sokol, who used up his final year of eligibility in 2014 to lead the Bulldogs to a berth in the C-USA title game and a9-5 season. am grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to me over the course of the past four years. A lthough things did not play out on the field as I would have liked, I have regrets on the choice I made to at- end UF. Again, I appreciate everything that my coaches, teammates, strength coaches, athletic trainers, equipment staff, academic staff, fans, a nd the University of Florida have one for Driskel, known for a strong, yet inaccurate arm, and the ability to use is athleticism, will now compete ith redshirt junior Ryan Higgins and redshirt freshman Price Wilson or the starting job, although Higgins ould potentially transfer if passed over for the second straight ear.

In 2013, Higgins started six games and entered 2014 as the incumbent before Sokol transferred from Iowa as a fifth-year senior and won the job. Redshirt freshman Alex Woodall could also be in the mix. Woodall had surgery this past fall and was seen with his arm in a sling during practice. Driskel finished the 2014 season with 1,140 yards and nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He began the year as the starter before freshman Treon Harris took over when Driskel struggled.

Driskel helped lead the Gators to an 11-2 record as a sophomore in 2012, but missed almost the entire 2013 seas on after he broke his leg three games into the season. ew Florida coach Jim McElwain aid Saturday that Driskel had been granted his release from the school. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Driskel still played Saturday against East Carolin a in 28-20 win in the Bir- ingham Bowl and threw for 48 yards on 8-of-17 attempts. Driskel was previously linked to uke as a possible transfer destina- ion, but Tech quickly became the front-runner. Driskel Continued from Page 1D Three basketball players from local colleges won weekly honors in their respective conferences Monday.

Janelle Perez, Northwestern State: Perez was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Women's Basketball Player of the Week as he led the Demons to a win against Houston Baptist. The junior scored a career-high 30 points as he Demons beat Houston Baptist on Friday in the Southland Conference season opener. Perez added 13 points and 3-of-5 3-pointers in a loss at nationally ranked Oklahoma State. She's averaging nine points and three assists per game this season. Entering Monday's game at Sam ouston State, the Demons were 6-6.

James Sapp, Centenary: Sapp won his second Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week after averaging 22.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in a split at Colorado College this past weekend. The Shongaloo native scored a career- high 24 points in a win Saturday, surpassing his previous career-high of 21points scored in an overtime loss Friday. The sophomore is averaging 14 points and six rebounds this season for the Gents (5-7, 1-1SCAC). Xavian Stapleton, Louisiana Tech: Stapleton was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week after Stapleton averaged 16.5 points in two Bulldogs' wins this past week. He scored 16 points against Southern Arkansas, adding career highs of two blocks and three steals.

Stapleton scored 17 points against Southern Miss, making four 3-pointers, with a team- high six rebounds. tapleton is averaging eight points this season. Boozman sharing memories Tuesday Former Natchitoches Central girls basketball coach Emma Boozman will be sharing memories of her 36-year coaching career Tuesday at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. The free event begins at 6 p.m. Boozman compiled an 865-370 career record with 26 of her seasons with the Lady Chiefs.

he former NSU player averaged 10 points and five rebounds from 1973-76, becoming one of the irst 10 women to receive a full athletic scholars hip at a Louisiana university. James Sapp Xavian Stapleton Emma Boozman Three area standouts win weekly honors By Matt Vines GARY TO THE TIMES Northwestern Janelle Perez won the Southland Conference Player of the Week honor Monday. Manny Diaz ended a short, but successful stint as Louisiana defensive coordinator Monday when he accepted the same position at Missis- ippi State. Diaz, 40, spent the 2010 season as Mississippi State's defensive coordinator under coach Dan Mullen. The reunion in Starkville, Mississippi, was made possible thanks to a bounce- back year at Louisiana Tech, one that featured the nation's top defense in turnovers gained (42) and interceptions (26).

The Bulldogs also finished fourth in tackles for loss, fifth in fumble recoveries, ninth in defensive touchdowns, 17th in total defense and 38th in scoring defense, a drastic turn- a round from 2013 when they finished 26th in turnovers gained, 69th in total defense, 73rd in fumble recoveries and 91st in rushing defense. you look at the new standard Mississippi State has set and the ational prominence that has come with the accomplishments of 2014, we want to continue to raise the bar Diaz said in a statement, failing to mention Louisiana Tech. is a tremendous place to develop players on and off the field and ultimately ompete for Sports Pete Thamel first reported the story. Diaz's imp ending departure was later confirmed to The News-Star as a done deal. Coach Diaz really brought out the competitor in each of us which is so important on the defensive side of the said former Tech defensive end Houston Bates.

brought us together as a unit and it showed in our play on the field. He had a major impact on me and many other guys, and i t's gonna be a sad day to see him go, but I know this is a great opportunity for him and his family and that's more important than On Sunday, The Jackson Clarion- Ledger reported Diaz was set to interview at Mississippi State, so Monday's news means the two sides reached an agreement rather quickly. Diaz's departure shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Diaz left Mississippi State for Texas four years ago and was widely considered one of the bright, young defensive minds in college football. He elped transform Texas' defense in his first two years in Austin but was let go in 2013 after a debacle against BYU when the Cougars ran for 550 rushing yards.

Plus, Tech couldn't compete finan- ially with a Southeastern Conference School like Mississippi State. Diaz made $180,000 in 2014 compared to the three-year, $1.8 million deal he accepted at Mississippi State. Diaz will make $575,000 in 2015, $600,000 in 2016 and $625,000 in 2017. There was buyout for Diaz leaving Tech since a non-contracted employee. In his only year in Starkville, Diaz elped the Bulldogs to a 9-4 season.

His unit finished 49th in total defense, 15th in rushing defense and 17th in ackles for loss. FILE PHOTO Former Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is headed to Mississippi State. Diaz leaves La. Tech for Mississippi State By Sean Isabella Gannett Louisiana AREA NOTES HUNTSVILLE, Texas Sam Houston State pounded the boards as usual, and stymied a hooting surge by Northwestern State by holding the visiting Demons to a season-worst 31percent aim in a rugged 75-64 Southland Conference basketball win Monday night. he Bearkats (10-4 overall, 2-0 in the Southland), the 11 th -best rebounding team, owned a54-40 rebounding advantage and kept the Demons (6-7, 1-1) from matching heir 50 percent aim in the last four games, when NSU had averaged 93.5 points.

The two standouts, Jalan West and Zeek Woodley, topped NSU but had subpar ights by their lofty standards. West scored 17, going 7-of-7 at the free throw line, but managed only 5-of-15 shooting from he floor and was limited to half of his NCAA-best 8.2 assist average as NSU struggled to maintain any offensive flow. Woodley, the No. 2 scorer with a 22.8 average entering the night, was scoreless at halftime and finished with 11points on 3- of-13 shooting, but posted his first career double- double with 10 rebounds. The Demons were just 5-of-25 on 3-pointers after aking 42 percent in the previous four games.

NSU sank only two of its last 20 behind the arc. Alabama 67: Grambling State 46: At untsville, Alabama, Nicolas West scored 17 points and Ladarius Tabb added 15 as Alabama cruised past Grambling State on Monday night in SWAC action. rambling dropped its second SWAC game in as many contests. hine led the Tigers with nine points. Women Northwestern State 6 6, Sam Houston State 57: At Huntsville, Texas, for the second time in as any conference road games, the Lady Demons (7-6, 2-0) overcame a halftime deficit to emerge victorious, this time storming past Sam Houston State in the final 20 minutes to post a victory Monday night at Bernard G.

Johnson Coliseum. Keisha Lee led NSU with 15 points. Janelle Perez, who was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week earlier in the day Monday, added 13 points and seven assists against no turnovers and Chelsea ogers had 13 points and Presley Owens chipped in 1 1points. rambling 59, Alabama 56: At Huntsville, Alabama, the Grambling Lady Tigers old a late second-half ead and lost to Alabama 59-56, in SWAC basketball act ion on Monday night. hakierya McClendon led Grambling with 18 oints.

Sam Houston topples NSU Staff Reports.