| It turns out the rumors about Kayshon Boutte were true. LSU's star wide receiver told reporters Friday that he thought about leaving the program last winter after Ed Orgeron was fired as coach and replaced by Brian Kelly, though he denied that Alabama and Texas A&M tried to poach him. Why did he stay? NIL money? The chance to wear the coveted No. 7? Easy access to soft-shelled crab? Read on, dear friend, to find out. While you're in a reading mood, please check out my column on Kelly and how at all but one of his previous head coaching stops the program he took over improved from where it was the year before. At the other stop, his first at Grand Valley State, Kelly eventually took the program to unprecedented heights. We've got some other LSU sports items for you: men's basketball has completed its non-conference schedule, LSU track and field scooped up a bunch of All-Louisiana awards, and our latest "LSU by the Numbers" book excerpt features history-making All-American defensive back Mike Williams. Williams wore No. 29, meaning it's 29 days to the Tigers' Sept. 4 season opener against Florida State at the Caesars Superdome. Lastly, but certainly not least, former LSU softball great Shemiah Sanchez needs a kidney transplant. Of course, we're sending best wishes her way. That's all for now, folks. Have a great weekend. Scott Rabalais | 