| Jay Johnson is here. LSU’s new baseball coach had no previous connections to Louisiana before he came aboard — but Monday afternoon, throughout his introductory news conference at Alex Box Stadium, Johnson referenced the baseball team’s history, showing why someone who spent his life on the West Coast felt pulled to a job across the country and eagerly agreed to a five-year contract last week. Our beat writer, Wilson Alexander (who, after a long coaching search and an even longer season, could use a good, long nap), filed this story on Johnson’s arrival — and on his next moves as he hits the ground running at Alex Box. (With the transfer portal closing and the MLB draft in two weeks, there’s not a moment to waste.) Our own Scott Rabalais was here for Skip Bertman’s pre-championship years, Skip’s championship years, the Smoke Laval years and the Paul Mainieri years. No one is more qualified to weigh in on the expectations that hang over an LSU baseball coach — expectations Johnson must now embrace. Also: Our top takeaways from Monday’s debut, as well as a replay of Johnson’s opening press conference. Elsewhere: If you missed this LSU football news Monday, you might be in for a surprise: Dare Rosenthal, projected to be the Tigers’ starting left tackle, is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Also: If you missed what LSU’s JuVaughn Harrison did late Sunday night at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, you ought to take another look. Harrison qualified for the Tokyo Games in the long jump and high jump — a 1-2 combo that’s so rare, no American athlete has done it since one of its all-time greats, Jim Thorpe. Yes, that Jim Thorpe. In 1912. Read what our Sheldon Mickles had to say about it here. To our paying subscribers: Thank you for supporting our sportswriters’ work. If you’re not already, please consider becoming a digital subscriber and continue to support our journalism. Click here for a special offer from us. As a paying subscriber, you'll enjoy full access to our award-winning coverage, faster-loading web pages with fewer ads and much more. Until next time, Perryn Keys | 