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Howell: Weekend Thoughts – Death Valley Insider: LSU Tigers Football & Basketball Recruiting

Good morning and welcome to my weekend thoughts. Every Monday I'll be sharing my thoughts on what's happening in and around Southeast Louisiana and giving my opinion on some random topics that are on my mind. I'll also be answering some questions our readers send in, so let me know about everything from sports, music, food and more…

November 1st is here and that means it's time… the “unofficial” official start of the holiday season. Even though it's still over 80 degrees outside, that's not stopping retailers from decking everything up with holiday decorations. Holiday sales ads are starting to trickle out, television networks like Hallmark, Freeform and Lifetime are set to air their holiday movies, and Holly, Sirius/XM's 24-hour holiday music channel, is back in action.

I watched Elf on Saturday because I saw it was on and it's one of my favorite shows. Honestly, I would watch it in June. In fact, I've probably done this before. LOL!! Anyway, I'm hoping for cooler weather soon because fall is my favorite season and it's my favorite time of the year. Give me campfires, hot cocoa and s'mores!

2. The Saints played the Carolina Panthers 7-1 yesterday, a game they should have won, but instead they lost… now their seventh game in a row. Next up is the Atlanta Falcons, who sit atop the NFC South at 6-3.

I don't know what's going on or how to make things right, but I do know that we've seen darker days than the ones we find ourselves in now. Many younger fans don't remember those times because they weren't there and were spoiled by the Payton/Brees era. They don't know about suspended games, bag heads, empty training camp practices and no waiting list for season tickets.

I don't know what will happen in the near future As someone who grew up in New Orleans, I know going forward that the Saints are not just a football team to this community. It's about so much more. I have seen what they have done and continue to do for the region.

Yes, they are currently a 2-7 football team, but things could be worse, much worse. New Orleans could do without an NFL franchise, and life in and around the city would look very different without the Saints.

Even though they're not playing their best football at the moment and the fans are throwing insults at everything we write and telling me how much the team stinks and they're sorry I have to cover the team, I don't feel that way. I love my job. I love this city and I love this team. I've done it for as long as I can remember. That will never change.

Yes, I would prefer it if we were 7-2, but that's not the case. We're in a dark hole right now. But just like the holes we've fallen into before; We crawled out of them and will do it again.

When you hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up.

3. The Pelicans also struggle with wins and injuries. Last night they lost to the Atlanta Hawks 126-111. As for their roster, Herb Jones is expected to be out two to four weeks with a right shoulder strain and partial tear, and CJ McCollum is expected to be out two to three weeks with a right adductor muscle strain. Zion Williamson missed last night's game due to a hamstring strain.

The Pelicans will look to get back in the win column tonight at home against the Trail Blazers.

4. I heard there is a big game in Death Valley on Saturday night… Yes, LSU is playing Alabama this week. This is always a great Rival week. (I swear, it seems that LSU plays Bama and the Saints play the Falcons together quite often in the same week.) Anyway, Bama has a 2.5 point lead over the Tigers. Huh?

Saban is no longer Bama's coach, but you didn't think you'd get rid of him so easily, did you? Yes, he's back as college game day will be in town.

Honestly, I didn't like Nick Saban, “the coach,” but I love him as an analyst and his commercials drive me crazy.

Who knew?

5. So… a tropical disturbance is brewing in the Caribbean. I know we're still in hurricane season through the end of the month, but it's not that common for anything to develop in November.

This storm will be named “Rafael” and initial forecasts suggest it will head toward Louisiana. I know that this can and probably will change, and thank God, because unfortunately too many areas are still dealing with Beryl and Ida issues. This year has been a tough one with two major catastrophic storms hitting the eastern United States

We'll know more midweek, but I think it's time to wrap up the season.

Well, that's all, folks. See you next week… same time, same place.

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