“As a young kid, you grow up watching The Masters or the (major tournaments), and if you have big dreams, you don’t really ever say, ‘I want to be the best college player.’ You say, ‘I want to be the best player in the world. I want to win majors. I want to be a professional golfer on the PGA Tour.

a good bet none of the 43 previous recipients of the Omar N. Bradley “Spirit of Independence” Award did not think what retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joseph M. Cosumano Jr. thought when told he would be receiving this year’s award at the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.

On a sultry August day in 2005, Renee’ Ellis threw a few things in her yellow Hummer and left her Mandeville, La., home. She didn’t need to take much, planning to be gone only a few days. After all, she was used to evacuating when a hurricane was headed toward the Gulf Coast.

Christmas in Roseland 2020, highlighted by a three-quarter mile walk through the beautifully lit gardens of Shreveport’s American Rose Center, will return for its 38th year. The attraction opens Thanksgiving weekend and will be open each weekend – and then a few more days – until Dec.

“It’s a huge deal,” Wells said. “I think it will be only limited by what (COVID-19) restrictions are placed on it. I think if we’re open at 100%, we will be at capacity at that stadium in April. I think it could be the biggest sporting event we’ve done in the area.

“ESPN is the leader in sports, and they are the leader in college football – especially bowls,” said Missy Setters, executive director of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. “When a fan wants to watch a game during bowl season, they know what channel they are going to flip to first.

“I want to do it,” Andrade said. “I want to put my hands on it. I want people to enjoy it. When people call you to the table, and they say, “Thank you, that was amazing,” or they say, “Thank you, that reminded me of my Grandma in Italy,” I love that.

played with really struggle with their second career choice,” Hester said. “What do I want to do? It’s really not about the money part of it … It’s about having a purpose – something that drives you every single day. The last thing I wanted to do was sit at home and not have a career in mind, and just exist.