Students eager to see how former LSU Tigers like Brandon LaFell and Charles Scott fare in the NFL have options for watch- ing the draft in Baton Rouge.The first round of the 2010 NFL Draft airs live tonight at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. The second and third rounds air tomorrow at 5 p.m., and the remaining rounds will air Saturday at 9 a.m.The Tigers have 18 players eligible for the draft including 2008 standouts like running back Keiland Williams and safety Chad Jones. No LSU players are expected to be drafted in the first two rounds, according to college recruiting Web site Scout.com, but many students are excited to see where the former Tigers go.”I always watch out for the LSU guys and also for the [Pittsburgh] Steelers because I’m a Steelers fan,” said psychology junior Ben Abramsky. “I think LaFell’s going to be a second-round pick, and the others won’t go until the fourth or fifth [rounds].”Abramsky said he watches the draft every year and has a few friends getting together to watch the later rounds this weekend. Bars around campus are also offering drink specials and special viewings for people who want to watch the draft. The Varsity Theatre on Highland Road is offering drink specials during the first round of the draft for the first time, said general manager Brent McClellan.”We call it first and 10 — $10 gets you a Varsity souvenir mug, red beans and rice and all the Bud Select you can drink until the end of the first round,” McClellan said. “I think there will be a lot more interest with the Saints winning the Super Bowl this year.”Other local bars are offering their normal Thursday-night specials with the draft airing on projectors. The Bulldog on Perkins Road will discount microbrew pitchers by $2 and has happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., said general manager Andy Tamburo.Mike Labat, owner of Puncher’s Sports Bar on Third Street, said the bar will offer $1 draft beer specials during the draft as well as $.25 wings.Lauren Trusty, bartender at Bear’s Grill and Spirits on Lee Drive said the bar will offer $4 double-call drinks and will feature live music from Bob Browning.Aaron Saulnier, owner of Bogie’s Bar on East Boyd Drive, said there will be $2 well drinks and $2 shots, and the draft will be aired on the big screen.John Blunt, general studies senior, lives in a fraternity house and said he and his fraternity brothers plan to watch it together.”We’ll all have it on in there,” Blunt said. “I’ve been watching all the draft stuff on TV, and I’m looking to see how Lyle Hitt and Chad Jones do in the draft.”Broddick Johnson, education sophomore, said he’s excited to see where former LSU players end up in the draft, though he plans to watch it at home.”I look for the LSU players and some of my favorite college teams,” Johnson said. “I think Sam Bradford will be the first-overall pick.”
__Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]
Students watch for Tigers, bars offer NFL draft specials
April 21, 2010