Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is taking a hard line against the LSU women’s basketball team after players missed the national anthem before Monday night’s Elite 8 game against Iowa.
Although Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey said Monday night that the team had gone to the locker room to prepare for the game, Landry and others were not pleased with the optics and the social media backlash.
Landry posted a tweet Tuesday asking the Louisiana Board of Regents to consider a mandate that student-athletes be present for the pregame anthem or risk losing their scholarships.
“This is a matter of respect that all collegiate coaches should instill,” Landry said.
My mother coached women’s high school basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has a greater respect for the sport and for Coach Mulkey. However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag !
It is…
— Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) April 2, 2024
The debate surrounding national anthem protests is nothing new, going back to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protests in 2016. But Landry’s reaction totally overlooked Mulkey’s comments that this was not a protest, that the team was in the locker room during the anthem. An LSU athletic official said Tuesday that both the LSU men’s and women’s teams traditionally stay in the locker room to prepare.
LSU statement from Cody Worsham, Associate AD
"Our basketball programs have not been on the court for the anthem for the last several seasons. Usually the anthem is played 12 minutes before the game when the team is in the locker room doing final preparations."
— Sean FazendeFOX8 (@SeanFazendeFOX8) April 2, 2024
In fact, Iowa players have apparently missed the national anthem for the same reason, as X users shared a video from last year’s national championship game, where both LSU and Iowa players were absent during the anthem.
https://twitter.com/Cauble/status/1775237858980135362
Landry’s request to the regents appeared to surprise state education officials. Yahoo Sports reported that the state’s commissioner of higher education, Kim Hunter Reed, said the regents have no role in scholarship decisions.
However you feel about the national anthem debate, there was plenty of chatter on social media Tuesday about Gov. Landry’s tweet.
This is some North Korea crap. You’re literally suggesting people be forced to be present for a pre-game anthem, which, if we’re being honest, has always been an odd practice. Outside of national competitions or major events, most countries don’t do this.
— Geezy🐺 AnybodyCanGetit 𝕏 (@Official_ACG) April 2, 2024
We’re not “most countries”. This is America and we stand for the National Anthem!!!
— Theresa Folse (@TheresaFolse1) April 2, 2024
Why do our politicians result to hot takes?
Sure, it’s fine if a TV talkin head or blogger does it.
But this is an ELECTED OFFICIAL.
Why not just make a personal call to Kim Mulkey?
Instead you FLAME Louisiana State University after losing a heartbreaker.
Shameful, Jeff. https://t.co/qOCBgdHMKX
— Carter Bryant (@PowerHourLSU) April 2, 2024
In other words, the team has made the intentional choice to not honor their country and the opportunities it affords them by attending a 2/3 minute Anthem. Instead, their pre-game preparation takes precedence over our Nationa Anthem.
A little advice. You all should stop digging…
— Ben Hogan 1953 (@TinCup2020) April 3, 2024
This clears it all up. They routinely leave the floor and have no idea when the National Anthem is played😂😂😂
What a piece of work. pic.twitter.com/xFim5AUntf
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) April 2, 2024
👍 It really is. Abolish playing the national anthem at sporting events. It’s indoctrination. We don’t mandate patriotism in a free country, there is no need for that.
— Noelle (@Noellervschultz) April 2, 2024
very cool that our pro “freedom of speech” governor thinks you should have scholarships taken away for not being present for a song https://t.co/Dh65bt1kFH
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) April 2, 2024
[Yahoo.com]
