Louisiana Governor calls for athletes to be STRIPPED of scholarships if they avoid the national anthem after LSU controversy: ‘A matter of respect’
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry believes athletes should lose their scholarships for dodging the national anthem after the LSU women’s basketball team sparked outrage by missing it before their loss to Iowa on Monday night.
The LSU Tigers were heavily criticized when footage of their national anthem surfaced on social media, with Kim Mulkey’s players nowhere to be seen as the Star-Spangled Banner played out in Albany.
Before the Elite 8 showdown, Iowa stars were seen taking in the national anthem while holding hands on one side of the court, but the other side was empty after LSU returned to the locker room.
Mulkey insists it was by no means a deliberate move and claims her team was simply going through their standard pregame routine. But Landry, who was elected governor of the state in October, is calling for athletes to be punished for a similar mistake in the future.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) believes athletes should lose their scholarships for avoiding the national anthem amid the controversy surrounding the LSU women’s basketball team
LSU stars sparked outrage ahead of their game against Iowa (left) on Monday night after leaving the court before the US national anthem was played
Landry is calling for athletes to lose their scholarships if a similar mistake occurs in the future
“My mother coached high school women’s basketball during the height of desegregation. No one has more respect for the sport and Coach Mulkey,” he wrote on X.
“But beyond respect for that game is a deeper respect for those who serve to protect us and unite us under one banner! It’s time for all university administrations, including Regent, to implement a policy that student athletes be present for the national anthem or risk their athletic scholarships!
“This is a matter of respect that all collegiate coaches must instill.”
According to Baton Rouge Proud Reporter Chessa BoucheLSU players are never on the field when the national anthem is played before games.
When asked about the incident in the aftermath of her team’s 94-87 loss to Iowa, Mulkey said, “Honestly, I don’t even know when the national anthem was played.”
‘We have a sort of routine where they lie on the floor and come off after twelve minutes.
“I don’t know, we come in and do our pregame stuff. I’m sorry, listen, none of that was done on purpose.”
Despite Mulkey’s explanation, LSU fans were still furious at the team for missing the national anthem before Monday’s game, which became the most-watched college basketball game of all time with an average of 12.3 million viewers.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey claimed they did not miss the national anthem on purpose
But fans took to Tiger Droppings to express their displeasure with Mulkey and her routine
“I look up a few news sites and it says the LSU WB Team was not present or standing for the national anthem?” One user wrote further Tiger feces.
‘Are you joking? WTF Kim? What am I missing? We live in the deep south and you’re telling me LSU did this crap. Can someone please help me understand what happened. “I absolutely don’t understand why LSU would do this intentionally or unintentionally.”
Another user called for Mulkey and athletic director Scott Woodward to be fired over the routine. The fan also said that after decades of genuine support, he will no longer advocate for the Tigers.
“I’ve been an LSU fan since 1958,” the user wrote. ‘I live and breathe purple and gold. I am also a Vietnam era veteran who loves this country. I just heard about the disrespect Mulkey and her team show for America and those who have sacrificed so much.
“I’m glad they lost to Iowa. If they continue this ‘routine’ of dissing the national anthem, I hope they never win another game. The AD and Mulkey should be fired for allowing this ‘routine’.
In a rematch of last year’s NCAA championship, coach Lisa Bluder’s Hawkeyes outperformed Mulkey’s Tigers to post a 94-87 victory with Iowa sensation Caitlin Clark scoring a game-high 41 points.
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark clocked in a game-high 41 points to send the defending champions home
But Mulkey said when she thinks about how her team performed during the competition, she would only feel one thing.
“Proud,” she said. ‘I’m going to feel very proud. I’m going to think about the little things we overcame that put us in an Elite 8.
“You’re one game away from getting back to the Final Four. Ultimately, I’m going to think about how we got here. How did we get here? What have we done as a team and as a staff to get to this moment?’