Louisiana Governor doubles down on call for athletes to lose scholarships for avoiding the national anthem… after urging college boards to bring in a policy following LSU controversy: ‘Everybody should respect the flag’
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has doubled down on calls for athletes to be stripped of their scholarships if they don’t listen to the national anthem before sports games.
Landry, who was elected governor of Louisiana in October, was one of many who blasted LSU this week for skipping the national anthem before their Elite 8 game against Iowa on Monday night.
The LSU Tigers were heavily criticized when footage of the insult surfaced on social media, with Kim Mulkey’s players nowhere to be seen as the Star-Spangled Banner played out in Albany. Iowa stars, meanwhile, stood hand-in-hand as they took it in.
On Tuesday, Landry
And a day later, the governor joined Fox News to double down on that claim, revealing that he had been in contact with every university administration to urge them to implement a new policy.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has doubled down on his call to strip athletes of their college scholarships if they don’t listen to the national anthem
Landry was one of many who dropped out of LSU for skipping the national anthem before their game against Iowa
LSU Tigers stars sparked outrage ahead of their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes (left) on Monday night after leaving the court before the playing of the US national anthem
“I’m not calling out the players or coach Mulkey, I’m supporting coach Mulkey. That was in my statement,” Landry emphasized. “But look, I think this is a bigger question, a bigger problem for collegiate sports nationally and in Louisiana.
‘I have just sent a letter to all our college boards telling them that those college boards must implement a policy that respects the national anthem. The national anthem is as much a part of American sports as the actual game being played.
‘The fact that there isn’t a policy that says, ‘listen, these players are going to be there and respect the flag and respect those who go out and protect us’ is really disrespectful in itself.”
He then added: ‘That is what the universities should implement. They must (stand). Everyone must respect the flag.
“If you don’t like it, guess what… you don’t have to play the sport. And I hope that all the Final Four teams will be there, respect our nation and let everyone know that we are united under one flag.”
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, head coach 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.”
Landry wants athletes to lose their scholarships if a similar mistake occurs in the future
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
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.
“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’.