Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry believes athletes should lose their scholarships for avoiding the national anthem after the LSU women’s basketball team sparked outrage by missing it before its loss to Iowa on Monday night.
The LSU Tigers came under heavy criticism when images of their national anthem snub surfaced on social media, with Kim Mulkey’s players unseen as the Star-Spangled Banner was played in Albany.
Before the Elite 8 matchup, Iowa’s stars were seen listening to the anthem while holding hands on one end of the court, only for the other to be empty after LSU returned to the locker room.
Mulkey insists it was in no way an intentional move, stating that his team was simply going through its 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 Gov. Jeff Landry (R) believes athletes should lose their scholarships for avoiding the national anthem amid controversy surrounding the LSU women’s basketball team.
The LSU stars sparked outrage before their game against Iowa (left) on Monday night after walking off the court before the US national anthem played.
Landry asks athletes to lose their scholarships if a similar mistake occurs in the future
“My mother coached high school girls’ basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has greater respect for the sport and Coach Mulkey,” he wrote on X.
‘However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those who serve to protect us and unite us under one flag! It is time for all university boards, including Regent, to establish a policy for student athletes to be present during the national anthem or risk their athletic scholarship!
“This is a question of respect that all college coaches should instill.”
According Baton Rouge Proud Reporter Chessa BoucheLSU players are never on the field when the national anthem plays before games.
When asked about the incident following his team’s 94-87 loss to Iowa, Mulkey said, “Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played.
‘We have kind of a routine when they’re on the court and they come out at the 12-minute mark.
‘I don’t know, we go in and do our pre-game stuff. Sorry, listen, that’s nothing done intentionally.
Despite Mulkey’s explanation, LSU fans were still furious with the team for missing the anthem before Monday’s game, which ranked as the most-watched women’s college basketball game of all time with an average of 12.3 millions of viewers.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey claimed they didn’t miss the national anthem intentionally.
But fans took to Tiger Droppings to express their displeasure towards Mulkey and his routine.
‘I looked at a couple of news sites and it says the LSU WB team did not attend or perform the national anthem.’ A user wrote in tiger droppings.
‘Are you kidding me? WTF Kim? What am I missing? We live in the deep south and you’re telling me LSU did this woke shit. Someone please help me understand what happened. For the life of me, I don’t understand why LSU would do this intentionally or not.
Another user called for Mulkey and athletic director Scott Woodward to be fired for the routine. The fan also expressed that he will no longer support the Tigers after decades of unconditional support.
“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 learned of the lack of respect Mulkey and his team show toward America and those who sacrificed so much.
‘I’m glad they lost to Iowa. If they continue this ‘routine’ of snubbing the National Anthem, I hope they never win a game again. 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 topped Mulkey’s Tigers for a 94-87 victory, with Iowa sensation Caitlin Clark scoring a staggering 41 points.
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark scored a game-high 41 points to send the defending champions home.
But Mulkey said when he reflects on how his team performed during the competition, he 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 are one game away from returning to the Final Four. Eventually I’ll think about how we got here. How do we get here? What did we do as a team and as a staff to get to this moment?