Furious college basketball fans took aim at LSU head coach Kim Mulkey’s excuse for her team missing the national anthem before its March Madness clash against Iowa.
The LSU Tigers were defeated 94-87 by the Hawkeyes in Albany, where the latter’s star player, Caitlin Clark, produced a 41-point masterclass to help her team advance to the Final Four of this year’s NCAA Tournament. anus.
However, earlier that night, the Tigers had sparked outrage when images on social media appeared to show LSU players skipping the national anthem before it played at the Times Union Center, while the Hawkeyes were holding hands in court.
After LSU’s loss, Mulkey attempted to justify his players’ absence by claiming he didn’t even know when the anthem was playing.
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” he told reporters. ‘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 pregame stuff. Sorry, listen, that’s nothing done intentionally.
Kim Mulkey apologized for his players leaving the field before the national anthem
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.
College basketball fans claimed the coach’s excuse made the situation worse.
However, Mulkey’s reasoning appears to have made the situation worse, as fans criticized the coach for the team’s “routine.”
“It’s not that disgusting,” one social media user posted. ‘She doesn’t know when the Anthem is playing. That tells you everything you need to know.
Another added: ‘And that routine is leaving the court before the United States National Anthem plays. Damn LSU!’
‘I don’t even know what time the anthem comes on?!!! Is that supposed to be better? Wow,” another fan asked in outrage and disbelief.
“That answer is wrong,” one responded to Mulkey’s comments. ‘Why not have a routine to stay on the court and make sure you hear the national anthem?’
Some admitted that it was, in fact, normal for LSU to skip the national anthem, considering previous games, but argued that it only increased the level of disrespect from the Tigers.
“I was right: they have the usual disrespectful routine of leaving the field when the national anthem plays,” one user posted.
‘In return, there should be a routine policy of not providing federal aid to universities that allow it and to students who do not sufficiently respect the country that provides it. Let a country they respect more pay for their education.’
Furious social media users criticized Mulkey for the team’s pregame routine.
Another chimed in and wrote: ‘I agree 100%. That said, they didn’t do it intentionally in this game. They do it every game as part of their routine. 12 minutes on the field – then they leave – without any respect for the National Anthem. I guess that makes it worse. That’s on Mulkey!! She’s done.’
Others took aim at Mulkey’s coaching ability, arguing that it was his responsibility to know when the anthem is scheduled to play and to make sure his players are on the court to see it.
“Coach Mulkey, get your head out of the sand,” one posted. You are in a national championship. It is your RESPONSIBILITY to know the calendar of events and adapt. Your arrogance is astonishing and your team is an embarrassment.
One college basketball fan added: “Just another lie, no one takes responsibility anymore. How about I just tell the truth? My players didn’t want to be there and I’m not a strong enough coach to stand up and tell the truth, like that.” that I left They walk all over me and I’m one and this is maybe why we lost. I will work harder to respect our nation and be a leader that these girls can look up to. Do you see how hard that is?
Cody Worsham, LSU associate AD, clarified that the procedure spanned the entire program and that the men’s basketball team also left the court 12 minutes before the game.
He said in a statement: ‘Our basketball programs have not been on the court for the anthem for the past few seasons. Normally the anthem is played 12 minutes before the game, when the team is in the locker room making final preparations.’
Others argued that it was their responsibility to know when the anthem was scheduled to be played.
Baton Rouge Proud News reporter Chessa Bouche said on X Monday night that the team is always in the locker room when the national anthem plays before games.
‘If you ever go to a real LSU game, you’ll see that they are never on the field for the anthem. It’s that easy. I’ve covered them for three years and they’ve never done it,’ he said.
‘Neither LSU basketball nor football are outside the national anthem. That is the point. This was not a one-time incident. Clarifying to the national media who is not covering either team day in and day out. That’s all!’
An image also resurfaced of Mulkey and the team absent during the national anthem in the 2023 NCAA tournament against the Miami Hurricanes. The photo, however, did not help Mulkey’s case, as it showed dismayed fans how long the team had been doing the routine.