Following a huge explosion of online outrage after the LSU women’s basketball team missed the National Anthem due to its pre-game routine, Lousiana Gov. Jeff Landry urged state officials to create a policy that requires student-athletes be present for the national anthem before games. The incident occurred before the LSU-Iowa Elite Eight game, one that LSU lost.
As background, the incident was one that the LSU coach, Kim Mulkey, argued was simply a matter of pre-game routine, not intentionally skipping the anthem. She said, “Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played. We kind of have a routine when (our players are) on the floor, and they come off at the 12-minute mark (prior to the game).” That did not assuage the anger of online critics, nor did it stop Gov. Landry from calling for a policy change.
Commenting on his generally positive view of Coach Mulkey and how he disagrees with the team’s pre-game routine if it means missing the anthem, Gov. Landry first described his family’s connection to the sport, saying, “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 [Kim] Mulkey.”
Continuing, Gov. Landry said that while he has a deep respect for Coach Mulkey, he has a deeper respect for the flag and those who fought and sacrificed for it, saying, “However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag!”
He then got to his point that the college boards should demand student-athletes be on court for the anthem, saying, “It is time that all college boards, including Regent, put a policy in place that student athletes be present for the national anthem or risk their athletic scholarship! This is a matter of respect that all collegiate coaches should instill.”
Disagreeing with the governor’s idea, which had been posted from his personal account, not the governor’s account, one commenter argued that such a policy would be “North Korea crap,” writing, “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.”
On the other side of things, a supporter of the idea wrote, “Governor Landry, thank you very much! My wife and I are very happy, and we knew that you would address this embarrassing lapse of decorum and respect for our Nation and its flag. Thank you, and God Bless!”
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In a separate post on X, Gov. Landry congratulated the LSU women’s basketball team after their defeat, saying, “A hard fought game tonight and an incredible season @LSUwbkb! Louisiana is proud!” The top comment on his post said, “Maybe, just maybe we could get a better team that respects the National Anthem! What an embarrassment for my state of Louisiana!”
Watch the incident here:
Kim Mulkey image credit: By Attribution details, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144786497