On Monday night, the LSU Tigers women’s basketball team made headlines when the team was not on the court for the playing of the national anthem ahead of their showdown with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is not happy about it, and wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
In a post on social media, Jeff Landry suggested that all athletes should be forced to be present for the playing of the national anthem before athletic competitions or risk losing their scholarships as a result.
“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 Mulkey. However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag !” Landry said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
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 Mulkey. However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag !
It is…
— Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) April 2, 2024
“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,” Landry continued in his post.
That’s a pretty drastic plan from Landry. We’ll have to see if it ultimately happens.
