On Tuesday, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana known as for a rule that will require faculty athletes to be current for the enjoying of the nationwide anthem earlier than video games.
Landry, who’s serving his first time period as governor, issued a prolonged assertion in regards to the matter a day after his state’s flagship faculty missed the enjoying of “The Star-Spangled Banner” earlier than being knocked out of the NCAA girls’s basketball event.
The LSU Tigers had been notably absent for the enjoying of the anthem within the crew’s Elite Eight matchup in opposition to the Iowa Hawkeyes — a crew the Bayou Bengals defeated for the nationwide championship final yr.
In an announcement he posted on his X web page, Landry decried skipping the anthem as disrespectful.
“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,” Landry started.
He added, “However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag!”
My mom coached girls’s highschool basketball in the course of the top of desegregation, nobody has a larger respect for the game and for Coach Mulkey. Nevertheless, above respect for that sport is a deeper respect for people who serve to guard us and unite us below one flag !
It’s…
— Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) April 2, 2024
The governor then known as on faculty directors and others to implement a rule that will require athletes to respect their nation earlier than sporting occasions.
He additionally floated the thought of getting college students lose their scholarships for noncompliance.
“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!” Landry said. “This is a matter of respect that all collegiate coaches should instill.”
Video of LSU’s skipping of the anthem unfold like wildfire on social media earlier than and after tipoff Monday night time.
A clip that was considered nearly eight million instances confirmed the women of Iowa every current for the enjoying of the anthem.
Iowa gamers holding palms in the course of the American Nationwide Anthem. LSU gamers left the courtroom earlier than the anthem was carried out. pic.twitter.com/GhCLHUXiBX
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) April 1, 2024
LSU was absent, and coach Kim Mulkey later explained the crew didn’t deliberately skip the pre-game present of respect.
“Honestly I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” stated Mulkey, who stated her crew was doing a routine pregame warmup whereas the anthem was performed.
“We kinda have a routine where we are on the floor, and then they come off at the 12-minute mark. We just come in, and we do our pre-game stuff,” Mulkey concluded.
Kim Mulkey stated her crew didn’t deliberately depart the ground previous to the enjoying of the USA Nationwide Anthem.
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played. We kind of have a routine [for leaving the court at a certain time].” pic.twitter.com/JclJExC1Ym
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) April 2, 2024
LSU ended up shedding to Iowa 94-87 Monday and is headed again to Baton Rouge whereas Iowa and UConn will conflict later this week for certainly one of two Ultimate 4 matchups.
The Tigers had been a heavy favourite to repeat as nationwide champions.
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
