LSU football coach Brian Kelly responded to criticism over the LSU women’s basketball team missing the national anthem before their Elite Eight game last week.
Kelly vowed his football team would always stand for the anthem.
Basketball coach Kim Mulkey said she was unaware the anthem was playing, explaining their pre-game routine.
Brian Kelly was about the governor’s comments on the national anthem.
“I understand where the governor is coming from but in my 33 years of coaching, I think I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve been out for the national anthem.
“It’s the way it’s scripted.”#LSU pic.twitter.com/y62c7Gqp4Q
— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) April 6, 2024
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” Mulkey said.
“We kinda have a routine where we are on the floor, and then they come off at the 12-minute mark,” Mulkey added. “I don’t know, we come in, and we do our pre-game stuff. I’m sorry, listen, that’s nothing intentionally done.”
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry proposed punitive measures for teams not honoring the anthem, even suggesting student-athletes lose scholarships.
Landry said respect for the anthem is more important than respect for any game.
“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.
“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.”
Kelly, who earns over $9 million annually, agreed with the governor, saying his team always stands as it’s been scripted and he understands where the governor is coming from.
“It’s just the way that it has been scripted, and I’ve been doing this for 33 years. I can, on my hand I can tell you how many times I’ve been out for the national anthem. … We understand where the governor is coming from,” Kelly said.
