LSU women's basketball team skipping national anthem underscores 'bigger problem' for college sports: governor

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, calls out the LSU women's basketball team for skipping the national anthem at the Elite Eight on 'America Reports.'

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry started a firestorm on social media Tuesday when he called for a policy change after the LSU women’s basketball team, sticking to its pregame routine, skipped the national anthem.

The moment, caught by OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske at LSU’s Elite Eight matchup against Iowa, prompted Landry to call on schools to require a policy for student-athletes to be present for "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The Republican governor explained his reasoning to anchor Sandra Smith on "America Reports."

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Jeff Landry speaks at the CPAC Texas 2022 conference at Hilton Anatole. (Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

"I’m not calling out the players or coach Mulkey. I support coach Mulkey. My statement said that. I think this is a bigger question," Landry said on Fox News Channel. "This is a bigger problem for collegiate sports nationally and in Louisiana. I just sent out a letter to each one of our college boards telling them that those college boards should put in place a policy that respects the national anthem. 

"The national anthem is as much a part of American sports as is the actual game that's being played. And the fact that there is not a policy, and it says, ‘Listen, these players are going to be out there and respect the flag and respect those that go out there and protect us is really disrespectful in and of itself.’

"So, it's unfortunate that LSU was not there at that particular time. Iowa was on the field that highlighted the particular problem. And what we're going to do is work in