LSU Maintains Pregame Routine Despite Governor's Request

LSU has announced it will not alter its pregame routine to have players on the field for the national anthem, despite a request from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The decision comes after Landry criticized the LSU women's basketball team for not being present during the anthem at an NCAA tournament game. LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward has indicated that the university routinely reviews its processes but will maintain its long-standing tradition. This includes the band performing before the team takes the field, a practice unchanged since the 1960s. Landry had suggested that scholarships be pulled from athletes not present for the anthem, but LSU's stance remains firm. The controversy highlights the tension between political influence and institutional tradition in collegiate athletics.