It’s obvious that many of LSU football’s recent program-changing decisions were made with the influence of Louisiana’s governor, Jeff Landry.
Landry has been both criticized and applauded for his intervention in LSU athletics. Some say that the governor should not have influence over such a decision, while others see this as a bigger step to stop failing coaches from being in charge of great programs.
After former Athletic Director Scott Woodward and former head coach Brian Kelly decided to part ways, it was reported that Landry hosted members of LSU athletics at his mansion to discuss Kelly’s contract. Landry also appeared at press conferences after the firing, stating on the university’s behalf that Woodward would not be hiring the next coach.
Recent public appearances have gone viral, with Landry coming across as having significant authority over upcoming internal decisions at LSU. He openly criticized Woodward and outright denied his chances at picking the next coach. One of his statements made headlines.
“Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it,” Landry said.
Woodward was fired the next day, leaving little doubt in Landry’s role in that decision as well.
This has been huge news in college football, as there have not been many instances of political leaders getting so involved in their state university’s athletics.
In other big southern state schools like Texas or Alabama, politics and football may be connected for board hires or budget adjustments, but never for drastic front-office decisions like those at LSU. Even if the state government got involved, the decisions and drama would never happen so publicly as Landry’s approach.
Should a governor play this big a role in a university’s football program? The public says no.
Landry has overstepped a boundary in his authority and seems to want a deeper control over LSU athletics than any other previous Louisiana governor.
ESPN analyst Ryan Clark had harsh words for Landry on “First Take.”
“This is just another example of politicians poking their noses into things they don’t know about,” Clark said. “You don’t know nothing about football. There is enough going on in the state of Louisiana … I don’t need to see you tweeting on Saturday night about what’s going on in Tiger Stadium.”
“I don’t remember any governor in my lifetime making decisions on college football … You’d think he would have other things to garner his attention,” Wilbert Prior, a member of the Louisiana Board of Regents, said.
Honestly, Landry is just stirring the pot more with his antics around LSU football. In an already extremely chaotic time, his comments should not be seen as proper guidance for a sport he knows nothing about behind the scenes.
Landry thought it was within his purview to make comments and decisions to lead LSU out of this confusing time, but instead, he just threw more trash into an already-lit dumpster fire.
The governor should not be one of the faces of LSU football, as he does not properly represent the university or student body.
He comes from a heavily republican background and has very close ties to Donald Trump. Football attracts fans of all demographics and is a cornerstone of university culture; it is not the place for politics.
Although some LSU fans may be happy with Landry’s initiative to make changes at LSU, it’s getting to the point where political outreach is interfering with internal athletics decisions.
Landry needs to look at the reactions of critics and understand that it is probably best to just leave it in the hands of the professionals. Let LSU work things out for themselves without the political publicity.
