Could Mike the Tiger return to the LSU football sideline?
That's what Governor Jeff Landry wants to happen. However, LSU officials are rebuffing that request. It's the second Landry request LSU officials have rejected. Last week, LSU athletic department officials said they would not comply with Landry's directive requiring athletes be present on the sideline during the national anthem.
One political analyst says Landry is channeling another governor in his actions.
"He is most certainly not the first Louisiana governor to meddle with LSU," LAPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford said. "We have these iconic photos of Huey Long leading the marching band through the campus."
The Mike the Tiger issue is the latest headline-catching move Landry has made. In addition to his dealings with LSU, Landry is in the spotlight for supporting the state's new law requiring public school teachers post the 10 Commandments in their classrooms despite a federal lawsuit seeking to invalidate it. Last week, Landry signed an executive order banning the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools.
According to Alford, Landry's use of his executive power is also reminiscent of Long's governorship.
"He's certainly the most independently-minded governor we have seen since Huey Long with the exception of Edwin Edwards," Alford said. "I think this is a signal that he's willing to strike out on his own and govern in that fashion."
Although these issues may seem minor, Alford says don't think the governor ISN'T paying attention to the big problems facing Louisiana.
"Anyone who doesn't think Jeff Landry isn't looking at big picture substantive issues in relation to state government simply isn't paying attention," Alford said, noting that Landry is working to reshape state government by reorganizing executive departments, including the Department of Transportation and Development.
Alford says Landry is fearless in asking for what he wants, even if he knows there's a chance his ideas will be rejected.
"He's going to continue to pick up on these social issues," Alford said. "Whether he's proposing a constitutional convention or asking LSU to bring a live tiger on a football field, I think Jeff Landry is well aware going into these types of things that he could very well be turned back, and it doesn't seem to bother him so far. We'll just have to see how the rest of the year and the rest of his term goes."
