For three days, the LSU Tigers had the most appealing head-coaching opening in college football. That changed Wednesday, when first-term Louisiana governor Jeff Landry (R) opened his mouth.
Below are three absurd statements from Landry that should make prospective candidates run in the other direction instead of considering becoming the next LSU head coach.
1. Who’s in charge?
What Landry said: “No, I can tell you right now [athletic director] Scott Woodward is not selecting our next coach. Maybe we’ll let President Trump pick it.”
Reaction: What should terrify candidates the most is how unorganized the search for head coach is at the top, creating a trickle-down effect that could permeate throughout the program.
With an embattled AD who might not be in his role for much longer, plus the university looking for its next president, LSU’s next head coach has no way of knowing what administration he’ll be answering to. That uncertainty is no way to attract elite candidates.
2. Pot, meet kettle
What Landry said about hiring the next football coach at LSU: “We’re gonna make sure that he’s compensated properly, and we’re gonna put metrics on it because I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill.”
Reaction: One of three programs with three national titles this century (joining Alabama and Ohio State), LSU has higher expectations for its football team than at most FBS programs. Landry’s comments raise questions about how much time the Tigers will give their next head coach to construct a winner. What kind of metrics will be in place? It’s normal for coaches to earn raises with conference or national championships, but what happens if Kelly’s successor doesn’t have the same immediate success he did, leading the team to the SEC title game and coaching a Heisman winner (Jayden Daniels) in his first two seasons?
“I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country” is also a rich statement from a man whose state was ranked 46th of 50 states in education and last for economy by U.S. News & World Report.
3. Politicians should stay out of sports
What Landry said: “All I care about is what the taxpayers are going to be on the hook [for].”
Reaction: Is it too much to ask that our elected officials know how things work? Landry was asked why LSU officials met with him at the governor’s mansion before Kelly’s firing, and his reasoning was nonsensical. Coaching buyouts, including Kelly’s, are often paid through boosters with money to burn, not taxpayers.
WDSU-New Orleans reporter Travers Mackel wrote on Monday that one private donor will foot the majority of Kelly’s buyout.
“Zero public money set aside for education, salaries or scholarships will be used,” Mackel wrote.
