Ryan Clark Accuses Jeff Landry Of Pushing Politics Onto LSU With Charlie Kirk Statue Idea

This week, the convergence of Louisiana politics, college athletics, and national cultural discussions reached a critical juncture as ESPN analyst and former LSU star Ryan Clark vocally opposed a plan to create a statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the university's grounds. During his appearance on ESPN's First Take, Clark, a Louisiana local and Super Bowl champion, criticized Governor Jeff Landry, who endorsed the statue as part of a campaign for "freedom of speech on college campuses." Clark contended that this initiative was a mere political ploy, utterly at odds with the values of LSU and its community. He labeled it “performative” and pointed out that Kirk does not represent the university's identity. Clark also addressed Landry’s interference in LSU’s coaching search, calling his actions "ridiculous." He asserted that Athletic Director Scott Woodward should lead this process, advocating for autonomy in university sports amid rising political tensions that distract from pressing state issues like education and poverty.