LSU’s Kim Mulkey pulls no punches with her take on the Saints-Falcons TD controversy
When it comes to a subject she is passionate about, LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey isn’t afraid to voice her opinion, and
the Louisiana native was more than happy to address the controversy surrounding the late score during Sunday’s Saints-Falcons game.
With little over a minute remaining in the game, Mulkey was queried by WWL radio presenter and former Saints quarterback
Bobby Hebert about her thoughts on the garbage-time touchdown that saw Saints backup quarterback Jameis Winston passing the ball to running back Jamaal Williams.
After the game, which New Orleans won 48-17, Falcons coach Arthur Smith—who was dismissed on Monday following three losing seasons—yelled at Saints coach Dennis Allen at middle.
Allen later apologized to the Falcons, saying that Winston was asked to take a knee and run out the clock in victory formation.
You do exactly as the head coach has instructed, placing your knee on the ground,” Mulkey remarked. “I would prefer not to learn that this was
Williams’ first touchdown.” You can tell me that he would have received a million dollars had he scored a touchdown. You don’t actually do it.
That is disrespectful to the other head coach, the other squad, and not only to your own head coach. For in this business, what goes around, comes around.
“I don’t want to hear anybody defending what they did because that sends the wrong message.”
Mulkey, who has been coaching for nearly four decades, said she would never allow her players to do something similar
“When the shot clock is off and there’s 30 seconds or less to go in a game, and we’re winning, you better stand at half court and you better dribble
the ball out,” Mulkey stated. “I tried everything I could to convince the coaches who had done it to me—you might have won by eleven, you won by
thirteen. What are you teaching there, exactly? It can be referred to as old school or whatever else you wish.
I usually refer to it as disrespectful. Really, this is the reason why Nick Sabans and Kim Mulkeys are unable to coach in the major leagues.”
Venturing further into a critique of professional sports, Mulkey used a controversial idiom, saying that she thinks some coaches are losing control of their teams.
“If you look at pro sports, not just in the NFL, I’m not sure some of the inmates aren’t running it,” Mulkey stated.
“I don’t drink tea like that. Nevertheless, as a coach, I firmly think that a coach is only as good as their team. That’s what I’ve always thought, but
what do you have if those players aren’t following your direction and operating in a disciplined system? Simply roll the ball out there without making any plays. No, I completely disagreed with what they did.”
Mulkey has won six national championships as either a player and a coach on the college level.
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