Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
James Carville, the ever-colorful political consultant and LSU superfan, is not happy with Gov. Jeff Landry and LSU's decision to part ways with athletic director Scott Woodward, even threatening to burn his LSU diplomas and merch. "I plan on burning all of my LSU gear, both of my diplomas and both of my daughter's diplomas," Carville said on Friday's episode of the sports podcast The Tony Kornheiser Show. Carville, a veteran Democratic campaign guru who became famous for his work electing Bill Clinton as president, also told Kornheiser he wasn't just talking, he would film the burning and has spoken to legal counsel about looking into the conservative Landry's comments criticizing Woodward's coach contracts at LSU and Texas A&M. "I believe, and I've engaged the services of Williams and Connolly, that the governor libeled our athletic director when he erroneously talked about Jimbo Fisher's buyout at Texas A&M," Carville said. "I believe we have a case for actual malice ... If we get to discovery, I believe we can prove that." On Wednesday, Landry said he would not let Woodward choose the new Tigers head coach after Brian Kelly was fired Sunday following a big loss at home to Texas A&M. He criticized the multi-million dollar contracts Woodward oversaw for Kelly and Fisher at Texas A&M. While Woodward hired Fisher and Kelly, It was Woodward's successor, Ross Bjork, who signed Fisher for the extension that led to Fisher's buyout, a fact which Carville believes could be grounds for a suit against Landry. Carville began his appearance on the podcast by saying previous Republican governors Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal were supportive of LSU football, but said the reputational damage done to LSU under Landry had been "incalculable." In addition to the chaos in the athletic department, Carville said it appeared LSU's Board of Directors were leaning towards choosing McNeese State University President Wade Rousse to be LSU's next president, which Carville implied could be a downgrade in prestige after previous president William F. Tate IV left for the nationally ranked Rutgers University this year. Never one to back down from a fight, the Ragin' Cajun promised he would not be passive in the struggle over the future of LSU. After unloading on Landry at LSU, Carville transitioned straight into his pick for Friday's Memphis-Rice game.
