Trump's College Football Attendance Raises Concerns Over Game Disruptions
Former President Donald Trump's presence at a high-profile college football game could disrupt play due to security protocols affecting team communications, coaches say.
When former President Donald Trump attends Saturday’s Texas vs. Tennessee college football game, the event could lead to more than just increased traffic and security lines for fans. Head coaches are expressing concerns that Trump's visit could disrupt the game itself.
The Southeastern Conference matchup between the No. 1 ranked Longhorns and the No. 14 Volunteers in Knoxville, already one of the weekend's most anticipated games, will feature Texas quarterback Arch Manning. However, the security measures associated with Trump’s presence could impact team operations.
Headset Communications and Security Protocols
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian noted that teams must be prepared for potential disruptions to their headset communications between coaches on the field and players. These communications can be cut off at any moment when Trump enters, leaves, or moves within the stadium, according to Sarkisian. "They cut the headsets to coaches. They cut headsets for coach-to-player communication. So you have to have a plan for that, if and when it happens, and you get no warning. It just gets cut out," Sarkisian said, emphasizing that such disruptions could occur at any point during the game.
Trump has a history of attending major sporting events, including college football games, NBA finals, NASCAR races, and the World Cup final. He also previously attended a Super Bowl, leaving at halftime. The disruption of headset communications has been a notable subplot in previous games he has attended.
During last season's College Football Playoff championship between Indiana and Miami, coaches reported communication issues. Indiana coach Curt Signetti recalled that during a critical moment in the fourth quarter of Indiana's eventual 27-21 victory, headset communications were down for two to three plays. This occurred as Trump was leaving the stadium with less than eight minutes remaining in the game, coinciding with a misdirection touchdown run by Miami. The White House, however, has disputed that Trump's departure caused any communication problems for the teams during that game.
An NFL spokesman declined to comment on whether league officials coordinate with the Secret Service to minimize communication impacts when a president attends events like the Super Bowl.
Increased Security Measures at Neyland Stadium
For Saturday's game, University of Tennessee officials have advised fans to arrive significantly earlier than usual, with stadium gates opening 30 minutes ahead of schedule to accommodate the expected crowd of over 100,000. Fans are being warned of enhanced screening by the Secret Service at stadium entrances, which is expected to lead to increased wait times.
Despite the potential for security-related delays, a Texas spokesman indicated that the Longhorns team had not been advised to alter its standard arrival time of approximately two and a half hours before kickoff. To encourage early attendance, concessions, including alcohol, will be half-price for fans entering during the first hour after gates open.