Trump's Game Day Protocol Disrupts College Football Communication
Presidential attendance necessitates temporary communication blackouts for coaches and players during games.
President Donald Trump's upcoming attendance at the Tennessee vs. Texas college football game on Saturday will trigger significant security protocols that will temporarily disable communication systems for players and coaches, according to Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.
The White House confirmed Trump's visit to Knoxville for the Saturday clash, followed by a trip to The Presidents Cup on Sunday. Sarkisian detailed the implications of the presidential security measures, stating that any time the President enters, leaves, or changes locations within the stadium, all communication, including coach-to-coach and coach-to-player headsets, will be cut off without warning.
"You have to have a plan for that if and/or when, and you get no warning," Sarkisian said Wednesday. "So that just gets cut out. If he comes in the middle of the first quarter or leaves in the fourth quarter or decides he's got to use the restroom, whatever that looks like, you've got to be prepared to have no communication for a short amount of time."
Sarkisian recalled a similar situation during last year's national championship game when his friend, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, experienced communication disruptions. "They had no communications because he was leaving early before the game ended," Sarkisian explained.
This is not the first time Sarkisian has encountered these protocols. While serving as Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2019, he experienced the communication blackouts when Trump attended the Crimson Tide's game against LSU.
Trump has attended several high-profile sporting events since taking office, including the World Cup final, the Ryder Cup, and the US Open final. His presence at these events has often led to heightened security, causing delays and disruptions for fans. For example, fans were delayed entering Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals due to increased security checks, and a half-hour delay occurred at the US Open men's final due to Trump's appearance.
Organizers of the US Open later apologized for the delays, attributing them to added security protocols implemented by the United States Secret Service.
Despite speculation that Trump might appear on ESPN's College GameDay prior to the Tennessee-Texas game, sources indicate he is not expected to join the broadcast or participate as a guest picker. The game is scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. ET, coinciding with ESPN's College GameDay coverage for the first regular-season meeting between the two teams.
