Steve Sarkisian reveals unique challenge Donald Trump creates at CFB games
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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian shed some light on what it’s like to coach during a game with a U.S. President in attendance.
Sarkisian was asked about the experience given that Donald Trump is expected to be at Neyland Stadium for Texas‘s top-25 showdown with Tennessee this week.
Sarkisian said he’s coached under these circumstances before and shared a unique detail that both the Longhorns and Vols will have to be prepared for. Per Sarkisian, head-set communication on the field gets cut off any time the president moves within the stadium.
“The one thing that we have to be aware of when the president goes to any game is that anytime he enters the stadium or leaves the stadium or changes locations within the stadium, they cut all communication,” Sarkisian said. “So they cut your headsets. They cut headsets to coaches. They cut headsets from coach to player communication. So you have to have a plan for that, if and or when. And you get no warning, so that just gets cut out.”
This means players and coaches are not able to communicate in-between plays as they normally would. Typically, players and coaches can talk via head-set communications until there are 15 seconds remaining on the play clock (or until the ball is snapped).
Trump has attended numerous college football games during each of his presidential terms. This visit to Knoxville comes as Congress is considering the Protect College Sports Act — a bill Trump has publicly supported.
Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
