‘Can’t Believe Teams Tolerate That,’ ‘Bad for Sports’ — CFB Fans React As Steve Sarkisian Reveals How Donald Trump Will Complicate Texas-Tennessee Play Calls
· Yahoo Sports
Texas already has to worry about a ranked SEC opponent, Neyland Stadium, and a freshman quarterback on the other sideline. Steve Sarkisian apparently has another item for Saturday’s game plan: what happens when the headsets suddenly go dead.
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President Donald Trump is expected to attend No. 1 Texas’ road game against No. 14 Tennessee, and Sarkisian explained Thursday that presidential security procedures can temporarily wipe out team communication without warning.
Steve Sarkisian Says Texas Has To Prepare for Communication Cuts
“The one thing that you have to be aware of when the president goes to any game is that anytime he enters the stadium, leaves the stadium, or changes locations within the stadium, they cut all communication,” Sarkisiantold reporters.
That includes coach-to-player communication.
“You have to have a plan for that, if and when it happens, and you get no warning,” Sarkisian said.
College football fans immediately started wondering why a presidential visit should affect the mechanics of an actual football game.
“That’s insane. I can’t believe the teams tolerate that,” onefan wrote.
Another reaction was even shorter: “This is bad for sports,” onefan said.
A thirdfan wrote, “Just so got (expletive) dumb.”
The logistical complaints extended beyond Sarkisian’s headset.
“Also makes it incredibly difficult for real fans to get to and into the stadium,” anotherfan wrote, questioning why Trump was attending while arguing the visit “inconveniences everyone.”
Anotherfan asked, “Does Trump ever think about how nobody actually wants him at these events?”
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Texas-Tennessee Was Already Complicated Enough
Tennessee has warned fans to expect enhanced Secret Service screening and longer waits Saturday, with every Neyland Stadium gate opening at 9 a.m. ET for the noon kickoff. Trump’s attendance is expected, and the university is encouraging ticket holders to arrive much earlier than usual.
The football stakes do not need much help. PFN’s latestpower rankings have Texas tied for No. 5 and Tennessee tied for No. 16. Texas is 3-0, while Tennessee is also unbeaten after a 42-9 win over Kennesaw State.
Sarkisian has experienced the security wrinkle before. He was Alabama’s offensive coordinator when Trump attended the Crimson Tide’s 2019 game against LSU.
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“You’ve got to be prepared to have no communication for a short amount of time,” Sarkisian said.
That is a strange sentence to hear from a coach preparing for one of the biggest games of the weekend.
Arch Manning may spend Saturday deciphering Tennessee’s defense. Sarkisian also has to prepare for the possibility that his headset simply decides it is done participating.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.