President Donald Trump will attend Texas soccer’s SEC opener at No. 14 Tennessee Saturday, and Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian is aware of from expertise that he might have to alter the way in which he communicates along with his workforce.
Fairly actually.
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Sarkisian has coached in entrance of a president earlier than, when Trump attended a top-five matchup between Alabama and LSU Nov. 9, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Sarkisian was Alabama’s offensive coordinator and play caller that season, and he came upon that the presence of a sitting president at any occasion can imply a sudden disruption to communications.
When Trump arrives Saturday at Neyland Stadium, the Secret Service will lower all communications inside the stadium. When he leaves, it’ll do the identical. If he strolls down the concourse in search of a scorching canine, the communications exit. It is one thing to plan for, Sarkisian stated.
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President Donald J. Trump speaks throughout a roundtable dialogue on the Group Emergency Operations Heart with First Girl Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. President Trump and Gov. Abbott met with first responders and native officers one week after a devastating flash flood that claimed over 100 lives. (Ricardo B. Brazziell, Austin American-Statesman)
“The one factor that we have now to pay attention to when the president goes to any recreation is that any time he enters the stadium or leaves the stadium or adjustments areas inside the stadium, they lower all communication,” Sarkisian stated. “They lower your headsets. They lower headsets to coaches. They lower headsets to coach-to-player communication. And also you get no warning, in order that simply will get lower out.
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“You must have a plan for that to regulate if, and or when he comes in the midst of the primary quarter or leaves within the fourth quarter or decides he is bought to make use of the restroom, no matter that appears like. You have to be ready to don’t have any comms for a brief period of time.”
However Sarkisian stated his workforce’s pregame routine will not be affected even whereas College of Tennessee police are asking followers to reach three hours early for the sport, which kicks off at midday in Knoxville and 11 a.m. Central Time. Neyland Stadium has an official capability of 101,915.
Saturday’s recreation will mark the third time Texas has performed in entrance of a sitting president. Richard Nixon was within the stands at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark., in 1969, when No. 1 Texas visited No. 2 Arkansas. After the Longhorns rallied from a 14-0 deficit to win 15-14, Nixon famously awarded the nationwide championship trophy to Texas coach Darrell Royal within the locker room though the Longhorns nonetheless needed to beat Notre Dame in that season’s Cotton Bowl in Dallas to safe the nationwide title.
And in 1976, Gerald Ford attended the Crimson River Showdown recreation between Texas and Oklahoma within the Cotton Bowl and carried out the ceremonial pregame coin toss. Texas and Oklahoma tied that recreation, 6-6 – which implies the Longhorns are undefeated whereas taking part in in entrance of a sitting president.
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By the way in which, Sarkisian stated he hasn’t heard whether or not Trump plans a post-game handshake or every other greeting Saturday with both coach. The president has attended school soccer video games earlier than, however normally leaves early.
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