Sarkisian expecting communication issues with Trump attending Texas-Tennessee game

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian knows what to expect when President Donald Trump attends Saturday's game at Tennessee.

Apart from the extra security measures, Sarkisian is anticipating problems communicating with his team.

“The one thing that you have to be aware of when the president goes to any game is that any time he enters the stadium, leaves the stadium or changes locations within the stadium, they cut all communication,” Sarkisian said during a Zoom call on Thursday. “So they cut your headsets. 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.”

The Southeastern Conference showdown between the top-ranked Longhorns and the No. 14 Vols will be Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s first game at Neyland Stadium, where his uncle Peyton starred for Tennessee.

Trump's attendance will add another layer of intrigue, something Sarkisian has previous experience with. He was as Alabama’s offensive coordinator when Trump attended a game against LSU during the president's first term in 2019.

“You have to have a plan to adjust if and when he comes in the middle of the first quarter, leaves in the fourth quarter, or decides he’s got to use the restroom, whatever that looks like,” Sarkisian said. “You’ve got to be prepared to have no communication for a short amount of time.”

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