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Sarkisian prepares Texas for potential headset disruptions during Trump visit
With President Donald Trump expected at Tennessee, Texas is planning for possible communication interruptions in a high-profile SEC matchup.
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Texas builds in a backup plan
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is preparing for more than added security when President Donald Trump attends Saturday’s game at Tennessee. He also expects the visit could temporarily disrupt the communication systems used by coaches and players. During a Thursday videoconference, Sarkisian said presidential arrivals, departures and movements inside a stadium can trigger interruptions to coaching headsets and coach-to-player communication. Those outages can occur without advance notice, making an alternative plan essential. The top-ranked Longhorns face the No. 14 Volunteers at Neyland Stadium, where Texas quarterback Arch Manning will make his playing debut. The venue also carries a family connection: his uncle Peyton starred there for Tennessee.
Experience informs the preparation
Sarkisian has dealt with a presidential visit before. He was Alabama’s offensive coordinator when Trump attended its game against LSU in 2019. That experience is shaping his preparation for potentially losing contact with his team for brief stretches on Saturday. A similar problem arose during last season’s College Football Playoff National Championship game between Indiana and Miami, which Trump attended. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said the headsets stopped working around the 6:45 mark of the fourth quarter. The interruption included Miami’s scoring fly sweep to Malachi Toney with 6:37 remaining. According to Cignetti, communication returned before the ensuing kickoff and remained available afterward. For Texas, the focus is on being ready to operate if the headsets suddenly go silent.
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