Teams take precautions after coach said comms can go down when Trump ‘enters the stadium, leaves the stadium or changes locations within the stadium’

Tennessee's university officials have urged football fans to arrive at Neyland Stadium significantly earlier than usual ahead of a crucial game against Texas. This move comes after President Donald Trump's announcement that he would be attending the match at the stadium. The SEC matchup, featuring the No. 1 Longhorns and No. 14 Volunteers, is one of the biggest games of the weekend. Trump arrived at Neyland Stadium at 11:28 a.m. ET, well before the noon kickoff.

The presence of the president, however, has raised concerns about potential disruptions to communications between coaches and players on the field. Earlier this week, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian warned that teams could lose all communication with their players whenever Trump enters or leaves the stadium or changes locations within the stadium. Both schools have been working with the Secret Service to ensure clear audio channels and have implemented an official timeout for any serious disruption.

The SEC game comes at a time when Trump has visited numerous college football games, including national championship contests and regular season matches. His attendance has previously affected communication, as seen during a playoff game between Miami and Indiana. At that time, Trump's departure during a crucial moment disrupted communications for the Hurricanes, leading to a missed interception that clinched the game.