Sarkisian has coached in front of a president before, when Trump attended a top-five\u00a0matchup between Alabama and LSU Nov. 9, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Sarkisian was Alabama\u2019s offensive coordinator and play caller that season, and he found out that the presence of a sitting president at any event can mean a sudden disruption to communications.<\/p>\n
When Trump arrives Saturday at Neyland Stadium, the Secret Service will cut all communications within the stadium. When he leaves, it will do the same. If he strolls down the concourse looking for a hot dog, the communications go out. It\u2019s something to plan for, Sarkisian said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one thing that we have to be aware of when the president goes to any game is that any time he enters the stadium or leaves the stadium or changes locations within the stadium, they cut all communication,\u201d Sarkisian said. \u201cThey cut your headsets. They cut headsets to coaches. They cut headsets to coach-to-player communication. And you get no warning, so that just gets cut out.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to have a plan for that to adjust if, and or when he comes in the middle of the first quarter or leaves in the fourth quarter or decides he’s got to use the restroom, whatever that looks like. You’ve got to be prepared to have no\u00a0comms for a short amount of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Sarkisian said his team\u2019s pregame routine won\u2019t be affected even while University of Tennessee police are asking fans to arrive three hours early for the game, which kicks off at noon in Knoxville and 11 a.m. Central Time. Neyland Stadium has an official capacity of 101,915.<\/p>\n