President Donald Trump’s visit to Bryant-Denny Stadium this Saturday could create a very different kind of wrinkle for No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama: the kind that hits the headset.
Because of Secret Service protocols, communication cuts out whenever Trump is moving. That means if he arrives late, leaves early, or shifts from one box to another, both teams could be left without comms for an unknown stretch of time and with no advance notice. It was a major topic last month at Neyland Stadium, when Trump attended Texas’ road win over Tennessee and Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian pointed to the communication problems and the hassle they caused.
Alabama, though, says it’s already been through this once and knows how to handle it. The Crimson Tide dealt with the same setup during Trump’s 2024 visit to Bryant-Denny Stadium, also for a game against Georgia, and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said it did not stand out as a major issue.
"I don't remember it being a major factor from a communication standpoint," defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said of the 2024 game. "I heard some stuff about that being a thing, maybe a couple of weeks ago at the Tennessee game, and so those are things that we've got to, you know, be mindful of, we've got to have plans and answers for.
But we already have protocols in place that if my communication to player devices goes down, or whatever it is, we've got a number of ways to communicate to the guys. So I would love for that not to happen, but certainly, you've got to be prepared for anything."
That matters for Alabama more than most teams because the Crimson Tide are young on offense, with quarterback Keelon Russell leading the way. Still, they’ve already had a game this season where the headsets failed for large chunks of the third quarter in a 45-17 win over Kentucky, a game Alabama trailed at halftime.
"We had to get through that on the offensive side earlier this season, obviously, against Kentucky, and with Coach Grubb up in the booth, and Coach Wommack being on the field, it's a little bit easier, you know, to be able to work through," head coach Kalen DeBoer said. "Both sides of the ball certainly talk about what we would do if those situations happen."
The feeling inside the program is straightforward: if communication disappears, Alabama will adjust. Since Georgia has to operate under the same restrictions, both teams are dealing with the same potential disruption.
"Adapt and overcome, whatever it takes," offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. "We'll be ready.
We've got systems in place to take care of that, and we won't make a thing out of it. We'll be ready to go."
In Other News...
Alabama May Have A New Wrinkle Georgia Can't Ignore
Alabamas blowout win over Mississippi State offered more than just points on the scoreboard. In a wrinkle that stood out to anyone watching closely, the Tide leaned on the I formation at times, giving the offense a different look under center and adding another layer to an attack that has already found ways to stress defenses. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb addressed the approach in his Monday press conference, pointing to the way the group handled itself when asked to run the ball from that alignment.
There was a hiccup on the first I formation snap, a fumble that briefly interrupted the momentum, but Grubb still came away encouraged by the physical work up front. He singled out the offensive line and tight ends for the way they executed the look, and the possibility of building around it more in 2026 gives Alabama another intriguing piece to keep in mind as bigger tests loom. For a Georgia defense preparing to dissect every tendency, even a small shift like this can matter. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Grubb Sees One Alabama Concern Georgia Could Punish
Ryan Grubb came away from Alabamas 56-23 win over Mississippi State pleased enough with the overall direction of the offense, but not quite ready to let the Tide off the hook. The offensive coordinator pointed to some early miscues, including decision making and sacks that need to be cleaned up, even while praising a running game that produced no negative runs for the first time since his arrival. He also noted Daniel Hills rare, uncharacteristic fumble as the kind of mistake Alabama can get away with against some opponents, but not as many as it would like.
No. 2 Georgia is next, and that is where those little lapses start to matter more. Alabama is set to host a defense that will be far less forgiving than Mississippi State, which makes Grubbs concerns more than just postgame housekeeping. The Tide have shown they can move the ball and control stretches of a game, but the margin for error shrinks fast when the opponent on the other sideline is built to punish shaky protection, loose ball security and the kind of early-game indecision Alabama has already identified. [Read more 🡒]
Why Alabama Still Isn't Unleashing EJ Crowell Yet
EJ Crowell has given Alabama a glimpse of why he arrived in Tuscaloosa with so much hype. The five-star freshman running back has been efficient every time he has touched the ball this season, averaging 7.8 yards per carry and finding the end zone three times, but his role has remained measured as the Tide continue to bring him along.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said Crowell is still learning the offense and sharpening his pass protection, two areas that matter as much as raw explosiveness when a young back tries to earn more trust. Crowell also missed much of the offseason because of injury, which helps explain why fellow freshman Traeshawn Brown has logged more carries, even as Alabama continues to wait on the version of Crowell that made him such a coveted recruit. [Read more 🡒]