Donald Trump is no stranger to college football. Based on his track record, he just might be an Alabama Crimson Tide fan.
Saturday’s game against Georgia was the Republican presidential nominee’s third time watching Alabama football in the flesh and his second watching the Crimson Tide defeat the Bulldogs. Alabama pulled out a 41-34 victory in a nail-biter.
It was, however, Trump’s first time sitting in Bryant-Denny Stadium without the title of president.
Earlier this month, Trump showed up to the Cy-Hawk series to watch Iowa and Iowa State. Maybe the Cyclones’ 20-19 thriller inspired him to lock down a suite for what was touted as the game of the year between Alabama and Georgia, two teams ranked in the top five nationally.
As a campaign stop, Trump seized an opportunity to boost his favorability in Alabama, a state that hasn’t voted or a Democratic candidate since 1976, but also the swing state of Georgia, which he lost to President Joe Biden during his 2020 run for reelection as president.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Former president and current Republican nominee for president Donald J. Trump visits Bryant-Denny Stadium for the football game between Alabama and Georgia. Trump stands with Senator Katie Britt, Republican from Alabama as he waves to the crowd. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
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A halftime exit could be seen as one of the cardinal sins of football. It’s definitely a decision that wouldn’t win many points with Alabama and Georgia’s hardcore patrons of the sport. But the early departure didn’t come without cause for the 78 year-old, who decided that the show must go on well before he touched down in Tuscaloosa.
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Trump was only in attendance for about a quarter-and-a-half of action.
His stay might have been longer had he not encountered a lengthy delay in his travels following an 2:30 p.m. engagement in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Prior to assassination attempts on July 13 and Sept. 15, it would’ve been labelled a “rally.” On Saturday, the event was described as Trump “delivering remarks.”
Compared to the six college football games he attended while in office, Trump’s security presence was at its peak for Alabama-Georgia.
Fans clung to the fences at Tuscaloosa National Airport for nearly three hours waiting for his arrival, itching to see if he’d step off of his typical aircraft of choice − a Boeing 757 − in his staple red tie.
“Trump Force One” didn’t show up, however, as Tuscaloosa National lacked the runway required for the jumbo jet. That meant Trump had to stop over in Birmingham to switch to a a smaller private plane that escorted in by the Secret Service.
Lingering Trump supporters got their red tie, though.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Former president and current Republican nominee for president Donald J. Trump visits Bryant-Denny Stadium for the football game between Alabama and Georgia. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Trump schmoozes with fans at Nick Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium
Twenty-two motorcycles from Tuscaloosa City Police and Alabama State Troopers led an extensive motorcade that guided Trump and his staff from the airport to Bryant-Denny.
The roads were eerily empty for a gameday in T-Town. Upon arrival, the silence outside the stadium was deafening.
Consider it the calm before the storm.
The smell of booze and nearby popcorn machines filled the air as fans piled onto each other offering drunken yells of “Make America great again” to welcome the former president.
Grinning from ear to ear, he accepted their hospitality, even offering the fist pump seen in the photo captured moments after an attempt on his life in July.
Trump visited a concession stand to hand out hot dogs and more game day grub to fans before he left for the evening with Alabama comfortably ahead. He left before the Crimson Tide lost its lead late in the second half and rallied to putt out the victory.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Former president and current Republican nominee for president Donald J. Trump visits Bryant-Denny Stadium for the football game between Alabama and Georgia. Trump passes out concession stand food to fans. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Stadium breaks out into “USA!” chants for Trump
After schmoozing with fans, Trump made way up to his East Skybox Suite, where he walked out to fans and get his first chorus of “USA! USA! USA!” from within the stadium.
Although Trump stole some attention, football continued to take precedence. Crimson Tide football player parents appeared disgruntled by his showing as it prevented a birds-eye view of the game.
Even with an announcement of his attendance over the public address system with 12:40 to go before halftime, it was hard for fans not to take note that an underdog Alabama was up 28-0 with Jalen Milroe’s second touchdown of the evening.
For Crimson Tide fans, there seemed to be one mutual consensus at the end of the day if shirts, gameday pins and the occasional verbal retort were any indication.
It was a collective call to vote not for Trump, but for Alabama’s recently-retired legendary head coach.
“Saban for president.”
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannnett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Donald Trump hands out hot dogs, mixes with fans at Alabama-Georgia game
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Publish date : 2024-09-28 17:46:00
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