Advertisement

What Kalen DeBoer said about Donald Trump attending Alabama football vs Georgia

Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer leads his players onto the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium for his first game as head coach. The Crimson Tide played Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama football will be at the center of the college football world Saturday when No. 1 Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa. And, on Monday, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer addressed an added element to Saturday: the attendance of former president and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of celebrity-type people here that want come be part of what's happening on game day," DeBoer said. "Everyone's watching. So it will be great to have everyone who wants to watch come be here."

The University of Alabama was notified of the trip last week.

"We have been notified that the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, plans to attend the Alabama-Georgia football game on Sept. 28 after receiving an invitation from a private citizen," the statement reads. "The safety of our campus is and will remain our top priority, and UAPD will work closely with the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement partners to coordinate security."

Trump was in office from 2017-21.

DeBoer also addressed the added attention to the game with ESPN's "College GameDay" coming to Tuscaloosa, and said that his players will have many more eyes on them than normal. But that does not change his expectation of them, he said.

"With (College GameDay) and everything coming here as well, for guys to try and take as much off their platem other than maybe a few extra interviews toward the end of the week," DeBoer said. "Just the main thing is that they get prepared to play the best football game they have played this year."

Alabama will kick off against Georgia at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Kalen DeBoer said about Donald Trump attending Alabama vs Georgia