Stephen A. Smith believes Donald Trump could use his planned attendance at Saturday’s Texas-Tennessee game to promote the Protect College Sports Act.
Trump is expected to attend the No. 1 Longhorns’ meeting with No. 14 Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, with ESPN’s College GameDay also broadcasting from Knoxville before the noon ET kickoff.
The Protect College Sports Act has become a major topic around College GameDay in recent weeks, including an appearance from Sen. Ted Cruz to discuss the legislation. The bill addresses issues including student-athlete eligibility, transfers and compensation.
Stephen A. Smith believes Trump could use Texas-Tennessee to promote the bill
Speaking on Mad Dog Sports Radio, Smith said he would not be surprised if Trump appeared on College GameDay and used the platform to discuss the legislation.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if College Football GameDay, an absolutely fantastic show…it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the president ended up on the show,” Smith said. “Don’t know whether that’s going to be the case or not, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all. Because I definitely believe the president is going to use this moment to try to push forward the Protect College Sports Act.”
Smith has also criticised the prospect of the president taking a position on the legislation through a college football broadcast.
“The president being involved in this in a way where he’s trying to grease the skids on behalf of the NCAA, I believe is not right. It’s not fair,” Smith said. “And it’s not thinking about, nor looking out for the marvelous student athletes who bless us with the presence on the court or field of play. The president should play no role in taking sides in that regard.”
However, current reporting indicates Trump is not expected to appear on College GameDay.
Sources told Front Office Sports and CBS Sports that he is expected to attend the game itself, meaning Smith’s scenario about a GameDay appearance is not currently expected to happen.
Trump’s attendance will nevertheless put him at the centre of one of the weekend’s biggest college football games, with Texas and Tennessee both entering the SEC opener unbeaten.
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