Trump's Visit to the Georgia v. Alabama Game

Both Alabama fans and Georgia fans turned out in masse to attend the Georgia v. Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, September 28th, 2024. A highly anticipated game since the beginning of the college football season since it presented the first real test for the new Alabama Head Coach, Kalen DeBoer, against another SEC powerhouse. The profile for the Alabama v. Georgia football game was raised even higher with the announcement that former President and current Presidential candidate, Donald J. Trump, would be in attendance at the game.

Invited to the Alabama v. Georgia game by Ric Mayers, a petroleum executive and entrepreneur from Vernon, Alabama who was married at Trump's Mar-A-Lago, Donald J. Trump attended the game in Mayers' box alongside Senator Kattie Britt and her husband, a former Alabama football player himself - Wesley Britt. Trump was also accompanied watching the game by the musician Kid Rock and by another former football player, Herschel Walker. Country music legend Hank Williams Jr. was also in attendance with Trump at the game. Along with another veteran of Alabama football games, although from the opposing side, Senator and former Head Coach at Auburn Tommy Tuberville.

With the number of assassination attempts against Donald J. Trump mounting by the month, local Tuscaloosa law enforcement agencies alongside the Secret Service wanted to make certain that the Alabama v. Georgia game would not be counted in that number. Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy stated that they were using everything they had, including the scissor lifts, to protect the Presidential. Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley had every single officer on duty for the event, including himself.

The weather was overcast for the game which made the temperatures brisk and very comfortable for tailgating beforehand. Trump's comments about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio during the Presidential debate coupled with Georgia's mascot being the bulldogs prompted several signs and buttons to be seen around the quad with themes of "In Alabama, we eat dawgs" featuring a picture of Donald J. Trump on them. Although not present in person, Vice President Harris, did have some mention in the tailgating scene as several Georgia fans proclaimed themselves to be "#GeorgiaforHarris" promoters.

With the Goodyear blimp flying overhead, there was a vast sea of humanity standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the stadium for the Alabama football team's Walk of Champions and for the Million Dollar Band's Elephant Stomp prior to the start of the game. The first half of the game gave the appearance of a rout for Alabama as the Crimson Tide scored four touchdowns against Kirby Smart's vaunted Georgia defense during the first half of the game. With fans cheering loudly and the Tide leading the game 7 to 30, former President Trump was shown on the screen waving at the crowd in the stadium.

The game appeared to be a blowout win for the Tide at halftime; but Georgia mounted a promising comeback during the second half of the game. All attention turned towards what was happening on the field as Georgia Quarterback Carson Beck carved up the Tide defense for 439 yards through the air. The Bulldawgs took a late fourth quarter lead when Beck hit a 67-yard touchdown pass to Georgia Wide Receiver Dillon Bell with just 2:30 left in the game. Quarterback Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense had only managed to score three points in the entire second half up to that point. Undaunted, on the next play Milroe threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Ryan Williams for the Tide to retake the lead. Williams, who is just 17 years old - finished the day with six catches for 177 yards. Bama converted on a two-point play to take a 34 to 41 lead with 2:08 left in regulation. Beck and the Dawgs got the ball back but UGA's last possession ended when Beck threw an interception in the end zone to Tide Freshman defensive back Zabien Brown. Milroe threw 27 completions on 33 attempts for 379 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed the ball for 117 yards and two touchdowns.. His only interception bounced off the receiver. Beck's three interceptions ultimately sealed the deal for the Tide. Beck is 26 and 2 as a starter; but both of those losses came against the Tide.

The Tide came in the day as number 4 in the country; but the UGA loss combined with an uninspiring Texas performance against Mississippi State meant that the Tide is now the number one team in the country in most polls.

Luisa Reyes is an attorney in Tuscaloosa with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Judson, a master's degree in library science, and a law degree from Samford's Cumberland School of Law. She is also a piano instructor and vocalist.

Bama's next opponent will be Vanderbilt.

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