This week, during a pre-recorded segment of his College Football Show, host Josh Pate interviewed former President Donald Trump. Pate had assured viewers that the discussion would steer clear of political topics, focusing instead on college football. However, the ten-minute conversation frequently veered off course.
Pate began the dialogue with a broad inquiry regarding the current state of college football, specifically its structural integrity and rules. Trump expressed his disappointment, stating, “It”s too bad. I hate to see it,” before shifting the focus to changes in NFL kickoff rules without addressing the governance of college football directly.
The conversation then moved to how Trump decides which college football games to attend. He mentioned teams he favors, including Georgia and South Carolina, and praised quarterback Gunner Stockton, who was present during the interview. Trump also claimed that Pate had asked him about his criteria for evaluating players, a question that was never actually posed.
When asked about his recent golf outing with coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, Trump stated that their discussions “are always” centered around politics, countering Meyer”s assertion that football was the main topic of conversation.
The interview transitioned to Trump”s hiring practices. After mentioning Curt Cignetti of Miami and Indiana, he elaborated on his philosophy regarding staffing decisions, leaning into a familiar narrative about trusting one”s instincts.
In discussing lessons learned from his first term in office that could apply to a potential second term, Trump reiterated the importance of instincts. He also took a moment to commend Herschel Walker, calling him “maybe the greatest player ever.”
The conversation took a more personal turn when Pate inquired about the moment Trump realized he was president. Trump reflected on his experiences in the Lincoln Bedroom, straying further from the topic of college football.
The final question addressed the separation of personal issues from business, to which Trump responded generally, touching lightly on sports yet failing to provide a substantive answer.
As Pate later explained, the originally planned 30 to 40-minute interview was curtailed due to scheduling conflicts, resulting in a conversation filled with easy questions and tangents, ultimately lacking a significant focus on college football.
In related news, Oregon”s Dan Lanning has criticized the College Football Playoff, advocating for substantial changes, while Dabo Swinney has made immediate coaching changes at Clemson following a loss to Penn State.
