In a meeting that blended sports, politics, and policy, two of college football's most iconic coaches recently shared a fairway with a former president and a governor. Urban Meyer and Nick Saban accepted an invitation to golf with Donald Trump and Florida's Ron DeSantis, an outing the coaches framed as a unique opportunity to discuss the pressing issues facing collegiate athletics.
A Foursome Focused on Football's Future
According to reports, the group convened for a round on Sunday. While the presence of high-profile political figures might suggest a partisan agenda, Meyer was quick to dispel that notion during an appearance on 'The Triple Option' podcast. The Hall of Fame coach emphasized that the conversation remained squarely on the sport they all love.
"This conversation is all bipartisan," Meyer explained. "It happens that one's a Republican president, one's a very conservative governor of our state. Coach Saban and I were there as guests, and it was all about our thoughts on how to make this thing better." He described the day as "awesome," filled with both humor and serious dialogue about the state of college football.
Inside the Discussion
Meyer detailed that the gathering was sparked by a shared desire to talk through the positives and negatives within college sports. He noted that DeSantis, a former Yale baseball player, and Trump, whom he called "very interested in sports," were primarily there to listen to the perspectives of two coaches who have spent decades in the game.
"It's interesting to get Coach Saban's take, my take, who've been in it for so long," Meyer said. Despite the complex challenges, from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals to conference realignment, Meyer struck an optimistic note about the sport's current health, stating, "It's never been better, college football."
Saban's Previous Praise for Trump's Fandom
This isn't the first time Nick Saban has spoken favorably about Trump's engagement with sports. Last November, while appearing on the 'Pat McAfee Show,' the former Alabama coach highlighted the former president's passion for the games.
"President Trump is a great sports fan," Saban told McAfee. "He loves sports. He loves football, he loves all kinds of sports. And if you ever talk to him, that's all he wants to talk about."
Navigating the Political Landscape
Neither Meyer nor Saban has explicitly endorsed Trump's political platform. However, their willingness to engage with him and other political figures at Mar-a-Lago and on the golf course underscores a pragmatic approach. For these coaches, access to influential leaders represents a potential avenue to advocate for the future of college football and broader collegiate athletics.
The outing illustrates how the worlds of elite sports and politics frequently intersect, with legendary coaches leveraging their stature to enter discussions at the highest levels. While the round of golf may have been casual, the underlying mission—to shape the trajectory of college sports—was anything but.
