Don’t underestimate the power of college athletics.

The power of college golf: Seawell's write-in nod

Alabama's Justin Thomas and head coach Jay Seawell during the 2012 NCAA Championship.

Don’t underestimate the power of college athletics. In an election year, it’s not unheard of for an NCAA Championship ring to come with a write-in nod for the leader of the free world.

At least in Alabama.

A picture of an election ballot containing the names of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and men’s golf coach Jay Seawell as write-in presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, made the rounds on Twitter on Tuesday, leading Seawell to a good chuckle. Saban led his team to the national championship in 2012. Seawell’s team lost to Texas in the final match of last spring’s NCAA Championship, and was Golfweek’s preseason No. 1 team.

“It just shows you the power of Coach Saban,” Seawell told Golfweek on Wednesday.

Seawell said he doesn’t know the name of the person who filled out the ballot, then took a picture of it before leaving the polls.

Suppose Seawell did win a vice-presidential nod – or a presidential one – in the world of college golf. What would his first act in office be?

“I would put a 24-second shot clock on college golf," he said without hesitation.