Steve Sarkisian Slams the Door Shut on Texas Departure Rumors
AUSTIN, TX –- The weekly SEC Football teleconference is usually a predictable affair: injury updates, game previews, and perhaps a slightly bland assessment of the upcoming opponent. But this week, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian decided to throw the script out the window. With an air of clarity and firmness, Sarkisian used his platform not to discuss X’s and O’s, but to deliver a fiery, unequivocal message to anyone floating rumors about his future.
It’s been a season that could give you whiplash in Austin. Despite the undeniable buzz surrounding first-year starter Arch Manning, the Longhorns have ridden a rollercoaster, showcasing flashes of brilliance alongside head-scratching moments. This “stock exchange” volatility, combined with the perennial coaching carousel gossip, has naturally led to whispers about Sarkisian’s stability. But Sarkisian wasn’t having any of it. He commenced his press conference with an introduction that clearly indicated this was not a typical situation.
“I’d like to comment on something before I get into our team that has been bothering me now over the past few weeks,” he began, his tone firm. “That is people reporting that are insinuating that there’s a possibility I could leave the University of Texas, and that is absolutely false and untrue. I’m not going anywhere!“
For a coach who typically shies away from addressing distractions, Sarkisian made it clear this was an exception. “Never do I do this because I never want to be a distraction, so I never address these things. At this point, I feel like this is important that I do this because it’s important for our team. It’s important for our university.”
Sarkisian subsequently drew back the curtain, showcasing the extent of his dedication to the university while continually enhancing the Longhorns’ football program.
“I’ve had no discussions, not with my agent, not with the university, not with any other school, not with any NFL team about ever going anywhere else. I came here to win championships.“
This pursuit is not merely a professional effort for Sarkisian; it embodies a familial obligation, especially considering the commitment he devotes each season with his coaching staff.
“I’ve got two kids enrolled at the University of Texas, one in law school, one on our team. I’ve got a third who hopefully decides to enroll at the University of Texas next fall. My wife and I just had our son here in Austin. This is our home.” His personal ties run deep, painting a picture of a man fully invested in his life in the Texas landscape.
He reminded everyone about the program’s undeniable progress under his leadership, listing off achievements that silence many critics.
“We came here to win championships. We’ve built a damn good football program over the five years that we’ve been here. We’ve been to two College Football Playoffs. We won a Big 12 championship. We went to the SEC Championship game in year one. We’ve had 23 players drafted the last two years, which is more than any other school in the country, and our team GPA is at an all-time high.”
Sarkisian made a significant challenge to the media as he continued, “Can we please stop putting things out there that you have absolutely zero evidence on? Can we please stop retweeting and putting it back out there as if it’s true? As if it’s the gospel? It is not true.“
His frustration is understandable. In the cutthroat world of college football, where anonymous sources and social media gossip can derail a season, he drew a line in the sand.
“If you have a question about my future, call me or call Chris Del Conte, our athletic director, and we can set the record straight for you, so everybody understands. Moving forward, when some Joe Blow decides to put something on social media out there, we all don’t run with it like it’s the gospel. Can we all agree on that on this call? If you have a question about my future with the University of Texas, ask me on one of these calls. Ask Chris Del Conte. He’ll be more than happy to take your call so that we can set the record straight, and so we can focus on our football team, which is what we should be doing.”
With two games remaining in the regular college football season against Arkansas and Texas A&M, Steve Sarkisian made it clear where his focus remains. Many wish his fellow SEC Lane Kiffin would be that definitive regarding his future.
Related: Is Ole Miss In Lane Kiffin’s Future Or Will He Leave?
