SEC Media Days: Texas Longhorns

Steve Sarkisian

DALLAS, Texas = The room was packed as Steve Sarkisian bounded to the stage to talk about Texas Longhorns and the new home in the SEC.

Sarkisian started by paying respect to Monte Kiffin saying, 

“When I was a young coach, my first job as a graduate assistant was at USC under Pete Carroll. There was a tight end coach there who was a young coach, as well, by the name of Lane Kiffin. His father Monte took me under his wing every time he came to town, and we talked football.

I learned more about Tampa Two than anybody, so anybody who’s playing me, please play Tampa Two because I can tell you exactly who’s supposed to go where, how and why because that’s how Monte Kiffin was. He was so detailed. He was a genuine man. He cared for all of those that nobody cared about.

It’s a dear loss, not only for the sport of football, but it’s a dear loss for me and I know for Lane, and my condolences to the Kiffin family on that.”

Sarkisian then lifted his head and spoke directly to Nick Saban who was sitting across the room. Saban turned his chair to face Sarkisian and was glued to every word of his entire speech.

“Next I want to talk briefly about Coach Saban. I know everybody has been coming up talking about it, and you know you’ve impacted a lot of people who have been up on this stage. No one have you impacted more than me. I would not be standing here today without you and what you’ve meant to my career, to my life, and I can’t thank you enough, and the impact that you’ve had on our game has been second to none, and I just can’t thank you enough. I want to be able to publicly do that to you, Coach. Thank you very, very much.”

Then coach Sarkisian talked about the locker room. If you remember back in the spring during one his last news conferences of the season, Sarkisian talked about his obsession to win championships.

That obsession has found its way into players. Sarkisian commented,

“There’s an idea of obsession going on in our locker room right now. They got a taste of what it can taste like, of being a Big 12 champion, playing in a College Football Playoff, and we fell short. This idea of obsession, the obsession that our players have is one that really came from them. They couldn’t wait to get back to work. They couldn’t wait to get back in the weight room.”

Sarkisian continued to discuss the team and then took questions. Over 75 arms went up from the media wanting to ask a question. Only a luck few got a chance.

One question was about the Texas vs Texas A&M game.

Coach, you mentioned rivalry games, of course. Since you’ve been here, what have you heard about the Texas-A&M rivalry, and what kind of buzz is there for this game coming back?

“STEVE SARKISIAN: Well, it’s a great game. It’s a game, like I said, that divides households … it’s interesting, our players, I listen to our players talk sometimes, and they’re like, our players are probably way more excited for this game than most fans would probably think because we haven’t played the game in a while.

But the majority of the players on our two rosters probably went on visits together at if not one school, both schools, and one guy chose Texas and one guy chose A&M.

I think there’s a great deal of excitement. I know Coach Elko has done a great job in that program in his short time being there. It’s going to be a great environment in Kyle Field Thanksgiving weekend, so we’re definitely looking forward to it.”