AUSTIN, Texas — Steve Sarkisian was nonetheless unwrapping Texas’ breakthrough 2023 season and on the similar time casting an optimistic eye towards the long run when he heard the information Jan. 10.
Nick Saban, his former boss at Alabama, was retiring after a legendary profession that noticed him win six nationwide championships in Tuscaloosa, the final one in 2020 with Sarkisian as his offensive coordinator.
And, sure, Sarkisian acknowledged Wednesday, the potential for changing Saban entered his thoughts.
“Naturally, I would be mendacity if I stated I did not give it some thought,” Sarkisian informed ESPN. “However it took me all of about 60 seconds to say, ‘Yeah, I am not doing that.’ I had an superior two years at Alabama and cherished my time beneath Coach Saban, however finally you need to reap what you sow.
“We have poured a ton into this program for 3 years, and we’re on the cusp, I feel, of occurring a run that shall be epic. I consider that. Our workers does, and our gamers do, too, simply the assist now we have and the tradition we have created right here. Why depart one thing like that?”
Sarkisian joked that Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte was calling concerning the time these 60 seconds had been over and added, “That is a narrative for one more day.” However it actually did not matter, as a result of Sarkisian was proper the place he needed to be.
That very same goes for his Texas program, which is true the place Sarkisian hoped it might be coming into his fourth season on the Forty Acres and with the Longhorns making the all-important transfer to the SEC in 2024.
“Now we have to proceed to construct the crew, and after I say crew, I imply tradition,” stated Sarkisian, whose Longhorns made their first School Soccer Playoff look final season and received their first Large 12 championship since 2009.
“We’ll be loads proficient, proper? I am not involved about us being proficient. It is ensuring that we’re enjoying at our greatest when our greatest is required within the crucial moments of video games, and also you play your greatest if you belief the man subsequent to you or if you may be accountable to the man subsequent to you and never really feel like it’s a must to exit by yourself and do one thing out of character. We have got to dwell each day that means.
“I feel that is one thing we have achieved an awesome job of over 4 years, and I am not making an attempt to be smug in saying that. I simply consider that. I feel now we have the most effective tradition in school soccer, however now we have to recreate it yearly. Tradition would not simply carry over from one yr to the following.”
Quinn Ewers, one of many high returning quarterbacks within the nation, stated it was apparent when he transferred to Texas from Ohio State in 2022 that Sarkisian had a definitive plan for a way he needed to overtake the roster. The Longhorns wanted so as to add depth and ability, however extra importantly, add gamers dedicated to enjoying for each other. Ewers stated the brotherhood on final yr’s crew was the most effective he has been part of at any stage of soccer.
“We had a number of veteran guys, guys who had been on this crew for 3 years, had been via the teaching change, had been via all of the ups and downs,” stated Ewers, who shall be in his third season because the Longhorns’ starter. “Coach Sark got here in and saved guys he needed to maintain round and stated goodbye to others, however I might inform that he was constructing one thing particular.”
What has been noteworthy to Sarkisian this spring is that he has had sufficient depth to run crew durations on either side of the observe area, two-spotting as he calls it, with 1s and 2s on one finish and the 3s and 4s on the opposite. Getting into the 2022 season, 57 of Texas’ 85 scholarship gamers had been both freshmen or sophomores.
“We have by no means had the depth to try this all the spring earlier than, the place you do not really feel one facet of the sphere is getting shortchanged,” Sarkisian stated. “Simply to have the our bodies to try this is totally different, particularly when you do not really feel there is a dramatic drop-off.
“Now, I really feel like, ‘Man, our younger gamers may not know every thing to do proper now, however they’re positive fairly proficient,’ and it exhibits not solely on offense and protection, however actually exhibits on particular groups.”
The Longhorns had a program-best 11 gamers invited to the NFL mix this yr, one other signal that Sarkisian is attracting and creating high expertise. Even whereas shedding as many as 5 gamers projected to go within the first two rounds of the NFL draft, Sarkisian has been capable of restock the roster. Texas introduced in a number of high-profile transfers, together with receivers Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Silas Bolden (Oregon State) and Matthew Golden (Houston). The Longhorns’ previous two signing courses have been ranked within the high 5 nationally by ESPN.
And whereas Texas may not have Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat and projected first-rounder Byron Murphy II returning in the course of that defensive position, Sarkisian thinks the Longhorns will be capable of play extra defensive linemen in 2024.
The Longhorns had been certainly one of solely six Energy 5 groups to complete within the high 15 nationally final season in each scoring offense and protection. Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State had been the others.
Within the Sugar Bowl CFP semifinal loss to Washington, Texas rallied within the fourth quarter and had 4 photographs on the finish zone after attending to the Huskies’ 12-yard line with 15 seconds remaining, however Ewers wasn’t capable of money in after passing for 318 yards within the sport.
“We type of know what it takes to get the place we need to go and what extra we have to do,” Ewers stated. “Clearly, it wasn’t sufficient, so we all know we have to take that additional step whether or not it is on the sphere or off the sphere, but it surely positively left a dry style in our mouth.”
Ewers, who prides himself on by no means getting rattled, stated he by no means sweated whether or not his coach is perhaps shifting on when he heard about Saban’s retirement. It solely helped the vibe in Austin when Sarkisian despatched out a social media put up with a “Horns Up” picture the following night time, adopted by stories that Sarkisian was nearing a deal for a contract extension that can pay him greater than $10 million per yr.
“It by no means crossed my thoughts,” Ewers stated. “I knew that he needed to be right here and knew he needed to win right here. He talks about it on a regular basis. He tells us he needs to retire right here and win a bunch of nationwide championships right here, and he is convicted when he says it.”
That was just about Sarkisian’s message to Saban when he informed him he was leaving Alabama for the Texas job in 2020.
“I bear in mind speaking to him in his workplace and it was, ‘Coach, I need to go construct my very own legacy. I do not need to simply keep right here to proceed yours,'” Sarkisian recounted. “So those self same ideas came visiting me after I heard he was retiring. We’re constructing one thing right here that I feel goes to be sustainable for a protracted, very long time.”