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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Author
AUSTIN, Texas — Steve Sarkisian was nonetheless unwrapping Texas‘ breakthrough 2023 season and on the similar time casting an optimistic eye towards the longer term 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 opportunity of changing Saban entered his thoughts.
“Naturally, I might be mendacity if I stated I did not give it some thought,” Sarkisian instructed ESPN. “Nevertheless 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 liked my time underneath Coach Saban, however finally you wish to reap what you sow.
“We have poured a ton into this program for 3 years, and we’re on the cusp, I believe, of occurring a run that shall be epic. I imagine that. Our employees does, and our gamers do, too, simply the assist we have now 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 in regards to the time these 60 seconds have been over and added, “That is a narrative for an additional day.” Nevertheless 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 getting into his fourth season on the Forty Acres and with the Longhorns making the all-important transfer to the SEC in 2024.
“We have now to proceed to construct the staff, and after I say staff, I imply tradition,” stated Sarkisian, whose Longhorns made their first Faculty Soccer Playoff look final season and received their first Huge 12 championship since 2009.
“We will be lots proficient, proper? I am not involved about us being proficient. It is ensuring that we’re taking part in at our greatest when our greatest is required within the vital moments of video games, and also you play your finest if you belief the man subsequent to you or if you might be accountable to the man subsequent to you and never really feel like you need to exit by yourself and do one thing out of character. We have to stay day by day that approach.
“I believe that is one thing we have completed a fantastic job of over 4 years, and I am not making an attempt to be smug in saying that. I simply imagine that. I believe we have now the perfect tradition in faculty soccer, however we have now to recreate it yearly. Tradition would not simply carry over from one 12 months to the following.”
Quinn Ewers, one of many prime 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 talent, however extra importantly, add gamers dedicated to taking part in for each other. Ewers stated the brotherhood on final 12 months’s staff was the perfect he has been part of at any stage of soccer.
“We had loads of veteran guys, guys who had been on this staff for 3 years, had been by the teaching change, had been by 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 stored guys he needed to maintain round and stated goodbye to others, however I may 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 staff intervals on each side of the apply subject, 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 have been both freshmen or sophomores.
“We have by no means had the depth to do this all the spring earlier than, the place you do not really feel one facet of the sector is getting shortchanged,” Sarkisian stated. “Simply to have the our bodies to do this is completely different, particularly when you do not really feel there is a dramatic drop-off.
“Now, I really feel like, ‘Man, our younger gamers won’t know all the things to do proper now, however they’re certain fairly proficient,’ and it reveals not solely on offense and protection, however actually reveals on particular groups.”
The Longhorns had a program-best 11 gamers invited to the NFL mix this 12 months, one other signal that Sarkisian is attracting and growing prime expertise. Even whereas dropping 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 lessons have been ranked within the prime 5 nationally by ESPN.
And whereas Texas won’t 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 to play extra defensive linemen in 2024.
The Longhorns have been considered one of solely six Energy 5 groups to complete within the prime 15 nationally final season in each scoring offense and protection. Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State have 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 recreation.
“We sort of know what it takes to get the place we wish 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 further step whether or not it is on the sector or off the sector, but it surely undoubtedly 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 publish with a “Horns Up” picture the following night time, adopted by stories that Sarkisian was nearing a deal for a contract extension that may pay him greater than $10 million per 12 months.
“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 instructed 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 wish to go construct my very own legacy. I do not wish 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 believe goes to be sustainable for an extended, very long time.”