OTF Premium Steve Sarkisian Media Availability (August 11)

[CJ Vogel]

Steve Sarkisian Monday Media Availability

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is speaking with the media Monday afternoon.

The Longhorns were on the practice field this afternoon in shells (helmet and shoulder pads). Texas also received the top spot in the 2025 preseason AP Top 25.

@Jeff Howe and I will be on campus providing updates in the comments down below.

[CJ Vogel]

Should get going here soon. 

[CJ Vogel]

Sark is here. All smiles too. 

[CJ Vogel]

 

[CJ Vogel]

Sark on the preseason #1 ranking: “it just doesn’t matter”

Says the team cares about the number at the end of the year. 

[Jeff Howe]

Sark said the team had a “fantastic” practice a few hours after the AP Poll came out.

”That told me they weren’t concerned with what hit their Twitter feed around noon today,” he said.

[Bobby Burton]

1 minute ago, CJ Vogel said:

 

Love this!

[Jeff Howe]

Sark said the scrimmage was balanced in terms of production on both sides of the ball. He also liked the physicality.

[Jeff Howe]

The Texas defense missed 15 tackles, but Sark said there were no egregious misses.

[Jeff Howe]

Sark said they’re training a lot of guys at the STAR because they want variety based on certain in-game situations.

[CJ Vogel]

“We had a fantastic practice.”

Sark said it was great today after the first scrimmage to build in camp. 
 

[CJ Vogel]

Graceson Littleton received a lot of praise from Sark just now. 

[Jeff Howe]

STAR is one of the most difficult positions to play on defense, Sark said. It takes high levels of football IQ and athleticism to succeed there.

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says the coaching staff being on the same page and collectively pushing to get better has been a key point of emphasis this offseason. Especially with the new faces. 

Says they have been present and taking it a day at a time. 

[CJ Vogel]

 

[Jeff Howe]

What the current Longhorns know is competition because the staff preaches it, Sark said.

”We’re a very competitive operation that way,” he said. “But we’re also competitive within our position groups.”

[Jeff Howe]

Just now, Jeff Howe said:

What the current Longhorns know is competition because the staff preaches it, Sark said.

”We’re a very competitive operation that way,” he said. “But we’re also competitive within our position groups.”

Taking care of your body and being prepared every day mentally and emotionally shows Sark how much the current team enjoys the process of becoming a championship team.

[Jeff Howe]

Just now, Jeff Howe said:

Taking care of your body and being prepared every day mentally and emotionally shows Sark how much the current team enjoys the process of becoming a championship team.

The way the offense had to bounce back after a tough start in the scrimmage and the way Mason Shipley kicked the ball today, Sark said, shows the competitive spirit of this team.

[CJ Vogel]

Sark says there were probably 5-6 passes he is pretty confident Arch makes during the season that maybe he didn’t in the scrimmage. 

 

[Jeff Howe]

Sark said Arch Manning had no turnovers in the scrimmage on Saturday.

[CJ Vogel]

The only turnover from Saturday was a tipped by in the red area.  Sark says it was a great play by the defense. 

It was not thrown by Manning. 

[Jeff Howe]

Regarding Arch, Sark said it’s a long season and there’s not a lot of in-between when it comes to external expectations for Arch and the team.

That’s why Sark likes that Arch isn’t concerned with what’s written or said about him, only what his teammates and those in the building think about him.

[Jeff Howe]

Sark channeling Nick Saban, talking about respecting and enjoying the process.

[Jeff Howe]

Sark: “I don’t operate with my head in the sand… But what are we going to do when we’re faced with adversity in a game? That’s the key to the drill.”

[Jeff Howe]

Nick Brooks and Nick Townsend didn’t finish the scrimmage due to injury, but Sark said both practiced today.