OTF Premium Steve Sarkisian on his future at Texas: 'I’m not going anywhere'

[Jeff Howe]

Before he addressed his football team’s upcoming home game against Arkansas, Steve Sarkisian addressed his coaching future at the University of Texas.

Less than a month after Diana Russini of "The Athletic" reported that Sarkisian’s camp had expressed interest on his behalf in potential NFL head coaching openings, ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard said in a video posted on social media that Sarkisian and the Longhorns could be headed toward a mutual parting of ways.

The following is Sarkisian’s statement on the rumors surrounding his job, in its entirety:

“I’d like to comment on something before I get into our team, something that has been bothering me now over the past few weeks, and that is people reporting that — or 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. Never do I do this because I never want to be a distraction, so I never address these things. But, at the point now, I feel like that it’s important that I do do this because it’s important for our team, it’s important for our university. 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. I’ve got two kids enrolled at the University of Texas, one in law school and one on our team. I’ve got a third that, hopefully, decides to enroll at the University of Texas next fall, and my wife and I just had our son here in Austin. This is our home. We came here to win championships. We’ve built a damn-good football program over the five years 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 1, 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. So, can we please stop putting things out there that you have absolutely zero evidence on? And then, can we please stop retweeting, putting it back out there as if it’s true, as if it’s the gospel? It is not true. 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 ... [inaudible comment] so, 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? And, 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, so that we can focus on our football team, which is really what we should be doing. Everybody good with that?”

Texas (7-3, 4-2 SEC), which came in at No. 17 by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee in Tuesday’s rankings reveal, will look to rebound from a 35-10 road loss to Georgia when the Razorbacks visit Austin for the first time since 2008.

The Longhorns and Arkansas (2-8, 0-6) will kick off at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.

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[Doc Strangemood]

Did he talk about anything else?

[Joe Zura]

Yeah he is gone sound the alarm 

[CJ Vogel]

I'm told Steve Sarkisian had a rather similar, and more emphatic, message with the team after practice today.

Along the lines of – I am here, and not going anywhere.

[Jeff Howe]

2 minutes ago, Doc Strangemood said:

Did he talk about anything else?

Honestly, I'd have to go back and listen. He was asked something about the CFP and Bobby Petrino's offense, but I was trying to get the transcription of his statement posted, so I wasn't paying attention.

[General Grant]

Don't embarass me on the road again Steve.

[Jeff Howe]

For whatever it's worth (and I'm sure the audio will be out at some point), Sark sounded pissed— not annoyed. Just pissed off.

[JMarquette]

F*ck yes.

[TexasDynasty3]

2 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

For whatever it's worth (and I'm sure the audio will be out at some point), Sark sounded pissed— not annoyed. Just pissed off.

Coach like it the rest of the year. 

[Beast Texas]

Are we about to see Darth Sark this weekend? He sounds pretty damn mad.

Thats fine, take it out on the pigs Sark.

[SB21]

3 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

For whatever it's worth (and I'm sure the audio will be out at some point), Sark sounded pissed— not annoyed. Just pissed off.

Hopefully that translates to Saturday. We need a pissed off coach and a pissed off team that knows we can be better than we played Saturday and need to show it these last two weeks. 

[drag worm]

Love this. LFG.

[tfoster40]

but but but Desmond Howard said he is leaving🤣

[Joe Zura]

So are we actually going to get all gas this weekend I hope so 

[Daytripper]

It would be fantastic to beat aggy and knock them down a few spots. As someone posted recently, beating 0u, Arkansas, and aggy in the same season is a positive sign. Of course, it’s always great to finish with a good bowl win 

[NothinButDaHorns34]

19 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

This is our home. We came here to win championships. We’ve built a damn-good football program over the five years 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 1, 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.

Sounds like a little bit of a clapback at kirby’s post game comments and a message to recruits who are seeing the “sarks leaving” stuff 

[Jeff Howe]

Just now, Joe Zura said:

So are we actually going to get all gas this weekend I hope so 

If the Longhorns need to take out some frustration by relentlessly putting the boots to Arkansas, so be it.

[JMarquette]

10 minutes ago, JMarquette said:

F*ck yes.

I’ve wanted to see a pissed off Sark, this is what we need. 

[Jeff Howe]

Just now, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

Sounds like a little bit of a clapback at kirby’s post game comments and a message to recruits who are seeing the “sarks leaving” stuff 

It's probably all of it. With the CFP hopes all but officially done, all he and the organization can do is try to finish strong and start building toward 2026.

[Joe Zura]

1 minute ago, Jeff Howe said:

If the Longhorns need to take out some frustration by relentlessly putting the boots to Arkansas, so be it.

Let’s goooo MUTE HOWE

[CHorn427]

I truly cannot stand Desmond Howard. Weak link on college gameday for ages. He's been an aggie shill for years now, continuously picking them for the CFP in the preseason like every year of its existence. 

[Jeff Howe]

Just now, Joe Zura said:

Let’s goooo MUTE HOWE

[Joe Zura]

Just now, Jeff Howe said:

[Atticus]

Hopefully it translates to on-field success. No one would even be talking about it if our team wasn’t underperforming 

[jkates]

Dear Desmond Howard,

Sit down, son.

-Daddy Sark