Report: Texas chairman attends practice to deliver message personally to Steve Sarkisian

Texas had a special guest at practice on Wednesday. The chairman was reportedly in attendance — and he gave Steve Sarkisian the university’s full support.

Kevin Eltife, the Texas chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, went to Longhorns practice Wednesday to personally inform Sarkisian that he has the university’s support, according to Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman.

Kevin Eltife, Texas chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, was at football practice Wednesday to tell Steve Sarkisian personally that he had the school's full support, a source said.

— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) November 18, 2021

Texas is 4-6 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play in Sarkisian’s first season. The Longhorns are coming off a 57-56 loss to Kansas in overtime despite entering as 31-point favorites. It was Texas’ fifth straight loss after starting the year 4-1.

Sarkisian came to Texas after two years as Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Nick Saban. Questions have swirled about the job he’s doing in Austin during the losing streak, especially after the Kansas loss. But it sounds like the university has his back.

At least, that’s the sense after Eltife went to practice to see for himself.

Paul Finebaum roasts Texas after historically bad loss to Kansas

After Texas lost to Kansas, ESPN personality Paul Finebaum questioned the state of the Texas program under Sarkisian in year one.

“There’s nowhere to go when you’re talking about historically bad losses,” Finebaum said of Sarkisian and Texas. “What’s interesting about Texas is they’re leaving the Big 12 in a year or two or three or whenever to go to the SEC, where the hill is much steeper. So you have to start wondering about where this program is. Now remember, Sarkisian took over for Tom Herman and most of this is on Tom Herman.

“I still believe Sarkisian is a good coach, but I would probably have a very difficult time convincing anyone in Austin that. One other thing, a friend of mine, who’s a Vanderbilt graduate, who is winless by the way in the SEC, texted me overnight saying we want Texas now.”

He had a point in the middle of his thought. The players on the current roster are Herman’s recruits since Sarkisian was hired in the offseason. That means he hasn’t had a chance to recruit any current players, which creates quite a challenge when trying to build a program.

After winning four games in the first five games, Texas now has to win each of its next two games to become bowl eligible. The Longhorns first have to face West Virginia Saturday at noon ET on ESPN2. They’ll close out the season against Kansas State Nov. 27.