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Steve Sarkisian feels Texas' sense of urgency after finally reaching game week

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph08/28/23
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© Sarah Phipps

We are officially less than a week away from the start of the college football season. Despite a handful of games played over the weekend, Week 1 is where all college football programs across the country will finally get the chance to show the results of their offseason training. And the Texas Longhorns are one of the top programs eager to get the 2023 season underway. 

As the Longhorns make their final preparations before the start of the 2023 campaign, head coach Steve Sarkisian revealed where the energy and sense of urgency with his team currently sits.

“For sure. I think our guys are really excited,” said Sarkisian. “I just got done talking to them; as much as we’re excited to play on Saturday, we need to do a great job this week in being present today, and we need to focus on today. Saturday will come soon enough. We need to be present today, and we need to be taking in all the information today. And then go out and try to do it tomorrow.  

“So, we’re excited. You know our guys have worked really hard. And ultimately, I want them to play really well. My job as a coach is to prepare them to play well and (for) them understanding (that) Saturday is a few days from now. So, let’s focus on where we’re at. Let’s be present today.” 

The Texas Longhorns will kick off their 2023 season with a Saturday afternoon home matchup against the Rice Owls on Sept. 2. After that, the Longhorns will head east to Tuscaloosa, AL, to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in a rematch of last year’s week two exciting matchup. In that game, Texas went blow for blow with the Crimson Tide despite losing starting quarterback Quinn Ewers late in the first quarter. When the smoke settled, Texas came up just short, falling to Alabama 20-19. 

While the Longhorns’ Week 2 showdown with the Crimson Tide carries massive implications for their season trajectory, they must be present in the moment, as Sarkisian explains. Despite not being a big-name opponent, Texas’ Week 1 battle against Rice will be the first step for Sarkisian and the Longhorns’ quest for the Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff at the end of the year.