Steve Sarkisian opens up on relationship with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark inherited a conference where Texas and Oklahoma were on their way out to go to the SEC. Because of that, there have seemingly been some hard feelings between him and those schools. Notably, that included Yormark telling Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire that he was rooting for the Red Raiders to take care of business against Texas.

Ahead of that game, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian explained that he doesn’t feel like there is tension and thinks they have a good relationship given the circumstances.

“There was nothing to smooth over,” Steve Sarkisian said. “For me, we’ve been on this kick here for months now. This whole situation, us leaving the Big 12, our players didn’t choose to leave the Big 12. They came to play for the University of Texas. What conference we’re in — they’re just here to suit up in the orange and white and run out of the tunnel. So, whether the commissioner is rooting against our players to win or not, or whether we’re in the SEC or the Big 12, at the end of the day, our players just want to play good football and they just want to win.”

With a win, Texas will advance to the Big 12 Championship Game. However, with a loss, making that game isn’t guaranteed. So, the focus for Sarkisian is on the team itself right now.

“We’ve tried to consume ourselves with what we need to do. As you’ve heard me say, be enamored with us, and that’s something that we’ve done, and that’s been our focus and I think that’s why our players have been so poised and so composed, even on the road, as we go on the road and the success we’ve had there. Since we haven’t gotten caught up in what’s going on outside, we’ve really tried to quiet the noise. We’ve really tried to stay focused on one another and how we can continue to support one another.”

Sarkisian also confirmed that Yormark will be at the final game of the season, pointing out that he hopes to put on a good show for him.

“For the commissioner, we’ve had plenty of conversations and he is coming. I got a chance to see him, he was in Ames Saturday night. He’ll be here Friday,” Sarkisian said.

“Hopefully, we put on a heck of a show for him. That’s what I want. He’s the commissioner of our conference. I’m hopeful that when he watches us play, he’s proud of the way we play and represent the Big 12 because that’s the conference we’re in now.”

Regardless of who would hand over Texas’ first conference championship trophy since 2009, Steve Sarkisian’s goal right now is to win that championship.

Steve Sarkisian advocated for helmet communication

Amid the sign-stealing scandal at Michigan, Steve Sarkisian advocated for helmet communication with players on the field.

“Everybody write an article about why doesn’t college football have coach-to-player communication, so I don’t have to deal with sign stealing and I spend half my week changing signals and signs rather than coaching the game of football. So, yes, please. Write an article. It all makes sense to me. There’s no shortage of money in college football, clearly. That whole idea that it’s a competitive disadvantage for those that can’t do it, or that stadiums aren’t equipped to have that type of technology, I don’t buy it. I don’t understand it.” Sarkisian said.

“The fact that every time I turn on anything late at night and we’re talking about college football, if [it’s] not the first topic, the second topic is we’re talking about sign stealing,” Sarkisian said. “Our game is too good, there’s too many good stories going on right now in college football that that’s at the forefront of what we’re doing. It should be at the forefront because I think what was going on was wrong, but at the end of the day, that shouldn’t be at the forefront. There’s too many great stories. There’s too many great players around the country that are playing good football, too many teams that are playing good football right now for us not to be talking about those things. We’re talking about sign stealing. Let’s just fix the problem. It’s not that hard. Let’s get player-to-coach communication and move forward.”