Steve Sarkisian reveals the worst, best plays he has ever called

Steve Sarkisian has been a playcaller for quite some time. Even when moving from an offensive coordinator to a head coach, Sarkisian kept the duty. After all, it’s why he’s considered one of the top head coaches in college football after sporting multiple elite offenses.

So, FOX’s Joel Klatt asked Sarkisian to reflect on his career thus far and figure out the worst and best play call.

The worst came to him instantly, being a moment Texas fans have remembered 20 years later. Calling a run play on fourth down for USC in the 2006 BCS National Championship game, with the Longhorns making a stand at the line of scrimmage.

“4th and 2, USC playing Texas in the national championship game,” Sarkisian said.

Klatt interjected, asking “You don’t like the call? You ran power. I think you averaged 12 yards per carry on that specific play with LenDale White.”

“Here’s my thing about play calling,” Sarkisian responded. “Play calls are good when they work. They’re terrible when the play doesn’t work. That’s the history of playcalling… That play I will never forget.”

Vince Young was given the ball back with just a few minutes left and the rest is history. Texas won the national championship while Sarkisian, despite now being in Austin, has bad memories of the moment.

Steve Sarkisian reflects on his best ever play call

Shifting to a more positive moment, Sarkisian says the best play call of his career was recent. Texas was in the Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma State, needing to whip up some magic. Sarkisian may have already had a seven-point lead but he pulled out a trick play to go up by two scores.

“We were playing Oklahoma State, Big 12 Championship game,” Sarkisian said. “I was sitting with Coach (AJ) Milwee, our quarterbacks coach the night before the game. We had an early kick and I said ‘The first time we get 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 3, I’m going with the odds — we’re getting man coverage.’

“We called a double reverse pass and had JT Sanders wide open for a touchdown. I said ‘That’s going to be the call. I don’t care if we’re on our own 10, that’s the call.’ And sure enough, it came up in the game and our guys hit it. When it hit the way that it hit, it was pretty special.”

Plenty of memorable play calls had to come to Sarkisian’s mind. Not just from his time at Texas but at USC, Washington, Alabama, and even his brief stint in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. But sometimes, your favorite ever call is in one of your more recent successes.