Steve Sarkisian: We have to find ways to overcome self inflicted problems

Steve Sarkisian met with the media following the Texas Longhorns’ third-straight loss and gave an honest assessment when asked about the small mental errors that have stifled his team as of late.

“I don’t know, I think sometimes psyche can get involved,” Sarkisian said when asked about how his team has gotten in its own way during key moments. “Whether it’s ‘I’m too relaxed, or I’m too tense,’ so everybody is a little different.

“It’s my job to push all of the right buttons so that all of our guys plays with the utmost confidence and belief to make their plays and they can do it.”

Steve Sarkisian used the offseason to implement a new culture for the Texas football program moving forward, and in the early part of the year, his players showed they were buying in.

“So that is encouraging, that we are capable of doing it,” the Longhorns frontman said of his team who have shown high highs and low lows through the course of the season.

While the last three losses have all come to ranked opponents, Texas has been in every game in the fourth quarter. The last two weeks were decided by eight points or less. Sarkisian says building the consistency has been the biggest challenge.

“The other part is the challenge,” Steve Sarkisian added.

“How do we get so we are doing it, sustain it and so that we are doing it for an extended period of time to continue to have the success we had early on?

“I think it’s kind of a double-edged sword because it gives you the hope that we can do it, but it also reminds you of maybe where we stubbed our toe over the last three weeks.”

Steve Sarkisian on new Longhorns goal

Now that Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor have all snatched victories away from Sarkisian’s squad late in games, the goal of claiming a Big 12 title is out of his reach.

With a 2-3 conference record, a lot of chaos would have to occur to see Texas in Arlington.

The schedule isn’t a cakewalk to close out the year, but Texas has a great opportunity ahead to right the ship in their upcoming road test at Iowa State. The Cyclones are fifth in the conference in scoring offense and third in scoring defense, holding teams to 19.6 points per game.

When asked about the team’s new goal for the season, Steve Sarkisian kept it clear and concise.

“Win this week,” the Longhorns coach said.

Texas and Iowa State is slated for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday night.