Steve Sarkisian thanks Nick Saban for 'changing my professional life'

Texas‘ big win over Alabama this weekend came with plenty of storylines and fanfare, but one of them was the win of coach Steve Sarkisian over his former boss and mentor Nick Saban.

Following a tumultuous period in Sarkisian’s life in which he was fired at USC after reportedly showing up to several practices and even a game drunk, Saban hired Sarkisian as an analyst in 2016. Following Saturday’s win, Sarkisian thanked Saban profusely.

“I just continue to thank coach Saban, because I got into an environment where I was changing my personal life but at the same time I was changing my professional life,” Sarkisian said. “And the way he goes about his business is second to none. The discipline, the accountability in that program starts with him, because that’s the way he lives his life. There’s nothing for show with him. What he asks of the people in that organization is exactly what he asks of himself.”

As Sarkisian set out to make changes in his own life, he realized he had an opportunity. His story didn’t have to end in disgrace.

Of course, if not for Saban taking a chance on him, Sarkisian might have remained out of football for much longer. He was considered fairly toxic at the time Saban took him on.

That’s all a reminder to Sarkisian that he can pay it forward.

One of the things he’s tried to do in his own program is use his own missteps as an example of the impermanence of any particular state in life. If you want to change something, you can.

“I’m extremely transparent with my players,” Sarkisian said. “I think that my story and the path and the journey that I’ve been on is one that should be inspiring to a lot of people.”

With Texas back on the national radar in a big way following Saturday’s win, the platform for Sarkisian and the Longhorns is about to get a whole lot bigger.

That won’t make problems go away, though. It won’t make difficulties disappear.

So with that in mind, mirroring Sarkisian’s remarkable turnaround can be a point of pride for anyone in the program going through hardships.

“And I know for our players that deal with a lot of different things, whether it’s personal or at home or whatever that is, that I can serve as a sounding board to them,” Sarkisian said. “That the way things are today doesn’t have to be that way tomorrow if you’re willing to put forth the work and the effort and you surround yourself with really good people.”

Sarkisian is Exhibit A.