Tough All Day: How Roger Clemens inspired Steve Sarkisian's Texas program slogan

Over the last two years, the slogan “Tough All Day” has become a staple around the Texas football program. Steve Sarkisian first used the phrase on social media in 2023, and it’s become a staple as the Longhorns head to the SEC.

As it turns out, the inspiration for the slogan came from someone Sarkisian grew up watching as a young baseball fan. He just so happens to be a Texas legend, too.

Sarkisian recalled watching Roger Clemens play in the early part of his career. “Rocket,” as they called him, was on the Boston Red Sox team that went to the 1986 World Series – the year of the famous “Bill Buckner Game” against the New York Mets. While Boston made its run, a young Sarkisian looked on and developed a love for baseball.

“I grew up a baseball guy,” Sarkisian said. “So we grew up watching the Red Sox. At the time, ’86 World Series Roger Clemens was the ‘Rocket Man.’ He was amazing.”

Of course, Clemens put together a decorated MLB career with the Red Sox, New York Yankees and Houston Astros. He won seven Cy Young awards and was the 1986 MVP with Boston. But it all started in Austin, where Clemens was a two-time All-American and a College World Series champion, and he stays close to his alma mater.

One year after Sarkisian took over as Texas’ head coach, a marquee game waited in Week 2. Alabama was coming to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium for a highly anticipated Week 2 matchup, which notably put Sarkisian against his former boss, the legendary Nick Saban, for the first time.

The hype started building right away. College GameDay was in Austin for the matchup, and the stars were out in full force. That included Clemens – and the day eventually led to a full-circle moment for Sarkisian.

“So, we’re playing Alabama in ’22,” Sarkisian said. “I’m on the sideline, and I look to my left and I’m like, ‘That’s Roger Clemens,’ who was a great pitcher here at the University of Texas. I said, ‘I’m a huge fan, man. You were the man. I loved watching you pitch, I loved your command on the mound, your presence.'”

Shortly after that close loss to Alabama, Sarkisian got a gift. It was an autographed Red Sox jersey from Clemens, and it featured a special message to the Texas head coach.

The inscription also included a phrase addressed to Coach Sark. Sarkisian then turned it into a rallying cry for the program as the Longhorns established an identity.

“The next week, I get this Red Sox jersey,” Sarkisian said. “‘MVP,’ ‘Cy Young,’ the whole thing. And he wrote on here, ‘Tough All Day! Rocket.’

“‘Tough All Day’ now is our slogan here because that’s what it takes. ‘Texas Tough’ is ‘Tough All Day.'”

It’s safe to say, it’s working. Texas made a run to its first-ever College Football Playoff in 2023 and won one final Big 12 title before heading to the SEC, a fitting farewell to the conference of which the Longhorns were a charter member.

With plenty of pieces left from that team, coupled with some talented newcomers, Texas appears ready to take on the SEC after being picked second in the league’s preseason poll. If Steve Sarkisian and Co. have their way, the Longhorns will be “Tough All Day” while they look to return to the CFP.