WATCH: Steve Sarkisian reveals the maddest he ever made Nick Saban

Steve Sarkisian first worked for Nick Saban at Alabama in 2016 before returning from 2019-20 and, eventually, becoming the head coach at Texas. In that time, Sarkisian went through a rite of passage as a Saban assistant by making the legendary coach mad.

But one instance stood out above the rest.

When Sarkisian came back to Alabama in 2019, he was transitioning from two years as the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator. As he adjusted, he had to try to balance putting his touch on Saban’s offense and catering to the players’ strengths. That’s when a practice took a turn — and Saban’s straw hat came off.

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“We were in training camp year one, so 2019,” Sarkisian told CBS Austin’s Bob Ballou. “I was new back as a coordinator, so I was implementing some things to go along with the offense that was in place. He was asking for a specific formation, and I could not get it right. I was calling formations based off of how I know them. He wanted to make sure that I knew that they were learning some of my new stuff and that I needed to learn their way, as well.

“The straw hat flew, the practice stopped and I was kind of stuck out in the middle of the field thinking, ‘Man, I just want to get this stupid formation right and get him off my ass.’ Anyway, you’ve never coached at Alabama if you haven’t gotten your ass ripped by Coach Saban. I got a good ass-chewing from him.”

Saturday, Sarkisian will have an opportunity to try and get the better of his old boss when Texas and Alabama square off at 11 a.m. CT at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium.

Steve Sarkisian explains decision to return for second stint with Nick Saban, Alabama in 2019: ‘I owed him’

Steve Sarkisian will see his former team this weekend, with the Alabama Crimson Tide making a trip to Austin. Serving time as an analyst and offensive coordinator while Tuscaloosa, Sarkisian has been asked plenty about his old job.

He explained his decision to make a return despite leaving at one point for the NFL.

“I enjoyed my experience in Atlanta with Dan Quinn and the Falcons,” said Sarkisian. “At the time, that’s what I thought I was destined to do, was to be in the NFL. I enjoyed it, had a great experience. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, all those guys I had there.”