Steve Sarkisian showed Notre Dame upset to Texas players to encourage focus
Surviving with a target on your back is easier said than done and learning how to do that might be one of Texas‘ biggest challenges under Steve Sarkisian in Year 4.
The Longhorns have started off 2-0 and are considered one of the favorites to win the SEC. They’re currently ranked second nationally.
But the Texas coach has two primary mantras that he thinks should help his team avoid the fate of other top teams that have succumbed to the pressure and expectations. Or the fanfare and the hype.
“I think one is we try to hold ourselves to our standard,” Sarkisian said. “We have a saying around here, ‘the standard is the standard.’ And a jersey, a helmet, a stadium doesn’t dictate how we prepare. We dictate how we prepare. I think that’s the first part.”
Watch College Football Games Live -Try for Free Fubo! Click HERE NOW
Save $30 on your first month of Fubo by CLICKING HERE NOW! For a limited time, you can get your first month of Fubo for as low as $49.99. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and 200+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
That’s a very Nick Saban-like approach to things, which shouldn’t come as a huge surprise given Sarkisian’s path through coaching. But it’s not the lone solution to the problem at Texas.
The other is being aware of your limitations and constantly staying on guard against them. It’s about being proactive.
“The second part is human nature is human nature,” Sarkisian said. “So what did I do this morning? I walked them through the Notre Dame scenario of them going into College Station a week ago and winning that game and being anointed a top-five team and in the College Football Playoff and a week later losing to Northern Illinois.
“So I showed that clip of the field goal. And I showed the chip of Northern Illinois storming the field this morning as a good reminder that we are entitled to nothing.”
Entitled to nothing, though, does not mean you aren’t in position to win everything. There’s a distinction there.
Texas is well-positioned to strike this season, one year removed from a College Football Playoff appearance that taught everyone quite a bit. It’s just a matter of approach.
“We’re capable of anything,” Sarkisian said. “We’ve got a really good team. But we’re entitled to nothing and we’re going to earn everything we get, and we’re going to have to earn the victory here Saturday night.”
Texas is set to host UTSA on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN.