LIVE UPDATES: Steve Sarkisian recaps Texas Tech, previews Big 12 Championship versus Oklahoma State
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will be available to the media at 11:30 a.m. on Monday to recap the Longhorns’ 57-7 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders and look forward to his team’s matchup with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12 Championship game.
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Longhorn Network will televise the press conference. It will also be available on TexasSports.com
Updates from Steve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian: “I can’t thank all of our supporters enough. Looking forward to seeing everybody in Arlington here Saturday for a great showing and a great turnout of burnt orange in the stands.”
Steve Sarkisian: “I thought our defense and special teams were really just terrific Friday night. They really controlled the field position in the game. Any time you can create three turnovers, have a TOD, block a punt, return a kickoff for a touchdown, and create explosive returns in the punt return game as well as when you punt the ball to pin them down deep in their own end twice, that’s controlling the game.”
Steve Sarkisian: “Having our third rusher this year go for over 100 yards in Jaydon Blue I think just continues to show the depth in that running back room.”
Steve Sarkisian: “One thing about our team that I’m excited about and that I continue to praises us for is the fact that we can win games in a lot of different ways and our style of play can travel because whatever is needed for that game, we’re more than capable of playing that style of game and being effective.”
Steve Sarkisian: “We’re headed to Arlington Saturday at 11 a.m. competing for a Big 12 Championship. Quite frankly, that’s been our mission and that’s been our focus all year, to be champions this year.”
Steve Sarkisian says Ollie Gordon “gets stronger as the game goes on” and says he can get he hard yards in between the tackles but can also make explosive plays.
Steve Sarkisian on what Quinn Ewers learned last year against OSU: “I think he’s learning how to respond to those things, to learn from them, then put them to the side and focus on the next task, the next play, and what’s asked of him.”
Steve Sarkisian on Malik Muhammad, says he has a high football IQ, is a highly competitive player, and plays with a competitive spirit: “He plays the game with some emotion. I think inevitably for him, when he can play at the line of scrimmage and he can play a physical brand of football, I think that’s best suited for him.”
Steve Sarkisian on DJ Campbell: “For as big and as burly and as nasty as he is when he plays, he has got this kid-like humor about him off the field where he really has a lot of fun. In and around the building, even on the field, he’s the one lineman and we joke with him all the time, he dresses like a WR when he comes to practice. He’s got tights and wristbands and all this stuff on and when the music plays, he’s the one dancing of the lineman. He’s got a playful nature about him and then in turn he’s got a great connection with his teammates.” — “The one thing he possesses is a physical mentality and a physical nature with which he plays the position, which I think plays into the hands of our style of play.”
Steve Sarkisian on if his team is a CFP contender: “Why wouldn’t I? — “There is no College Football Playoff talk if we don’t play a really good game Saturday and try to find a way to win that game. If that happens, then there’s another discussion to be had.”
Steve Sarkisian on T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy: “They both have had fantastic seasons. I believe they’re the best tandem in the country from what I can watch and the teams we played against. They worked so well together.” — Says Sweat has athleticism for a big man and can impact the game in a variety of ways. Calls Murphy “such a penetrator, such a bulldog. His effort is through the roof.” — “I’m hopeful one of them is the Big 12 defensive player of the year and the other one is the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year. I think they’re more than deserving of that.”
Steve Sarkisian says he does a self-audit at the end of every season that is part of his program wide look. “I’ve enjoyed this season, I’ll say that. I really feel connected to this team. I feel like as much as I’ve been connected to the offense… I feel like my connection with our defensive players and my connection with our specialists has been one that’s probably as good as it’s been in my time as a head coach.”
Steve Sarkisian on being in the Playoff conversation: “It’s awesome. One thing I talked to the team about today actually on that point is we didn’t come this far just to come this far. There’s more out there for us to accomplish, and that was a great celebration Friday night, but that wasn’t the end. That was another checkpoint in the journey. To think about the rare air… and to think in the last 27 years there’s only been three conference championships, and we’re playing for one on Saturday where we can put our year up on that stadium forever? That means a lot.”
Steve Sarkisian says his program instituted Culture Wednesdays in 2022 as part of the process of building trust within his program and that his guys responded well to it.
Steve Sarkisian on “playing fast”: “You have the ability to play fast when you know what to do. Anytime you have doubt or you’re wondering or you’re uncertain, your tendency is to play slower. Your reaction time is a little bit slower because you want to make sure ‘am I right?’ And when you’re playing that way you’re always going to be a step behind.” — Credits coaching staff, communication among the players, and practice habits that have kept the team in the right position.
Steve Sarkisian said they didn’t have pads on at all last week in practice in order to save his players some hits and because he trusted their mental focus.
Steve Sarkisian on OSU: “They’re capable of being a very dangerous team, one that can play at a very high level, and match the quality of the opponent.” — Says the Cowboys LB corps may be the best Texas faces this year.
Steve Sarkisian: “Our focus is on Saturday. I love the idea that I can compartmentalize some stuff, but this needs all of our undivided attention here going into the ballgame on Saturday.” — Says the personnel department will monitor the portal as guys enter. They have an idea of places they might have depth concerns and if a player enters, they’ll start evaluating those players.
