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Now in the SEC, Steve Sarkisian says "we have to go hunt week in and week out as well"

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•07/01/24•

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Steve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK)

July 1 is here, which means the Texas Longhorns are in the Southeastern Conference. Steve Sarkisian‘s program joins the most high-profile league in college football and arguably enters at a position of strength topped only by the dominant Georgia Bulldogs.

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Texas did great things during its final year in the Big 12. But what needs to happen for UT to continue to do great things as members of a new league?

Sarkisian was on the set of the SEC Network on Sunday, discussing the topic with Laura Rutledge, Paul Finebaum, and others in Austin as part of the school’s SEC Celebration.

“That’s the challenge, right? That level of consistency that’s needed,” Sarkisian said. “Not having to just get up for a game or two, it’s about playing a brand and a style of football consistently. That starts in the offseason. If there’s anything you take from a Nick Saban, that level of discipline and consistency he had for himself permeating throughout that entire building and that team. You take some of those things from people that were your mentors.”

One of those things was how much effort it takes not just to win one week, but one week after another and another. Sarkisian said Saban was one of his biggest influences in that regard, and that he learned a lesson from the G.O.A.T. in instilling what his program should avoid at all costs.

“Complacency is the devil right now,” Sarkisian said. “We have got to stay driven, we have got to stay focused, and we need to understand when we walk out of that tunnel with that helmet on, we’re the target. We’re the hunted. We have to go hunt week in and week out as well.”

Sarkisian is often quick to admit that the program’s success in the 2023 season, and the opportunities ahead at more greatness, would not be possible without the support of the administration. UT System Board of Regents chairman Kevin Eltife, UT president Jay Hartzell, and athletic director Chris Del Conte were given their due praise by Sarkisian on the SEC Network set for making sure Sark has everything his program needs to compete at the highest level even after a tumultuous start to his tenure as head coach.

“A ton of credit goes to Chris Del Conte, our athletic director, President Hartzell, Chairman Eltife, for them trusting me to come here and believing in it, (and) to go do it the way we felt like we needed to do it,” Sarkisian said. “You guys are going to visit with CDC here in a little bit, but he always talks about getting us aligned. The fact that we’re aligned from the chairman of the board, to the president, the athletic director, to me, then them trusting what was needed to get done to where we wanted to go.

That process took almost three years, but the results were worth it for Texas and Sarkisian believes they can do more of the same.

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“That was changing a roster,” Sarkisian said. “That was changing a mentality. That was changing a culture. That was the recruiting the types of players that are needed to compete in this conference. I’m probably more appreciative of them, and so appreciative of our fans and the support, because 5-7 was not fun in year one. I can promise you that. To get to where we are today and the type of roster that we have, some of the success we had last year, it’s been really gratifying.”

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