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Optimism for Steve Sarkisian's future at Texas

On3 imageby:Bobby Burton•11/29/22•

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Steve Sarkisian (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

If you listened to Steve Sarkisian’s presser yesterday, you got the distinct feeling that Sarkisian is not divorced from reality like so many coaches are.

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He blamed himself for lack of a run game in a couple of key second half comebacks by opponents, and then said TCU was just a bad game overall.

That sounds about right to me.

And that’s what you want your head coach to do. Own up to his own faults. Because if he doesn’t own up to them, there’s no correcting them, there’s only confusion and passing the buck.

Learning from those shortfalls is exactly what Sarkisian did in the final two games of the season. He unleashed Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, and the Texas run game pounded opponents into submission.

In short, Sarkisian was introspective. He adapted.

Many will say that’s what he’s expected and paid to do. And they’re correct.

But we all recognize not all head coaches do that. Some are stubborn to a point of failure.

Sarkisian is far from perfect. No coach anywhere is. But I get the feeling his time in Austin is just starting to show signs of what this thing can become.

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Part of my optimism for Sarkisian is not just the product the Texas Longhorns put on the field this year. It’s also his ability to recruit, and add talent to the program year-over-year so that a path to sustained success is clear.

I’ll admit, when he was first hired, I did not expect that from him necessarily.

I figured he would be a decent recruiter. But not a borderline great one.

Yet that’s what he clearly has turned into.

Texas, after a 5-7 season, had a top five class. This year, the Horns will make the top 10 again.

And based on what I’m hearing behind the scenes, the portal should prove fruitful, too.

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Sarkisian still has some work ahead of him to fulfill his promise of a championship team at Texas.

But based on the improvement we have seen on the field this year and what we’re seeing on the recruiting trail, I see no reason for him not to lead Texas there eventually.

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