When Nick Saban shockingly stepped down as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, several names were thrown out as possible replacements.
The “Golden Boy” Dan Lanning was one. Old friend Lane Kiffin was another. As was current Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian…
Sarkisian of course has ties to the Crimson Tide program.
Once thought to be the possible coach in-waiting, Sark reportedly turned down opportunities elsewhere to stay in Tuscaloosa knowing he had a chance to maybe one day take over for Saban.
However, when the Longhorns came calling back in 2021, Sark (and Saban) knew it was an opportunity too good to pass up.
It may have taken a little while to get rolling, but all-in-all, Sark has built a strong foundation in Austin.
Fresh off an appearance (and crushing loss) in the CFB Playoff, Sark and the Longhorns figure to contend for the national title once again next season.
Having said that, there were some who were surprised that Sark didn’t make the trek back to Tuscaloosa to take over for Saban.
Despite what’s been said publicly, the true level of interest that Alabama may or may not have had in Sark is unclear.
The Tide ended up getting their guy in Kalen DeBoer who came over from Washington. An old-school, no-nonsense football-lifer, DeBoer has hit the ground running and seems like a great fit.
However, Sarkisian did admit that the idea of taking over for Saban certainly crossed his mind.
“Naturally, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it,” Sarkisian told ESPN. “But it took me all of about 60 seconds to say, ‘Yeah, I’m not doing that.’ I had an awesome two years at Alabama and loved my time under Coach Saban, but ultimately you want to reap what you sow.”
Sarkisian emphasized his commitment to Texas, citing the progress made by the program over the past three years and expressing optimism about the future.
“We’ve poured a ton into this program for three years, and we’re on the cusp, I think, of going on a run that will be epic. I believe that,” he said. “Our staff does, and our players do, too, just the support we have and the culture we’ve created here. Why leave something like that?”
“We have to continue to build the team, and when I say team, I mean culture,” he added.
With quarterback Quinn Ewers returning to Austin, Sark knows he has plenty to look forward to this coming season.
“We’re going to be plenty talented, right? I’m not concerned about us being talented. It’s making sure that we’re playing at our best when our best is needed in the critical moments of games, and you play your best when you trust the guy next to you or when you can be accountable to the guy next to you and not feel like you have to go out on your own and do something out of character … We’ve got to live every day that way.”
“I think that’s something we’ve done a great job of over four years, and I’m not trying to be arrogant in saying that. I just believe that. I think we have the best culture in college football, but we have to recreate it every year. Culture doesn’t just carry over from one year to the next.”
Ewers praised Sarkisian’s leadership and vision for the program, highlighting the strong camaraderie among players as a testament to Sark’s ability to build a special environment in Austin.
“We had a lot of veteran guys, guys who had been on this team for three years, had been through the coaching change, had been through all the ups and downs … Coach Sark came in and kept guys he wanted to keep around and said goodbye to others, but I could tell that he was building something special,” Ewers told ESPN.
Ewers is every bit as excited for the upcoming season as Sark is.
“We kind of know what it takes to get where we want to go and what more we need to do,” Ewers continued. “Obviously, (last year) wasn’t enough, so we know we need to take that extra step whether it’s on the field or off the field, but it definitely left a dry taste in our mouth.”
As far as the thought of Sark possibly leaving Texas for Alabama, Ewers said it “never” crossed his mind.
“I knew that he wanted to be here and knew he wanted to win here. He talks about it all the time. He tells us he wants to retire here and win a bunch of national championships here, and he’s convicted when he says it,” Ewers said.
The road will get tougher for Sark and the Longhorns as they officially enter the SEC Conference … But the one thing that won’t be a problem for them is confidence.
“We’re building something here that I think is going to be sustainable for a long, long time,” Sarkisian said.
What are your thoughts on Sark – at least temporarily – considering the Alabama job?
Did the Tide even want him???
Getting back to actual reality, what are your thoughts on the DeBoer hire?
Was he truly the best man for the job?
Which team – Texas or Alabama – enters the 2024 season as the stronger contender???