Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian, known for his selective presence on social media, made a rare post this week that quickly caught the attention of the college football world.
The post, quoting NBA legend Kobe Bryant, read: “Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.”
While Sarkisian’s post seemed like an innocent reflection, it appeared to be aimed at recent comments made by former NFL MVP Cam Newton.
Newton had voiced his opinion on the Texas program and Sarkisian’s leadership in a recent podcast episode, and his remarks seem to have sparked a reaction from the Longhorns’ head coach.
Newton, who spent the majority of his career with the Carolina Panthers, took a direct jab at Texas’ culture-building efforts, suggesting that the program’s success wasn’t solely based on the development of a strong team culture but on the financial backing of its boosters.
“Look, Coach Sarkisian, all that stuff is cool. Building a culture does take time, but having the boosters attached to the University of Texas also helps,” Newton said.
“Hello? They have the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation and probably the No. 1 spend in the nation. C’mon dog. C’mon bro. I’m not trying to discredit the importance of building a culture. It takes time. But come on.”
Newton continued, making a broader statement about the state of college football, particularly the role of NIL deals in shaping teams.
“Any great coach knows that they need great players. Nowadays, these players are a great expense,” Newton continued.
“We’re going to look back at how college sports were impacted by NIL and find a commonality that teams who are winning are spending a lot of money. I’m not going to be the bearer of bad news, but I’ll be the processor of real news.”
While Sarkisian did not directly address Newton’s comments, his post referencing Kobe Bryant’s famous quote suggests that the criticism may have struck a nerve.
In the world of college football, where the spotlight is often intense, Sarkisian’s cryptic response indicates that he and the Longhorns may use the outside noise as motivation heading into the upcoming season.
Texas, accustomed to being the subject of scrutiny, will get their first chance to silence doubters when they face the Ohio State Buckeyes in their 2025 season opener on Saturday, August 30. (Think that game might do decent ratings?)
It’s clear that for Sarkisian and his team, the “haters” are only a signal of the program’s elite status.
What are your thoughts on Newton’s comments and Sark’s (apparent) reaction to them???
