Texas Football Player Steve Sarkisian Sends Emotional Message to Nick Saban at SEC Media Days

Nick Saban is no longer the head coach of the Alabama football team, but he has been a big topic of conversation at SEC media days this week. He is also in attendance at SEC media days for his new position with Radio France International. A lot of coaches have talked about Saban this week, and one of them is Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian was an assistant under Saban, but he ended up beating the legendary coach when the Longhorns played the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last year.

Steve Sarkisian and Nick Saban know each other very well, having worked together and then played against each other. The Texas and Alabama football teams have played each other in the last two seasons, and both won a game.

Sarkisian had a lot of good things to say about Saban at SEC media days. He doesn’t think he would be in the position he is today without him.

“No one has been as touched by you as I have been,” Sarkisian said, according to a message from Brett McMurphy. “I wouldn’t be here without you. You’ve been everything I could have ever been to my career and my life. I can’t thank you enough.”

Nick Saban had a big impact on a lot of his assistants, and Steve Sarkisian is clearly one of those who had a big impact. Sarkisian is now the head coach of one of the best teams in college football and a team that is coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff.

Texas football returns to SEC rivalries

Texas football will play Alabama more often now that it’s in the SEC, but it also gets a few of its rivalry games back. Texas A&M and the Longhorns don’t like each other much because they both reside in the Lone Star State, and Texas also has a renewed rivalry with Arkansas. Steve Sarkisian is excited about the return of those two matchups.

“We’re one of the few schools with realignment where we got some rivalries back,” Sarkisian said, according to a message from Brett McMurphy.

Most teams that change conferences lose rivalries. Texas’ biggest rival is Oklahoma, which is also in the SEC now. This change works well for the Longhorns.

This move is a huge step forward for Texas. Sarkisian understands how good the SEC is, and it’s definitely a step up from the Big 12. The Longhorns’ goal right now is to earn the respect of other teams in the conference.

“The key word is respect,” Sarkisian said. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for the teams, the players and the fans. This is the elite conference. On the other hand, we have to earn their respect. That’s what will be at the forefront of what we do.”

The Texas football team shouldn’t have too much trouble earning that respect. They’re expected to be one of the best teams in the SEC and the country this season, so they should be able to show the rest of the conference that they belong. This should be an exciting season for the Longhorns.