Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian took to the stage at Big 12 Media Days at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, for the final time on the afternoon of July 12. For the last time, Sarkisian talked to the media during his stage time and with breakout interviews on the first of two Big 12 Media Days this week before this program leaves for the SEC in 2024.
The Longhorns also had five players at Jerry World in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex representing the program at Big 12 Media Days. The five players representing the Longhorns on July 12 are senior linebacker Jaylan Ford, senior defensive back Jahdae Barron, redshirt senior wide receiver Jordan Whittington, junior wide receiver Xavier Worthy, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Texas carried Big 12 title expectations into media days this week after being picked by the media to top the conference in the preseason poll. The Longhorns also tied for the most All-Big 12 preseason team selections with five, including the preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Ford.
Takeaways from Steve Sarkisian and Texas football at Big 12 Media Days
Here are three takeaways from Sark’s press conference at Big 12 Media Days on July 12.
https://twitter.com/TexasLonghorns/status/1679235801639419904
Texas gets straight down to business
Sark’s confidence was noticeable during his time on the main stage, talking with ESPN reporters, and during the breakout interviews and reporter sessions at Big 12 Media Days. He was straightforward but well-intentioned in how he answered questions and went about his business on day one of Big 12 Media Days.
Sark on this last year in the Big 12: "We’ve got a roster full of players that, quite frankly, came to the University of Texas to win a Big 12 championship. We’ve got one more opportunity to do that, and I think our guys are focused on that so it won’t be awkward from our end.”
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) July 12, 2023
He didn’t spill too much when answering questions about the championship-level expectations for the Longhorns in 2023, along with the challenging Week 2 road matchup against head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Sark on facing Alabama on the road: "We're going to get everyone's best shot, Alabama is no different. Coach Saban is going to have that team ready to play. We have to make sure they get our best shot."
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) July 12, 2023
But he repeatedly mentioned how this team will be fast, aggressive, and competitive on the field this fall. You can tell that Sark likes his group of players this season and that this team will have a business-like mentality in its final year in the Big 12.