Steve Sarkisian backs up Arch Manning after Texas crowd boos its QB1

Arch Manning can't seem to get out of his own way with yet another abysmal first-half performance just three weeks into his career as the Texas starting quarterback.

After starting 4-for-5 in the Longhorns' Week 3game against the UTEP Miners, Manning went into an undeniable slump, completing just one more pass during the entirety of the first half. He finished the first 30 minutes with five completions on 16 pass attempts for zero touchdowns and one interception.

After yet another failed drive, the crowd at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium erupted in a chorus of "boos" as Manning trotted off the field and back onto the sideline.

At halftime, in classic Steve Sarkisian fashion, the Longhorns' head coach defended his starting quarterback, despite the lack of results.

"I told Arch before the season, you've never really been a quarterback until they boo you," Sarkisian said at halftime. "He got booed in the first half, now he can start playing some football."

Despite the Longhorns securing an 11-point lead by the time the two teams were heading to their locker rooms, and Manning running in both of Texas's touchdowns, fans were clearly unhappy with their quarterback's performance.

In fact, just an hour into the game, people were flying to the internet to figure out who the Horns' backup quarterback was, ready for Manning to sit out for a play or two (at the very least).

Over the last two years, Sarkisian supported former Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers through thick and thin. So, Longhorn fans shouldn't find it surprising in the slightest that their head coach is doing the same with Manning, who backed up Ewers for the last two seasons.

At halftime of his third game as the true QB1, Manning had completed just 41 of his 76 pass attempts (less than 54 percent) for 534, five passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. He had only slightly redeemed himself with 84 rushing yards for three touchdowns on the ground.