Criticism of Steve Sarkisian’s comments on Alabama football unwarranted

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Keyboard keynotes…

Did I miss Steve Sarkisian saying he doesn’t think Texas can beat Alabama on Saturday?

Did he wave some sort of white flag or otherwise signal that his Longhorns just aren’t up to the task of winning in their own house?

Based on the aftermath of the Texas coach’s remarks on Monday, you’d have to think so:

“I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is like, ‘this is gonna be the game that’s gonna define our program’. It might, it might not,” the former Alabama offensive coordinator said. “I’m not that concerned about it. I’m more concerned about just the way we play the game. I’ve said all along: My goal is to be in Dallas (in the Big 12 title game) on Dec. 3 .This game has no impact on that.”

Twitter pounced. Websites that thrive on pouncing pounced.

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How dare the coach of this storied program frame the significance of a game against the top-ranked team in the country (Saturday 11 am CT, FOX) as anything other than a must-win, right?

Wrong.

There’s nothing inaccurate about anything Sarkisian said, and if it was tone-deaf, it’s the tone that’s the problem. Never mind that Sarkisian’s goal of a Big 12 championship is lofty enough for a school that hasn’t won one since (gulp) the year it lost to you-know-who for the 2009national title. Never mind that a loss to Alabama wouldn’t necessarily kill the higher goal of a playoff berth.

Had Sarkisian made these remarks ahead of a November non-conference game where a playoff berth was plainly at stake, condemnation would be more understandable. In early September, it’s the kind of overreaction that drives coaches to communicate strictly in boring coachespeak. Programs like Texas, Alabama and plenty of others pay football coaches millions whether they win or lose, and millions more when they’re fired and bought out. That makes them pretty easy to target with legitimate criticism, especially when their performance is reflected on a scoreboard every week.

The scoreboard wasn’t turned on Monday. And the microphone that was merely delivered a truth some didn’t want to hear.

But does he own a tow truck?

Do they make bumper stickers that say “My other car is an Aston Martin”? Maybe that would’ve spared Texas QB Quinn Ewers from getting his Porsche towed during the Longhorns’ season-opening win over Louisiana-Monroe last week. With all of one start under his belt as a college quarterback, he’s apparently got both, thanks to an incredible NIL windfall.

Notwithstanding the $200 setback to get the Porsche off the tow lot, reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, it was probably wise of Ewers to leave the Aston Martin in the garage and take the “cheap” car to the game. He might want to take a used Toyota to the game this week. After a day facing the Crimson Tide defense, I wouldn’t want my six-figure ride identifiable as Texas’ 100,119-capacity stadium empties.

Nick Saban thanks the media?

Alabama coach Nick Saban thanked local media Wednesday for a question about the “horns down” hand gesture, popular with Texas’ Big 12 rivals, which can draw an unsportsmanlike conduct flag. Consider it added to his pre-game checklist. “We got a lot of other things we need to really worry about,” Saban said, “but I think thats a good thing for me to go over with the team, so I appreciate that. Assuming no such flag flies against the Crimson Tide , we’ll never know if the press corps saved Alabama 15 yards.

Football school? We’ll see

It’s appropriate that the Kentucky-Florida game is being played in the Sunshine State, because no other Week 2 SEC intraconference game will shed more light on both teams than this one. That goes double for UK, which hasn’t already taken down a top-10 opponent like Florida has.

100 years ago

Alabama’s last trip to Austin: Texas 19, Alabama 10 in 1922. A century later, UT has about as much chance of holding Alabama’s offense to 10 points as the Million Dollar Band has of sitting on the front row.

SEC spread pick of the week: Tennessee -6.5 at Pitt. Season: 0-1.

Reach Chase Goodbread at [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.

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