For the second time this season, Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian addressed rumors about his future in Austin.
“Before I join our team, I would like to comment on something that has been bothering me for the past few weeks: People have been reporting or implying that there is a possibility that I may leave the University of Texas, and this is completely false and untrue. I'm not going anywhere“I never do that because I never want to be a distraction, so I never do those things. At this point I feel like it's important because it's important for our team. This is important for our university.
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“I have not discussed with my agent, the university, any other school, or any NFL team the possibility of going anywhere else. I came here to win championships.”
ESPN analyst Desmond Howard said in a social media post this week that he “wouldn't be surprised if this Texas job opens up at the end of the season.” Howard said Texas and Sarkisian could “mutually part ways.”
Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte responded on social media: “This is news to me… Thank you for your understanding.”
The Longhorns, the preseason No. 1 team in the AP Top 25, lost to Georgia on Saturday to drop to 7-3 overall. They are ranked No. 17 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, likely too far back to make the playoffs even if they finish the regular season with wins over Arkansas and No. 3 Texas A&M.
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Another report last month said Sarkisian would be interested in returning to the NFL. Sarkisian's agents Jimmy Sexton and Ed Marinovitz issued a statement saying Sarkisian had not been in contact with NFL teams.
Sarkisian was the Raiders' defensive backs coach in 2004 and the Falcons' offensive coordinator in 2017-18.
Many coaches, most notably Nick Saban, insisted that they wouldn't go anywhere just for the sake of going somewhere else. So Sarkisian's announcement is unlikely to stop speculation until all NFL jobs are filled.
