As Texas’ prepares to transition to the SEC, Steve Sarkisian keeps his focus on the present

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Even with one foot out the door and a scary new world awaiting in the SEC, Texas nonetheless might have to play three extra seasons in the Big 12.

As a lot as Longhorns soccer coach Steve Sarkisian is game-planning for the transition, this week’s Big 12 spring assembly underscored the fast future.

“For us, at the end of the day, we’re in the Big 12,” Sarkisian advised a small group of reporters Wednesday. “It’s important to know the direction of the conference and the direction of college football and where we’re going on a lot of these topics.”

“We’re in the Big 12 so we need to know [where] the conference is going.”

Sarkisian is paying shut consideration to the dialogue of whether or not the expanded Big 12 will go to divisions in soccer or not short-term, realizing the implications for Texas and fellow SEC defector Oklahoma.

“How do you play the necessary people to ensure we’re still playing OU in Dallas and doing those things?” Sarkisian mentioned. “I think it’s important to be in the meeting. Ultimately, we have great leadership. To be a part of it, we’re embracing it.”

For now, any dialogue of divisions or not is on maintain, Commissioner Bob Bowlsby mentioned Wednesday, pending doable NCAA deregulation.

Sarkisian’s take could also be a tad too constructive, given occasions since final September and lingering animosity.

The choice by Texas and OU to bolt put lots of stress on already current fault strains in the convention. Right now, the Longhorns and Sooners are members for some issues and never others.

With Big 12 athletic administrators nonetheless assembly earlier this week, Texas’ Chris Del Conte and OU’s Joe Castiglione have been dismissed early. The Big 12 discussing future advertising and marketing – with out Texas and OU in the image.

Sarkisian’s focus is far narrower. It just about has to be after a 5-7 debut season that couldn’t have gone a lot worse.

“One thing for us is we’ve been trying to impress upon our players, our coaches and all parties involved in our organization is we need to be where our feet are,” Sarkisian mentioned. “Right now we’re in the Big 12 and we need to focus on it.”

If something, Sarkisian appeared decided to flip the web page on 2021.

“I think some things kind of reinforced the thoughts I had,” Sarkisian mentioned. “We need to make sure ultimately the outcome of the result of our games is better than it was. We understand that. It’s not a secret to anybody.”

A fairly profitable offseason tour into the switch portal netted doubtless quarterback of the future Quinn Ewers and ratcheted up the talent stage. Several workers hires, together with former TCU coach Gary Patterson, might shore issues up.

He additionally stored the expertise on hand, which wasn’t a given. Recently, 247Sports reported that Texas had to react to a large six-figure NIL provide to lure star receiver Xavier Worthy into the switch portal. Sarkisian credited a forward-thinking method and a longtime relationship for preserving Worthy.

“I think we’ve had a good plan with NIL and how it all plays out,” Sarkisian mentioned. “I understand it. I get it. Xavier Worthy was a heckuva player, a freshman All-American, broke a lot of records. Of course people were going to use NIL to entice him to go to their schools. You have to be proactive on those things.”

While successful now in the Big 12 is essential, getting ready for what’s to are available in the SEC is the problem. A 40-21 loss at Arkansas final season re-enforced the dimension, pace and training Texas will finally face.

He’s not alone.

Earlier this week, new Oklahoma coach Brent Venables was requested when he’ll begin getting ready his program for the SEC.

“Yesterday,” he mentioned with a smile.

From his time as an offensive coordinator at Alabama together with a nationwide title run in 2020, Sarkisian grasps the panorama.

“They’ve done it the best, better than anybody the past decade, what coach [Nick] Saban has done,” Sarkisian mentioned. “I think the one thing we need to be conscious of is just not being Alabama. They’ve embodied coach Saban and what he’s about.

“There’s a lot of great aspects of that program that we can take with us but naturally we have to the things that we are comfortable doing and doing it in a way that best suits us.”

Unlike previous Texas coaches, Sarkisian mentioned he has not encountered political intrigue or booster stress.

“Ultimately, we got to start winning some more games, I’m not naive to that,” he mentioned. “As far as just people tugging and pulling and moving in different directions, no. I felt like everybody is moving in a positive direction.”

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