Chris Del Conte: Steve Sarkisian is ‘Right Man’ to Lead Program
It still sounds like Steve Sarkisian has support from his administration, regardless of how good Vegas thinks his chances are of getting canned. In a weekly letter to the public, aptly named Forty Acre Insider, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte mentioned the conversation he had with Sarkisian after a disappointing 31-23 defeat at the hands of West Virginia:
”After the hard-fought 31-23 loss at West Virginia, I watched as several of our student-athletes, some younger ones, and other veterans, spoke to the media along with Coach Sark after the game. I continue to be so impressed by how they handle themselves and represent our program. And I do know we have the right man leading it in Coach Sark with how he answered a question about handling the adversity and outside noise during Monday’s press conference.
“I echo his sentiments: ‘I’m built for it. That’s how I feel; I’m built for this. You know, there’s a lot that comes at you, and I think my level of perseverance, my level of compartmentalizing some of the issues that we’ve been faced with is a direct reflection of how our team deals with some of the things that we’ve been faced with. And ultimately, a lot of the things that we’ve been through this year are actually going to be really good for us (and will) have hardened us for potential things that are going to come down the road.
“We are Texas Tough and will bounce back. The pride and winning tradition of the Texas Longhorns will not be entrusted to the weak or the timid. We are built to handle any and every challenge sent our way, and our team got right back to work again this week.”
This is the right move by Texas because it’s obvious that a coaching change is not the fix in Austin, as they are on their third staff since 2014. The Texas program needs consistency and stability, not the next big name. Hopefully, for Sark, this confidence doesn’t wane if the Longhorns aren’t able to pull off a win this Saturday against Kansas State, who we have as the fourth-best team in the conference in this week’s power rankings. It could be another rough week for Sark and Co. after clinching a losing season in last week’s loss, something that hasn’t been done by a first-year coach at Texas since 1937, according to CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah.
Texas hosts the Kansas State Wildcats on Black Friday in the season finale for the Longhorns. Meanwhile, Kansas State will try to secure a win before, in all likelihood, heading to the Cheez-It Bowl.
