Texas HC Steve Sarkisian Talks CFP Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning & More with Rich Eisen | Full Interview

very excited to have this man on his Texas Longhorns made the national semi-finals last year and are highly touted coming into this year once again Steve sarkeesian back on the rich aen show how you doing coach I'm doing great Rich thanks for having me on buddy what do things look like for you middle of August where are we right now in your preps we're hot it's hot in Austin Texas I can tell you that you could do the traffic for me too right here on the three so excuse me I'm sorry no he could do the traffic and weather together right here yes exactly exactly no we uh essentially for us we wrapped up what we would call training camp Saturday okay uh we had our second scrimmage so that was about two and a half weeks of that and now this week we kind of do a a mock week you know we do a mock game kind of like our own preseason game uh this coming Saturday and we take the players through what a normal work week would look would look like uh from a meeting schedule practice plan so on and so forth and then next Monday we'll start school uh with that same schedule and then we open up with with Colorado State August 31st at 2:30 in Daryl K Royal Memorial Stadium so it's going to be a little bit warm in in the opener absolutely and then obviously the next week's game is one that that is certainly on my personal radar screen as well as that of so many other college football fans at Michigan have you ever been to the big house Steve I have never I have never been to the big house I've never been to Ann Arbor uh I'm excited I I think that's one of the Beauties now I will say this of you know a being at a Texas and playing in Michigan but also now with the college football playoff having expanding um that you we're not necessarily going to get punished you know either one of us if if the game doesn't go the way we want it to go um we're almost like you get rewarded for playing those games granted we're both in two great conferences in the SEC and in the Big 10 and and I think that's what the fans are looking for too are these types of early season games you know last last two years we played Alabama at a conference this year we we'll go to Michigan next year we go to Ohio State and so we look forward to those opportunities I know our kids do our our coaches do I think it it serves as a a great motivator in the in the off season uh knowing you're playing the the defending national champs uh on the road in the big house and it's it's a great opportunity for us but it's interesting how you know it because that is true I mean back in the day a game like this um the losers out you know what I mean week two loser out your your or your chances to win a National Championship hobbled is an understatement but now you know obviously you can move on it and there I say it it seems like it sounds more like professional football Steve in that regard I wouldn't I wouldn't I wouldn't venture too far off of what you're saying when you think about now the length of our season you know we're we're we're opening up August 31st Labor Day weekend um you know the national championship game is January 20th and you're you're talking about it may take six 16 to 17 games to try to go win a National Championship and so the fact that I can get our players some exposure against a really quality opponent um some players have some some some you know learn some some real valuable lessons in these games to get them ready hopefully for a potential playoff run I think is is huge you know and that to me that's not a whole lot different than the opening weekend of the NFL I mean I don't think it's on acent the NFL you know pit some great games you know those first Thursday night game that the first Monday night games those are some great games that are marquee matchups and so fact that we get to be one of those Marquee matchups in week two I think is awesome yeah do you think you're going to again obviously you want to win them all and you can't lose too many so that said do you think you're going to approach maybe October if not maybe early November football differently because you are knowing at that point in time you you should be one of the 12 right and and and you gota prep for that run like it's a different season now in that regard it really is it really is and what's different for us too unique for us now joining the SEC is we really get four non-conference games before we start you know regular season play you know in in essence if you look at it that way and so you know these first the first month of the Season those first four weeks you know and not to mention with the heat that we're playing in you know we really have to lean in and pour into our depth uh because I think one of the worst things we could do is is overwork the our Frontline guys too early in the season knowing what the gauntlet of the SEC is going to look like uh and then hopefully if we can do it right you know what the gauntlet of a college football playoff would look like and so I think that's where you really we really have to lean into our depth um and a lot of young players are going to have to play and that's been something that has been a um you know point of emphasis of ours in training camp is getting really our our developmental players you know ready to play if maybe not on offense defense at minimum on special teams well I would also Imagine in this world of transfer portal not like that's the way you operate and you're worried about it you know obviously you're you're in an outstanding spot with a lot going for it in without question but I mean playing kids and and getting them ready or or or making sure that the the young kids are are active helps on that front too I'm sort of you know like cobbling together the way things are in our new college football world with you because nobody knows how this is going to work right now Steve it's going to be unique you know I mean I think of nothing else that the college football playoff is going to be a different format I mean you know even that first weekend of the playoffs that we're going to have home college football playoff games you know there there we we may have to go on the road back to ant Arbor in week one you know of the of the playoff or to Notre Dame or we may host a team here what whatever that is right and so I think that's a unique component to it the length of the playf play offs as a unique component I think conference realignment is is is really intriguing for so many people this fall and you know so many people have complained about you know conference realignment and and rivalries you know being lost throughout it quite frankly for us we gained two Rivals back you know the opportunity for us to play Texas A&M again the opportunity for us to play Arkansas again to go along with you know the Red River rivalry against ouu uh those things are fantastic for us for our fans for our players um but but again I I think about all the time I spent at USC the fact that that USC and UCLA are in the Big 10 and they're they're playing Penn State and Wisconsin it seems unique to me and so I I'm intrigued as much as anybody just to kind of see uh how this season unfolds and then you know the future of college football how it unfolds Texas head coach Steve sarkeesian here on the Rich Eisen show so how how do you handle a quarterback depth chart and quarterback room with a kid like Quinn yers came year program and has shined there and is staying and somebody who is incredibly anticipated in Arch Manning sitting there waiting a turn how do you handle that Steve well I I think I think the first part is is you know we're trying to develop those guys at where they're at in the stage of their career and I think Quinn's development over his first two years in the program now going into year three uh unequivocally everybody who watches can see that um I think behind the scenes the de velopment Arch has had from year one to year two uh has has been tremendous as well and so you know for us hopefully Arch is going to get plenty of playing time that means we're probably playing pretty good and and he's going to get plenty of opportunities to get out there we need to play him we need to get him in games um you know the limited action he got last year he did a nice job uh he's a very talented young man he's got great work ethic but I think the biggest thing is he's got a great appreciation for Quinn too and and what Quinn's gone through to get him self to this point and so they've got they've got great rapport with one another great support with one another it's not the first time we've had you know multiple NFL type quarterbacks in the same quarterback room so I think we handle it uh the right way we're up front we're honest we we push all the guys in there to develop them to be the best they can be with the goal that when your number is called you can go out there and play really good football how has Arch improved and how can you measure that well I I you know our practices are extremely competitive and um you know I can see the development in his one his understanding of our scheme uh protections progressions he's really developed physically you know he's a really well put together guy he can run he's extremely athletic probably more athletic than his uncles maybe a little bit more like his like his like his grandpa but we'll see I'm sure he'll about hear about that from pton and Eli you're just telling the truth Steve you're just a truth teller that's it but uh but again the one thing I love about Arch is his rapport with his teammates you know he is an awesome teammate and uh I think that he they they he gets along with all of those guys and that that's one of the most key ingredients to be a great quarterback you you got to make sure that the guys around you are playing good football too and uh they all want to play well when he's in there and so it's it's a lot of fun you you just don't feel you know so many teams go out there the backup goes in and you feel a drop off um we're pretty fortunate you know Arch is a very talented guy he operates our system well so we're in a good situation do you have a good comp for Quinn yers anybody you've coached in the past college Pros any good comp for me on that front Steve sarkeesian for that's a tough one man I I struggle with the comps and and or the or the who was the best when you coach I this guy's got a natural ability to throw the football um you know that it's just it's so effortlessly effortless for him he's a better athlete than people think I I was joking with him last year I think we were five or six games into the year and he was leading the country for quarterbacks rushing touchdowns I said Quinn no one would have thought that that was you but uh he's probably a better athlete than most people think but he can make all the throws and um he's got you know NFL arm Talent he's got NFL uh you know head on his shoulders and uh he's a great leader so we're fortunate to have him Steve sarkees in Texas football head coach here on the Rich Eisen show let's talk a little bit about the kids you just sent to the next level um Xavier worthy give me a good story about how fast this kid is the the best story about him is his ability to run that fast all of the time and and that was something that you you you sometimes we kind of took for granted in practice you know his ability to practice with full speed Elite Speed all of the time the practice habits were really incredible um and and that's hard for guys to do and you know they they'll give you one you know post route or go ball but then to be able to turn it over and do it again and again and again is something that I I think is WI he can you know you you run fast because you practice running fast and that's that's something that he did in practice day in and day out and I think it shows and it's probably you know I see all the clips from from Kansas City's practice of him making these explosive plays because I just don't think he takes any plays off I got to tell you the moment at the combine I'm you know fortunate to do what I do for a living outside of this microphone where I'm sitting in the booth with Daniel Jeremiah he just ran I think a 425 unofficial and he's got one more run at it and we're just wondering is he going to do it again DJ is like he's he's close he's got to do it again the fact that he did it again and then broke the record is truly one of the most um breathtaking moments I've had in front of a microphone in my career I'm getting Goosebumps just even remind reminding myself of it just the I don't know what it was a sense of competition or or entertainment value because there was a ton of fans there that wanted him to do it and then he did it then he accomplished I'll never forget it never in my days forget it you know I I think one thing about our program is our guys do love to compete and I love the way that all our guys competed at the combine when they went you know I don't think anybody thought ad Mitchell was going to run what he ran right uh you know I I watched Jordan Winnington do what he did I watched kelen Robinson or Jonathan Brooks there even though you know he couldn't he couldn't work because of the knee but he was there the whole time and so um you know Byron Murphy and so hopefully for for us rich that I think we had 11 guys drafted last year 11 guys to the combine that that becomes really the norm for us you know plus or minus one or two guys year in and year out where now that that that Texas Longhorns are back at the NFL combine they're back part of the NFL draft and you know first round picks and and you know double digit guys getting picked year in and year out and you want to talk about a a leap from year one to year two the expectation level for Bon is through the roof in Atlanta what's your conversations with him in any way shape or form that you can sort of give us a light on on year two he's got a new scheme new new coaching staff what what can you yeah you know he he's pumped about Raheem you know rahee and I worked together for two years in Atlanta and became one of my best friends and uh I just think raheem's personality um and and Bon's personality is a great mix um they're going to get along extremely well uh and and that's that's half of it right you want to be pushed as a player um but you want to have that Rapport especially with your head coach and so um he's such a talent talented young guy and uh I know that last year was a tough year it's always a tough year your first year in the league and then you're not winning and and what does that feel like what does that look like but uh to bring Raheem back and and and to bring that offense you know back in something that is very similar to what he did in college with us I think that he's got a really good feel for what they're doing how they're going to use him and he's extremely positive about it when would you when did you realize he was that special when when was the first time well I had recruited him I just didn't get him I lost they they he uh he he came to Texas I was at Alabama we tried to get him there and so when I got here uh I turned on the tape from the season before and I actually had watched U their bowl game oddly enough against Colorado and he had a huge game uh in the alma bowl and I'm like man I remember that kid he was really good the thing about ban that that sometimes gets overlooked he's a better human being than he is football player and so that sometimes he's such a nice guy that that overshadows how much of a dog he is in between the lines I mean he he is a fantastic player and a guy who can really do everything last one for you were you surprised sa and retired Steve sarkeesian um surprised no um you know I knew it was inevitable at some point it was going to come um I would not have predicted it had been you know without him winning one more National Title I always feel like the greats find a way to to to ride off into the sunset after they win one more and I know they obviously got extremely close just as we did both those semi-final games came down to the last play um but what a tremendous career he had um and what a what an impact he had on my life U not only as a coach but as a person and a man uh forever grateful to him uh but I think he's loving life right now I think he's doing great on TV I think he loves playing golf and so um you know he's uh I think he's I think he's in a good spot well I heard he's also trying to figure out the Rubik's cube of n IL and portal and everything about the future of the game as well right he's yeah no he definitely definitely has an impact on that and and you know guys like myself or Kirby or Lane and you know all of us we still tap into them you know the guy's just a you know plethora of information and knowledge and so um you know he is working I think with a lot with the SEC and in college football and how to keep making our game better well Steve sarkeesian it's very rare for me in this business to talk to somebody and have a good time talking to that person who has the potential to make me very miserable in about a month's time but hey are you coming to the game I no that's week one of the NFL season so yeah I mean that's a big weekend in football in Michigan your game with the with the Wolverines and then the the Lions host the the Rams that next night for the first Sunday night game it's going to be a huge football weekend in Michigan so no I will not be why did you want to you know I thought maybe you'd be honorary captain or something I know no have you passed that through your minister of uh of quan or what what what what what what's his I don't know what his uh title culture yes the culture Minister would I don't know if mccon would say yes to that one yeah you know I was just checking he'd probably give me a shovel and say follow bivo around is what probably what he would say on that night but uh I appreciate the time good luck to you Steve I I really always appreciate our conversations thank you thanks R see you buddy you got Steve sarkeesian everybody head coach of Texas longor football who again can make me very very miserable the first weekend of that's a good weekend for me professionally you know what I mean like it's big for me NFL Network Sunday game day morning that's um great weekend Sunday game day morning um I've got a 4 a.m. call time the day after that game fire up the PJ I mean you know what I'm saying oh God the pajamas just you know really I don't know peanut butter and jelly yeah exactly the we know people just say peanut jelly I don't know what you're referring to the rich eyes in show PJ okay catch the rich and show every single day on the Roku Channel 12 to 3 Eastern for free