Tom Herman’s tenure at Texas came to an inevitable end just as the New Year turned. On the field results with losses to Iowa State, TCU, and Oklahoma, paired with off the field issues was enough to see the Longhorns move in a different direction.
A plethora of names were rumored to be taking over. Urban Meyer and Matt Campbell were both considered before Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was given the reigns. He finished his national championship season with the Crimson Tide before hitting the ground running in Austin.
ESPN graded all of the new coaching hires in college football, saying Sarkisian replacing Herman was an A-. The development of quarterbacks in Tuscaloosa and translating that with players such as Casey Thompson and Hudson Card is cited as to why the hire is positive for Texas.
While many point to Alabama’s talent, his development of quarterback Mac Jones this fall, after the transcendent Tua Tagovailoa departed Tuscaloosa, is truly remarkable. Texas realizes it needs next-level quarterbacks and offenses to ultimately overtake Oklahoma in the Big 12 and compete nationally with the likes of Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State. Herman simply couldn’t get there with Sam Ehlinger, and Sarkisian brings a stronger track record to a quarterbacks room that includes Casey Thompson and Hudson Card.
The only thing keeping the Sarkisian hire from being an A+? The past issues the head coach has dealt with off the field. Sarkisian was fired from USC and had to overcome personal problems before revitalizing his career at Alabama.
My only potential hesitation here would be the off-field issues that derailed Sarkisian’s career at USC. He seemingly has turned his life around, addressing problems that many people face and try to overcome. Sarkisian also gained perspective from a health scare over the summer. The Texas job brings a unique level of pressure, and Sarkisian ultimately must show he’s a stronger and more consistent CEO to take the Longhorns to the next level.
With the staff Sarkisian has put together, the hire brings a lot more excitement than Herman or Charlie Strong did. Recruiting seems to be back on the right track after a lull towards the end of 2020.
[listicle id=31490]
Texas is once again winning the offseason. Now, it needs to be translated into on the field wins from September to December.
