Sarkisian’s 10/2 Quick Presser Notes

The Longhorns’ win streak continues as they took care of business at home this past Saturday against Kansas, with the final score being 40-14. Standing at 5-0, they head into the Red River Rivalry with a lot on the line… but so does the other side. Oklahoma is also undefeated and is ranked 12th in the nation, the first time both teams have been undefeated facing off against each other since 2011. Here’s what Sark had to say today about the game, the team’s performance last Saturday and more: 

• In classic fashion, Sark started off by recapping the game: “I thought defensively we played really well… we want to score touchdowns just like everybody else wants us to when we are in the red area…” and wants to get the special teams “cleaned up” before OU. Kicker Bert Auburn missed 2 FG’s on Saturday, and the Horns were not very efficient in the red zone either 
• Sarkisian pointed out that “this will be our third top-25 matchup now… we understand the emotions that come with this game…” and that OU QB Dillon Gabriel is “playing at a very high level” as well. Gabriel has over 1,500 yards with 15 TD’s and 2 INT’s so far this year
• Sarkisian: “We embrace it [the hate] because they [OU] are supposed to hate us”. He also continued to mention the emotions going into this game for both teams, but that “execution” is what it will simply come down to
• Sarkisian on Ewers’ running ability: “we are not a running QB team… but we do rely on the QB to use his legs… I think Quinn is really starting to excel at that…”. Ewers now has 5 rushing TD’s on the year. 
• Injury Updates: Both TE Ja’Tavion Sanders and CB Ryan Watts are currently “day-to-day” and a better update will be provided Thursday 
• Coach Sark continued to mention the toughness of the OU defense under HC Brent Venables, the importance of physicality and how that Texas has their work cut out for them when preparing for Saturday 
• Sarkisian on the trust his team has built: “We aren’t playing football where there are a bunch of mistakes… we aren’t blowing coverages maybe like we have over the past couple years… there’s levels of trust to this, but in the end, that’s when we are at our best” 
• Sark on being able to keep players around regardless if they have to “wait their turn”: “Some call me a players’ coach, some don’t… ultimately we have created a culture that guy’s want to be apart of… at the end of the day, we are very transparent…”
• Sarkisian also had high praise for the ability of his defense to have great depth and be able to rotate so that they are “more fresh physically, more fresh mentally” 

And my personal favorite quote of the day from Sarkisian: “I love 11 am kicks”.

It’ll be early, but the stadium will be rocking and the college football world will be watching. Let’s see if Texas can repeat the dominance they displayed in last year’s game, or if the Sooners will put the “BOOM” in boomer.