Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian gives instruction during the team’s NCAA college football practice in Austin, Texas, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eric Gay/AP
Being ranked No. 1 comes with responsibilities that go beyond winning or losing. Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian understands that, and he wants his players to understand it, too.
After celebrations by edge rusher Colin Simmons and running back Raleek Brown sparked controversy during last week’s win over the Tennessee Volunteers, Sarkisian called on his players to put an end to unsportsmanlike celebrations.
“We’ve got to do a better job of celebrating with one another,” Sarkisian told reporters Monday. “The moment you start to demean the opponent, the flags come out.”
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Simmons, who set a school record with 5.5 sacks, was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after mimicking urinating on the field.
Video clips of the moment went viral by halftime. Sarkisian briefly pulled Simmons from the game. The player apologized during Texas’ postgame news conference.
ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit blasted Simmons by calling his celebration “an absolute idiotic move” on the broadcast.
“I do want to say I apologize for the celebration. I was definitely in that mode, feeling myself, but you know, it happens,” the Duncanville alum said.
In 33 games with the Longhorns, Simmons has recorded 28.5 sacks.
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On Tuesday, legendary head coach Urban Meyer weighed in on the situation.
“If I’m the head coach and I see that kid do that, he’s out. I’m suspending him,” Meyer said on the Triple Option podcast.
Brown’s celebration after a fourth-quarter touchdown included wiping his hand across his crotch before falling down as if he had passed out. He was not penalized.
“That behavior is unacceptable. We take a lot of pride in the way we play the game,” Sarkisian told reporters.
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Brown is in his senior season after spending two years at USC and two at Arizona State.
The actions by Simmons and Brown sparked a wave of criticism of the Longhorns program on social media. To address the criticism, Sarkisian took responsibility for setting stricter standards for his players.
The controversy is the latest for the Longhorns. Still fresh is the public apology quarterback Arch Manning had to make to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after laughing and joking in a press conference when asked if he had seen an AI-generated video that showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe.
Addressing the controversy involving Simmons and Brown, Sarkisian wanted to make his position clear.
“We’ve got to learn from that,” Sarkisian said. “I think Colin will. I don’t think any of those actions are indicative of the character of the young men, and I think we’ll see that as the season unfolds of who these guys really are. … We can’t let the emotions of the game get the better of us because we’re going to be in other hostile environments as the season goes on.”
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During the team’s Monday morning meeting, Sarkisian addressed the celebrations and met individually with Simmons and Brown. The Longhorns head coach declined to specify what internal discipline, if any, the players might face.
The Longhorns have won their first four games of the season. They have a bye this weekend before their annual clash against Oklahoma on Oct. 10 at the Cotton Bowl.
The break gives Sarkisian a chance to reinforce the importance of respecting opponents at all times.