After a devastating loss to Georgia, the worst in the Steve Sarkisian era, critics of the Texas coach are coming out of the woodwork. The season is a disappointment. The Arch Manning era is still in neutral and Sark’s tenure is being questioned.
One of those jumping on the bandwagon is ESPN’s Desmond Howard. He thinks Texas will move on from Sarkisian in the offseason.
“Don’t be surprised if that Texas job opens up at the end of the season,” Howard said in the Instagram post. “You guys were shocked when LSU opened up. Imagine how you’re going to feel if that job in Austin pops open. I’m not calling or saying anyone’s going to get fired — maybe a mutual parting of ways, you dig?”
Howard doesn’t necessarily say Sark will be “fired.” In fact, there will be speculation about Sarkisian’s interest in an NFL job until the pro league’s coaching carousel is over. But it a strong stand to take.
If the decision is up to Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte and the UT administration, Sarkisian will most definitely be the coach next season. Manning should be much improved and Texas’ schedule should be a tad easier.
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Only three active coaches have even won a national championship. Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Georgia’s Kirby Smart each took six years to complete the feat. It took Clemson’s Dabo Swinney seven years. Sarkisian is in his fifth season at Texas. And with at least one more year with Manning, he’ll be given the chance to win a title next season.
If next year is like this year, then the real discussions will begin. But unless you’re going to hire either Smart or Day, then any coach Texas would theoretically hire would have as many if not more questions than Sark does now.