{"id":434551,"date":"2026-09-13T07:42:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T07:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/434551\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T07:42:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T07:42:34","slug":"texas-steve-sarkisian-abruptly-ends-espn-postgame-interview-texas-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/434551\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas’ Steve Sarkisian abruptly ends ESPN postgame interview: ‘Texas fight’"},"content":{"rendered":"

No. 4 Texas\u2019 24-23 come-from-behind win over No. 1 Ohio State<\/a> on Saturday night in Austin, Texas was a showdown that was full of drama.<\/p>\n

But there was a different kind of drama at different points of the night between ESPN sideline reporters and Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian.<\/p>\n

At the end of Texas\u2019 thrilling win, Hollie Rowe was attempting to begin an interview with Sarkisian.<\/p>\n

\"LonghornsLonghorns head coach Steve Sarkisian abruptly ended his interview with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe after Texas\u2019 24-23 come-from-behind win over Ohio State on Sept. 12, 2026 in Austin, Texas. On3 \/ X<\/p>\n

As Rowe started to ask her first question, Sarkisian already was talking and yelled: Go Texas, fight! Let\u2019s go Texas, fight! Hook \u2019em,\u201d and walked away to celebrate with his team and Rowe did not seem amused.<\/p>\n

This followed a first-half incident where ESPN\u2019s other sideline reporter, Laura Rutledge, tried to interview Sarkisian, but the network was having technical difficulties and the Texas head coach couldn\u2019t wait longer and had to talk to his team who was facing a big 20-3 first-half deficit. <\/p>\n

During that moment, Rutledge acknowledged that Sarkisian had been waiting a while<\/a> and did not blame the coach for not waiting to be interviewed.<\/p>\n

Rutledge eventually spoke with Sarkisian after Texas came out of the locker room to start the second half and clarified what happened at halftime.<\/p>\n

Laura Rutledge: “I do want to make sure we clear something up. [Steve Sarkisian] did decline the interview at the half. He had waited a long time, been very patient with some technical issues that we had. He apologized to us. We should be apologizing to him, which we did.” https:\/\/t.co\/y9o6lXgNhx<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yE08r5BNpD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI do want to make sure we clear something up: (Sarkisian) did decline the interview at the half,\u201d Rutledge said before the start of the third quarter. \u201cHe had waited a long time, been very patient with some technical issues that we had. He apologized to us. We should be apologizing to him, which we did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Afterward, Hollie Rowe\u2019s name was trending on X<\/a> as social media seemed to have more of a field day talking about the two incidents than the exciting game between two college football powerhouses. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t