Brett Yormark’s jab against Texas stunned Steve Sarkisian.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark recently told Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire that he “better take care of business” against the Longhorns in public, a remark that surprised Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.

The day after Thanksgiving, on Nov. 24, the Longhorns will play their final Big 12 game before heading to the SEC, against the rival Red Raiders. Last year, Texas Tech defeated Texas in Lubbock, 37-34; Yormark brought to this upset during his speech to the Red Raider Club last week.

“Coach McGuire, I won’t put any pressure on you, but just understand that I will be in Austin for Thanksgiving. And you better handle business as you handled it here in Lubbock the previous year,” Yormark remarked.

Sarkisian responded to a question on Yormark’s remark on Monday by joking that the reporter was “trying to get him in trouble.”

The day before that speech, Sarkisian received a letter regarding sportsmanship from the commissioner. “I’m trying to figure out what are we preaching to our student-athletes,” he said. “To go say stuff like that? The night before the game, I doubt he will share his Thanksgiving meal with us.”

This spring, the Texas locker room has been preaching to the Longhorns to “embrace the vitriol” they will encounter from angry fans. Chris Del Conte, the athletic director of Texas, has also spoken his opinions on the matter, even replying to a fan who forwarded him a picture of a mock-up T-shirt bearing the motto.

Del Conte said, “Pickin’ up whatcha putting down,” referring to a shirt that proclaimed “embrace the hate.”

“The truth is that there has been a lot of discussion over [Yormark’s remarks],” Sarkisian stated. “There has been much discussion about making a T-shirt. Do not exaggerate this situation. It’s all about us here. Our attention is on the things we get to accomplish and the reasons behind them. Being a member of the University of Texas makes us proud. It’s okay since we know who is following us. Let’s go play now.”

Texas, which came in at number eleven in the Associated Press preseason poll, hasn’t won the Big 12 since 2009. The league’s preseason media poll likewise named the Longhorns as the conference favorite.

Sarkisian stated that he can handle quarterback Quinn Ewers differently this year because there isn’t a competition for the starting job. This is one reason for the excitement surrounding this year’s season.

“It’s coaching him to be the best that he can be and not feel like I’m always pointing out things that he’s doing wrong,” Sarkisian stated. Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning are still up for the backup race.

He stated, “We feel that the person who earned the chance to be the backup this week will be the backup come Thursday.”

Rice, who has lost the previous 15 games with the Longhorns, will be the opponent Texas faces in its home opener on Saturday.