Texas Longhorns Coach Steve Sarkisian Talks Alabama Crimson Tide Speculation: ‘Wasn’t a Reality’
As soon as legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban retired following the end of another run to the College Football Playoff, Steve Sarkisian was seen as one of the top candidates to head back to Tuscaloosa to replace him.
There was hardly any real drama, as the Texas Longhorns put speculation to bed by locking down their head coach with a massive new contract while the Crimson Tide hired Kalen DeBoer to take over for Saban.
However, Sarkisian took things a step further and acknowledged the Alabama rumors while providing more details during a recent interview with former NFL receiver Keyshawn Johnson.
“Fortunate, but no that was not really a reality,” he said of the Alabama rumors.
While Sarkisian admitted that what he’s built over the past three years in Austin is all the reason to stay – something many Texas fans felt was obvious once the Alabama rumors began – he also provided some interesting and unique details on why heading to Tuscaloosa wasn’t in the cards for him.
“For me, growing up in L.A., I like a little city in my life,” Sarkisian said. “I like a little bit of concrete. I don’t mind that the I-35 runs just east of campus right here. I love that there’s plenty of places downtown to go eat. I love that we have a city over a million people now in Austin.