Many SEC head coaches past and present can identify with Steve Sarkisian right now. When your former boss is Nick Saban and you have to face Saban’s team, you get a lot of questions about working for the GOAT.

At Thursday’s Big 12 Media Days, Sarkisian was asked about what it meant to be hired by Saban as an Alabama analyst in 2016 and what he’s taken from his UA days to help build his Texas program.

“Yeah, an unbelievable amount of respect for Coach Saban and that program,” Sarkisian said in his press conference. “Without Nick Saban, I wouldn’t be sitting here today in front of y’all. I owe a great deal to him. I owe so much to him, and I will never, ever forget that he and Ms. Terry have been tremendous in my life and my wife’s life and what they’ve done for us on and off the field, I owe them a great deal. With that being said, I can’t wait to play (Alabama) because I know what he puts into it. ”

Unlike some of his brothers in the Former Saban Assistant head coaching fraternity, this isn’t Sarkisian’s first rodeo as a head coach. The former Washington and USC head coach isn’t trying to be Saban in Austin.

“I know the work ethic, I know the discipline that he has personally. I know what he instills into his organization, into that team. I think ultimately that’s what you try to take when you leave Alabama, because you can’t try to be Nick Saban; there’s only one. You have to be a Steve Sarkisian,” the second-year Texas head coach said.

“But the discipline and commitment that he has personally to that program that then he instills into his team and into his own organization is something that you try to emulate. I cherished my time there with him. I loved my time there with him, and looking forward to playing him in Week 2.”

Sarkisian should probably have a “Saban” answer memorized. It’s going to be one of the main pregame storylines of the Texas-Alabama clash on Sept. 10.