Steve Sarkisian wants Texas to further embrace a ‘Mamba Mentality’
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Steve Sarkisian is a college football coach, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t well aware of what Kobe Bryant meant to the game of basketball and how his intense work ethic was a big part of his legendary success.
On Monday during his session with reporters, Sarkisian invoked Bryant’s legacy simply by bringing up the “Mamba Mentality” that the late, great Bryant made famous during his illustrious NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sarkisian is trying to build his Texas team back up after losing back-to-back games earlier this month. Week 8 was a step in the right direction as the Horns outlasted Ole Miss in a 34-27 thriller on Saturday night in Austin.
Now, comes another primetime home game in Week 9 against the other Mississippi school, as Mississippi State comes calling to 11th-ranked Texas this Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN.
By definition, the “Mamba Mentality” is explained as this:
Kobe Bryant’s philosophy of relentless self-improvement, defined as the constant pursuit of becoming the best version of yourself through discipline, resilience, fearlessness and obsessive preparation.
And Sarkisian was all over that philosophy on Monday during his time with reporters. Turns out Sarkisian had a strong family connection with Bryant’s through their respective daughters, which just made what Bryant stood for that much more important to Sarkisian.
“I’m a huge fan, not only of the player but of the person, with the whole ‘Mamba Mentality,'” Steve Sarkisian said. “We definitely buy into that mentality.”
Here was Sarkisian explaining that family connection to Bryant’s and how it brought him even closer to the late legend:
With Sarkisian trying to motivate his Texas team, the Longhorns will try to win another primetime home game in Week 9 against Mississippi State. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Texas’s chances to take care of business as a big home favorite against the Bulldogs:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
