Lane Kiffin comments on Steve Sarkisian’s time at Alabama, rise to become head coach at Texas
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Steve Sarkisian was not in a good place at USC in 2015.
His comeback story is inspiring, though. In short, Sarkisian was fired from USC in 2015 after it was made aware that the head coach was showing up to practice intoxicated and had missed one practice altogether, among plenty of other USC violations.
USC placed him on leave of absence once he was deemed “not healthy” by AD Pat Haden.
Sarkisian was then dismissed from a pre-practice meeting on Oct. 11, 2015 when multiple assistants and players smelled alcohol on his breath. He was fired shortly thereafter.
Soon after, Nick Saban offered him a position as an offensive analyst, a move that marked a major turning point for Sarkisian. He went on to be the Atlanta Falcons’ OC before returning to Alabama as OC in 2019 and 2020. He was hired by Texas as its next HC in 2021.
On Wednesday during the SEC’s weekly teleconference, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who also has Alabama ties, was asked about Sarkisian’s story ahead of Alabama’s national clash against Sarkisian’s Longhorns.
Here’s what Kiffin had to say about Sark:
“I think Sark’s story’s amazing, of overcoming adversity, not to put words down, but I guess you’d say something like a rock-bottom from a professional standpoint, and recreating himself, now to be the head coach at Texas, at the highest level, top 10 team,” Kiffin said. “Going into play Alabama’s really an awesome story for a lot of people.”
It is an awesome story. And it should make for an incredible game this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
The Tide and Longhorns’ clash has been circled by college football fans for some time now. The winner affirms their status as a top team in the country and serves as a rematch for a very close matchup last season.
Saturday at 7 p.m. ET cannot get here soon enough.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.