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Steve Sarkisian kicks off tenure at Texas riding wave of momentum from Alabama’s national championship win

Sarkisian: “[Alabama’s win over Ohio State] generated a lot of excitement from a recruiting standpoint. I think it generated a lot of excitement for our current players on our roster.”

Steve Sarkisian’s old job just provided him with plenty of momentum for his newest gig.

Alabama’s 52-24 dissection of Ohio State in the College Football Playoff championship basically served as a four-hour infomercial for Sarkisian’s offense and what he plans to bring to Austin. There were the 621 total yards, including 464 yards passing and five touchdowns for quarterback Mac Jones. There were the schemes and formations to get touches for key skill players De-Vonta Smith and Najee Harris.

The payoff was a championship ring with Sarkisian turning his full-time attention to Texas, beginning with Tuesday’s Introductory Press Conference 2.0 after the one when he was hired Jan. 2.

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“For us here in Texas, I think it generated a lot of excitement,” Sarkisian said. “I think it generated a lot of excitement from a recruiting standpoint. I think it generated a lot of excitement for our current players on our roster. I think we felt that, and I think it generated a lot of excitement from alumni, donors [and the] fan base.

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“It’s our job to capitalize on it, continue to build on that excitement, so that that point doesn’t fizzle out.”

He’s already gained his first commitment in Lewisville junior receiver Armani Winfield, a top 100 national recruit who — according to 247Sports — made his decision at halftime of the national championship game.

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Winning the press conference is pretty much a given nowadays. And Sarkisian seems smart, genuine and possessing a vision to make Texas prominent in the playoff discussion after unnecessary introductions by Regents chairman Kevin Eltife, President Jay Hartzell and athletic director Chris Del Conte.

Hartzell did provide a timetable.

“By my calculation, we’re only 235 days away from the next game,” Hartzell said.

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Although Sarkisian had spent the last two years as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, he had previously gone through the drill as head coach at Washington and then USC before his career was derailed by alcohol abuse.

“I had to climb my way back in this profession,” Sarkisian said, offering his own spin on a school slogan. “None of that would have happened if I was timid or weak.”

Sarkisian opened the door for Texas high school coaches, saying he wanted them to think of Texas as their program.

“I came here to win championships, you know that that’s the goal,” Sarkisian said. “We’re here to chase greatness, to win championships. That’s why I’m here. That is going to drive us every single day. But that won’t be the hope that we will, that is putting in the work to develop the confidence that we will.”

Sarkisian had to navigate a couple of potential minefields during the press conference, including a question about “The Eyes of Texas” controversy, one of the contributing factors in Herman’s downfall.

“I know this much, ‘The Eyes of Texas’ is our school song,” Sarkisian said in an answer likely to please big donors and school officials. “We’re going to sing that song, we’re going to sing that proudly.”

He also acknowledged that hard discussions and dialogues remain with players who may have major concerns about the song’s problematic history.

Oh, and he wants to renew the rivalry with Texas A&M again when the obligatory topic was raised. No surprise. “I would love to play that game,” Sarkisian said.

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Eventually and maybe sooner than most suspect, Sarkisian will have to deal with everything that goes with being the Texas coach, which Mack Brown once described as trying to put all the BBs back in the box.

For now, he’s a genius coming off a national title. Ohio State coach Ryan Day called it “probably one of the better offenses in college football in a long time.”

That will be a big selling point for recruits and potentially impact transfers.

“Our offense was really the key to the success of this team,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We’re an OK defensive team, not a great defensive team. But the offense was dynamic. That’s what made the difference.”

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Of course, that performance came with Alabama’s transcendent talent at almost every position.

Doing anything close to it at Texas will take time with a 12-year conference title drought. Or not, according to Sarkisian, whose hashtag slogan is: #AllGasNoBrakes.

“I don’t think it’s going to take us as long as many might think,” Sarkisian said.

“We’ve got a talented young roster. I think we’re going to hire a tremendous coaching staff. And we’re going to continue to recruit the best players in the state of Texas.”

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