In 2008, Nick Saban delivered one of the most iconic pregame speeches of his career. Alabama was gearing up to face LSU in Baton Rouge for the first time since Saban had left the Tigers to pursue an NFL career. Saban, ever the motivator, gave his players a fiery speech in the locker room before they stormed the field, urging them to play with intensity, to dominate, and to show no mercy to their opponents. “How much does this game mean to you?” he bellowed. “Because if it means something to you, you can’t stand still. You play fast. You play strong. You go out there and dominate the guy you’re playing against and make his ass quit. That’s our trademark. That’s our M.O. as a team. That’s what people know us as.”
That phrase, “make his ass quit,” quickly became synonymous with Saban’s teams and his philosophy of playing with relentless aggression and dominating every aspect of the game. It became an emblem of the culture Saban had cultivated at Alabama, where every player was expected to push through pain, to fight until the very end, and to impose their will on opponents. The Crimson Tide became known for their ability to break the will of their opponents, wearing them down until they had no choice but to quit. This mental toughness and overwhelming physicality were keys to Alabama’s dominance and helped the program become one of the most successful in college football history.
As the years passed, this trademark mentality not only persisted but was institutionalized at Alabama. Coaches, players, and teams became synonymous with the relentless pursuit of victory. Steve Sarkisian, who was part of Saban’s staff at Alabama from 2016 to 2020, absorbed much of this philosophy during his time under Saban’s tutelage. Sarkisian has always been upfront about how much he values his mentor and the lessons he learned while working under Saban. Those lessons about mental toughness, preparation, and discipline have influenced his coaching career and the culture he has sought to create at Texas since becoming the Longhorns’ head coach in 2021.
Sarkisian’s success at Texas has been remarkable. When he took over a struggling program in 2021, the Longhorns were coming off a dismal 5-7 season, marked by internal turmoil, lackluster performances, and a toxic culture within the team. Tight end Gunnar Helm, reflecting on the team’s environment, described the culture as “horrible,” with many players feeling disillusioned and disconnected from the program. However, Sarkisian quickly set to work building a new foundation at Texas. He brought in a new coaching staff, revamped the program’s approach, and instilled a mentality of discipline, preparation, and accountability. Within two years, Sarkisian had transformed the Longhorns into a team that made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, a feat they hadn’t achieved in over a decade.
This transformation has been impressive, to say the least. In just his second season, Sarkisian guided Texas to the SEC Championship Game as a league debutant. The Longhorns’ defense has become one of the top-rated units in the country, while the offense is stacked with NFL talent, including rising stars and future pros. Texas has the pieces in place to compete at the highest level, and Sarkisian has proven that his philosophy and leadership are taking the program to new heights. However, despite all the progress and success, one thing has been conspicuously missing: the ability to “make his ass quit,” as Saban put it.
While Sarkisian’s teams at Texas have shown flashes of dominance, they have failed to deliver the knockout blow in many games. A glaring example of this was Texas’ victory over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. The Longhorns started the game with a bang, scoring 14 points in just 66 seconds of game action, jumping out to a commanding early lead. For a brief period, it seemed like Texas would coast to a decisive win. However, the Longhorns allowed Arizona State to claw back into the game, giving up a 16-point lead and allowing the Sun Devils to tie the game. Despite this, Texas managed to secure a victory in double overtime, but the fact that they let their opponent back into the game is a clear indication that Sarkisian’s team still lacks that killer instinct.
This lack of finishing power has been a recurring theme throughout Texas’ season. There have been multiple instances where the Longhorns have jumped out to substantial leads, only to see opponents claw back and make the games far closer than they should have been. Whether it was against Arizona State, or in other games throughout the season, Texas has struggled to close out games and assert complete dominance over their opponents, something that has been a hallmark of Saban’s Alabama teams.
Part of this issue can be attributed to Texas’ inability to consistently execute in critical moments. While the team has made great strides in terms of talent and execution, they still lack the consistency needed to truly put away opponents in the way Saban’s teams have. This is a crucial mental aspect of the game that is often the difference between a good team and a great team. Alabama, under Saban, has always been known for their ability to step on the gas when they smell blood in the water, leaving opponents with no chance of mounting a comeback. Texas, under Sarkisian, has yet to fully embrace this mindset.
Despite these shortcomings, Sarkisian’s philosophy has still allowed Texas to make great strides toward returning to elite status. The team is undoubtedly on the right path, and the culture has shifted significantly from the disastrous 5-7 season in 2021. However, Sarkisian knows that in order to elevate Texas to the highest echelon of college football, his team must develop the mentality to dominate and put opponents away when they have the opportunity. It is one thing to build a strong team, but it’s another to instill that relentless, “make his ass quit” mentality that has been a trademark of Saban’s success.
Sarkisian’s challenge now is to continue to build on the foundation he has laid and push his players to embrace the mentality of dominance that was instilled in him by Nick Saban. This mindset is critical not only in individual games but in sustaining excellence throughout a season. If Sarkisian can take that next step and teach his players how to truly finish games and dominate from start to finish, Texas has the potential to be an elite team that can compete for national championships, just like Alabama under Saban.
In conclusion, Steve Sarkisian has made tremendous progress in rebuilding Texas into a competitive powerhouse, but there is still one key element missing from his team’s game: the ability to make opponents quit. While Texas has shown flashes of brilliance, they have also let games slip away at times. To truly elevate Texas to the level of the top programs in the country, Sarkisian must ensure his team learns how to finish games with the same relentless mentality that Nick Saban’s Alabama teams are known for. If he can instill this mindset into his players, Texas will be a program to reckon with for years to come.
