Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian issued a public apology on Thursday for leaving a postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe early following his team’s 24-23 comeback victory over No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.
Sarkisian, who ran off the field without speaking to Rowe, addressed the incident ahead of Texas’s game against UTSA. He acknowledged that he should have shown more patience in the moment.
Core Facts of the Incident
- Sarkisian left the postgame interview with Rowe before she could ask any questions, celebrating with his team instead.
- The viral moment sparked widespread discussion on social media, including AI-generated videos that falsely depicted Sarkisian slapping Rowe.
Sarkisian’s Statement
Sarkisian explained his actions in a statement reported by On Texas Football. He cited a delay after greeting Ohio State coach Ryan Day and expressed his desire to celebrate with his team after a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback.
“If hindsight’s 20/20, if I could do it all over again, I would have exuded more patience in that moment and sat through and waited for the interview with Holly,” Sarkisian said. “Obviously, we have a ton of respect for ESPN and Holly. Holly and I go way back to even my days of playing at BYU, and we’ve got a great relationship. ESPN is a great partner of ours.”
He added that he could have handled the situation better with more patience.
Reactions and Fallout
The incident drew significant attention, including from Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who joked about an AI video depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe. Manning later clarified his remarks amid the controversy.
ESPN and Rowe have not publicly responded to Sarkisian’s comments. The network has previously covered Texas football extensively, and Rowe has a long-standing professional relationship with Sarkisian dating back to his playing days at BYU.
Context and Background
Sarkisian’s apology follows a historic win that marked one of the most significant comebacks in college football this season. The Texas Longhorns’ victory over Ohio State, the top-ranked team in the country, has been widely celebrated as a turning point in the program’s recent performance.
Postgame interviews are a standard part of collegiate and professional sports coverage, though coaches and players occasionally prioritize immediate celebrations over media obligations. Sarkisian’s decision to leave early was met with both criticism and support from fans and analysts, with some emphasizing the emotional high of the win and others highlighting the importance of media access.