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Texas Coach Sarkisian Addresses Rowe Controversy
Confirmed
In Short: Steve Sarkisian apologized for his post-game interview snub with ESPN's Holly Rowe, acknowledging he could have shown more patience.
Coming off a historic win against Ohio State, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the controversy surrounding his post-game interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe.
Sarkisian admitted that he could have waited for the interview, stating, '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.
The incident sparked a social media firestorm, with quarterback Arch Manning initially joking about an AI video depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe. Manning later apologized publicly and privately to Rowe, who accepted his apology.
Sarkisian emphasized his long-standing relationship with Rowe, saying, 'Obviously, we have a ton of respect for ESPN and Holly. Holly and I go way back to even to my days of playing at BYU, and we've got a great relationship.
The controversy unfolded as Manning was coming off his biggest win as Texas’ starter. Sarkisian also addressed Manning’s reaction, saying the quarterback acknowledged he had made a mistake and that the program does not condone violence against women.
What's confirmed
- Coming off a historic win against Ohio State, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the controversy surrounding his post-game interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe.
- Sarkisian admitted that he could have waited for the interview, stating, '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.
- The incident sparked a social media firestorm, with quarterback Arch Manning initially joking about an AI video depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe. Manning later apologized publicly and privately to Rowe, who accepted his apology.
- Sarkisian emphasized his long-standing relationship with Rowe, saying, 'Obviously, we have a ton of respect for ESPN and Holly. Holly and I go way back to even to my days of playing at BYU, and we've got a great relationship.
- The controversy unfolded as Manning was coming off his biggest win as Texas’ starter. Sarkisian also addressed Manning’s reaction, saying the quarterback acknowledged he had made a mistake and that the program does not condone violence against women.
What's still developing
- Texas rallied from a 20-point deficit to knock off No. 1-ranked Ohio State last weekend, giving Sarkisian the signature win his coaching resume had been lacking.
- Sarkisian wasn’t the only one who found himself in hot water because of the Rowe incident.
- The internet was divided over whether or not Sarkisian was out of line for choosing to go celebrate with his team in the locker room over fulfilling his media obligations.
- After the dust settled on the incident, Sarkisian finally broke his silence on what happened on Thursday.
- Sarkisian said there was a delay before his postgame interview and that, during that delay, he wanted to celebrate with his players after Texas erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit.
- The original controversy began after Sarkisian quickly ended Rowe’s attempted postgame interview following Texas’ dramatic win.
- “Sark did nothing wrong. Arch did nothing wrong. ESPN & Holly are wrong!!” another fan wrote.
- The college football star, who plays for the Texas Longhorns, gave ESPN reporter Holly Rowe a public apology after laughing at an AI video of the journalist being slapped by his coach Steve Sarkisian during a press conference.