"I kind of relish being the villain": Steve Sarkisian vows to go aggressive against Michigan in Week 2 matchup
Steve Sarkisian has his eyes on the big prize this season, and he wants to decimate any opponent standing in his way. He’ll start his mission against the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 7 at the Michigan Stadium.
Sarkisian seemed confident when talking to the media on Thursday. The Texas coach vowed to be aggressive, aiming to quiet the Wolverines’ home crowd.
"People can generate hate in a lot of different ways. And so for me, now I’ve learned to relish those opportunities. There's something that I kind of relish, being the villain,” Sarkisian admitted. "There’s 100 of us versus 120,000, and it’s okay being the villain," he added.
He knows full well the hostility awaiting him in Ann Arbor, but the coach is ready to tackle it with his aggressive play style and united team approach.
The Longhorns couldn’t have asked for a more dominating victory in their 2024 season opener, defeating Colorado State by a 52-0 scoreline.
“We’ve progressively gotten better throughout the week,” Sarkisian said, apparently feeling good about his squad’s mindset heading into Saturday.
Also read: Was Steve Sarkisian the offensive coordinator at Alabama? A look at his coaching stint under Nick Saban
Former college football coach backs Steve Sarkisian's Texas to "whip" Michigan
Rick Neuheisel, who coached the Colorado Buffalos from 1995 to 1998, couldn’t be more sure about Steve Sarkisian’s men dominating Michigan. Neuheisel boldly predicted a Texas victory.
"They're not only going to win. They're going to whip them. Texas is that much faster. They've shown their physical. They held Colorado State to less than 200 yards. It's not going to be a close game."
The former Colorado coach compared Sarkisian's transformation of Texas to what Kirby Smart did at Georgia, saying the Longhorns are becoming a powerhouse just like Alabama.
The No. 3 Texas easily dismantled Colorado State with wide receivers Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden shining. Bond posted 61 yards and a touchdown, while Golden added 50 yards and two scores.
Sarkisian, however, wasn’t giving away any game plan secrets ahead of the clash with the Wolverines. When asked about Michigan’s quarterback situation, Sarkisian bluntly responded:
"Dude, I'm not going to tell you how we prepare."
This game comes with high stakes risk, probably college football playoff implications.
Also read: 5 reasons why Michigan can beat Steve Sarkisian's Texas at Ann Arbor in Week 2