Steve Sarkisian on Quinn Ewers, Emotions, and the Red River Rivalry

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has been in the spotlight ahead of the highly anticipated Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma. In a recent media session, Sarkisian addressed several key points, including the return of quarterback Quinn Ewers from injury and the importance of managing emotions during the game.

Ewers, who has missed the last two games due to an oblique injury sustained in the win over UTSA on September 14, is set to start against Oklahoma. This marks his return after a period of recovery, and Sarkisian has defended Ewers against the label of being “injury-prone.” Sarkisian emphasized that Ewers’ injuries have often resulted from violent or awkward hits, rather than any inherent fragility. He cited examples such as the collarbone injury caused by Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner in 2022 and noted that other players, including NFL quarterback Derek Carr, have also suffered similar injuries.

Sarkisian also highlighted Ewers’ ability to recover and perform well after injuries. “I think Quinn has shown over his time that when he’s been injured, he’s engaged, he comes back and he plays really good football coming off of injury,” Sarkisian said. This sentiment was reinforced by his observation that Ewers “looks fantastic” ahead of the Oklahoma game.

In addition to discussing Ewers’ return, Sarkisian stressed the importance of managing emotions for his team. With the high stakes and intense rivalry of the Red River game, Sarkisian emphasized that keeping emotions in check will be crucial for the team’s success).