Texas Football Head Coach Steve Sarkisian joins the crew on 3rd and Longhorn for an exclusive, wide-ranging interview.

Welcome to 3rd & Longhorn, your ultimate destination for all things Texas Longhorn Football! Join us weekly for an in-depth show featuring analysis and commentary from Lifetime Longhorn Football players Derrick Johnson, Alex Okafor, Fozzy Whittaker, Rod Babers, Jeremy Hills, and Clark Field Collective/Texas One Fund co-founder Nick Shuley.

0:00 - Intro
0:31 - Why Sark Came to Texas
1:12 - Remembering the 2005 Rose Bowl
2:28 - Open Heart Surgery and COVID Season
3:36 - Sark's First Impressions of Austin
5:11 - From LA to Tuscaloosa to Austin
5:51 - Turning the Texas Program Around
7:06 - Lessons from Pete Carroll and Nick Saban
9:18 - Becoming a Consistent Leader
10:03 - Rebuilding the Culture at Texas
11:56 - GPA, Draft Picks, and Wins
13:01 - Year One in the SEC
14:42 - What Makes the SEC So Challenging
15:43 - Road Games and Identity
15:50 - The Arch Manning Effect
17:05 - Arch Manning A Normal Guy with a Famous Name
18:25 - Looking Ahead to Ohio State
19:41 - Why These Big Games Matter
20:04 – Preparing for Ohio State and the Challenge Ahead
20:40 – The Value of Playing Big Games in the 12-Team Playoff Era
21:01 – Sark’s Offensive Influences: Andy Reid, Shanahan Tree, and More
22:50 – Learning Defense from Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, and Monte Kiffin
24:00 – Why Understanding Defense Makes You a Better Offensive Coach
25:04 – College GameDay’s Impact and Coach Corso’s Legacy
26:24 – Navigating Media Demands as Texas Head Coach
28:00 – Sark on Gratitude, Perspective, and Representing Texas
29:23 – The Importance of Leadership on the Team
30:11 – Michael Taaffe and the Next Wave of Texas Leaders
31:17 – Developing Leaders Through Culture and Accountability
32:06 – Defensive Versatility and Recruiting for Position Flexibility
33:20 – Why Multi-Sport Athletes Matter to Sark
34:09 – Building a Defense That Can Morph and Adapt
35:01 – Trey Moore, Colin Simmons, and the Evolution of Hybrid Players
36:22 – PK and the Defensive Staff’s Constant Innovation
37:21 – Why Austin and Texas Are the Best Place to Play College Football
38:04 – Texas’ Recent Success in Recruiting, Draft Picks, and Championships
39:16 – The Advantage of Austin: No Pro Teams, All Eyes on Texas
40:00 – Why Texas Offers More Than Short-Term NIL Deals
40:30 – Long-Term Opportunities: Brand, Development, NFL, and Degree
41:06 – Texas: Compared to Ivy League and CFB Powerhouses
41:28 – Players Turned Media: The Power of the Texas Brand
42:02 – Different Paths, Same Result: Former Players Returning to Austin
42:47 – Why So Many Greats Come Back to Live in Austin
43:06 – Sark on Leadership Philosophy: "Who You Are All the Time"
44:11 – Consistency On and Off the Field Defines a Longhorn
45:09 – Why “Sometime Guys” Don’t Play for Coach Sark
45:26 – Representing the Program, University, and 9 Million Viewers
46:05 – Discipline Builds Habits, Habits Build Consistency
46:50 – Thanking Coach Sark for Joining the Show
47:04 – Surprise Gift: A Nostalgic TV Guide Gag
48:00 – Final Laughs, Player Teasing, and Hook ‘Em Signoff

Derrick Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/superdj56
Alex Okafor: https://www.instagram.com/alexokafor
Jeremy Hills: https://www.instagram.com/jhills5
Fozzy Whittaker: https://www.instagram.com/fozzywhitt
Rod Babers: https://www.instagram.com/rodbabers
Nick Shuley: https://www.instagram.com/nickshuley