Steve Sarkisian Faces Backlash After Skipping Postgame Interview

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian is under fire for his abrupt interaction with ESPN’s Holly Rowe after a thrilling 24-23 win against No. 1 Ohio State. The Longhorns made an impressive comeback, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter.

As the game concluded and celebrations erupted on the field, Sarkisian approached Rowe. However, rather than waiting for her to begin her questions, he shouted, “That’s called Texas fight! Hook ’em!” This off-the-cuff remark interrupted the postgame interview, leading him to throw up the horns and walk away, leaving Rowe visibly frustrated.

Rowe’s professionalism was immediately supported by fans and commentators alike. ESPN’s Madelyn Burke expressed disappointment on social media, stating, “Honestly, this is just rude of Sark. Holly is a total pro with a job to do.” Others echoed her sentiments, criticizing Sarkisian for not acknowledging Rowe’s role and the importance of the interview.

“Classless move by Sark towards Holly Rowe just now. You know how it is, man. Just answer the damn question,” commented radio host Kendra Middleton, while another user labeled it “disrespectful to a legend.”

Even D.C. sports radio host Grant Paulsen noted the awkwardness of the situation, stating that it didn’t reflect well on Sarkisian and that Rowe had every reason to be upset.

This wasn’t the only incident; earlier during halftime, technical difficulties delayed an interview with Sarkisian. Although he waited patiently for the broadcast to resume, he ended up missing the chance to speak with his team as they were down, 20-3.

Following the halftime chaos, ESPN’s Laura Rutledge interjected to explain what had transpired. She clarified that Sarkisian didn’t refuse the halftime interview but was simply patient amid the delays. Rutledge expressed regret on behalf of the network, stating, “He had waited a long time… We should be apologizing to him.”

With this win, the Longhorns have kicked off their season with a 2-0 record and are set to host UTSA on September 19.