Lane Kiffin calls Steve Sarkisian's rise from 'rock bottom' to coaching Top 15 game vs. Alabama 'an awesome story'
Steve Sarkisian heading back to Tuscaloosa is an incredible story. His relationship with Alabama head coach Nick Saban is well-documented after the duo won a national championship during the 2020 season. There is another person involved in making the relationship happen, with Lane Kiffin playing a role.
With Sarkisian now at Texas and getting ready to face off against Alabama, he has had a supporter throughout his journey. Kiffin believes Sarkisian has an “awesome story” after hitting “rock bottom” in the past. Part of the reason Sarkisian is in Austin for the long haul is due to Kiffin reaching out seven years ago and thus far, he has taken advantage of it in a big way.
“Sark’s story is amazing of overcoming adversity,” Kiffin said during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “Not to put words in his mouth but something like the rock bottom from a professional standpoint and retraining himself. Now, to be the head coach of Texas. Recruiting at the highest level, a top-10 team. Going in to play Alabama is really an awesome story for all people.”
Kiffin brought Sarkisian onto the Alabama staff during the 2016 season, where he served as an offensive analyst. It was the first job offered to him following his infamous departure from USC. The opportunity grew even further when Sarkisian was the offensive coordinator in the national championship game against Clemson when Kiffin left in favor of the FAU gig.
The “rock bottom” Kiffin mentions definitely stems from Sarkisian’s time as the USC head coach. Results on the field were not coming while he was dealing with personal issues. The Trojans finished with a 12-6 record under Sarkisian, with his time in Los Angeles abruptly ending in the middle of the 2015 season.
Thankfully, Sarkisian has bounced back in a positive way and could be on the brink of something massive. Texas has a different feeling to it than in years past.
On Saturday, Kiffin will have the opportunity to see Nick Saban and Steve Sarkisian face off against each other once again. You would assume Kiffin considers both of them friends, especially with how highly he speaks about them. He will have the utmost respect for both guys on the sideline.
Looking head-to-head between the three, Saban has the advantage over Kiffin and Sarkisian since they left Alabama. Sarkisian will want to even up his personal series with Saban by making a huge statement on Saturday with his Texas team. And we all know Kiffin’s desire to eventually get one over the coach he describes as the greatest of all time.