Dance With Who Brung Ya: Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning

When was the moment you truly believed in Steve Sarkisian?

Was it his first press conference? The 70-35 beatdown of Texas Tech? The opening to the ultimately tragic Red River game in 2021? Or the pledge from transfer quarterback Quinn Ewers? For me, although I liked Sarkisian from his opening Zoom with the Texas media and had hope throughout a dark 2021 season, there was still the feeling of dread that we were on the hamster wheel again.

[Sign up for Inside Texas TODAY for $1 and get the BEST Longhorns coverage!]

But the moment I truly believed was June 23, 2022, the day Arch Manning committed to Texas. I wrote before the Alabama game in Austin that next season: “Manning’s commitment speaks volumes about Sark. If the first family of football is trusting their third generation to Steve Sarkisian over Kirby Smart and Nick Saban, then why shouldn’t we trust him too?”

Ultra-talented high school kids pledge themselves to underqualified coaches all the time. But Manning’s commitment was deeper than a five-star quarterback checking a box. It was the entire Manning family signing off on Sarkisian and Texas as a program way before the conference title and playoff appearances. It was a blessing from football’s most famous family. And it came despite a 5-7 first season where Arch Manning witnessed the Longhorns lose to Kansas in person.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot this week, as the chatter around Manning’s poor start to the 2025 season has boiled over past message board freakouts and into workplace water coolers and the national media. The fans and Arch are frustrated with his play, the fact he’s only completing 55% of his passes, and that Texas isn’t putting inferior opponents to bed with more ease. It’s caused a number of fans to peek over the ledge of the proverbial bridge, if not jump off altogether.

One of the greatest Darrell K Royal sayings is to “dance with the one who brung ya.” The colloquialism means to remain loyal, to stick with those who have contributed to your success. The phrase, along with the renewed hope Steve Sarkisian brought to Austin, was my inspiration to start writing about Texas in the first place back in the summer of 2021.

Where does that line exist — the one between “dance with who brung ya” and what Sarkisian and Manning are currently facing? Many (online) are calling for Sarkisian to bench Manning for Matthew Caldwell, Glen Powell, or the guy working the cash register at the Pok’e Jo’s in section 5 — just anyone. The backup quarterback is always the most popular player in Austin, a truth Vince Young, Colt McCoy, Quinn Ewers, and now Manning have all learned.

Some might say Sarkisian doesn’t owe Manning anything, that the phrase doesn’t apply because Arch has contributed very little on the field up to this point. They might say Sark gave Arch his shot and Manning is underperforming.

One, that ignores the fact Arch is only three games into being a real starter for Texas. Two, it ignores how much of this sport is played off the field.

Though Ewers’ commitment to Sarkisian was hugely important, as was that of Banks, DJ Campbell, and others, it was Manning’s that changed everything. Because Ewers needed a home after a frustrating fall in Columbus. But Manning had Kirby Smart and Nick Saban in full pursuit of his signature. Arch passed on continuing his family legacy at Ole Miss and Tennessee. He brushed off LSU and Dabo Swinney at Clemson. Then said “no thank you” to Alabama and Georgia. All of that for Texas and Steve Sarkisian.

Manning’s commitment started the tidal wave of pledges from Malik Muhammad, CJ Baxter, and Anthony Hill. It changed the narrative on what Sarkisian was building on The 40 Acres. Because if the prince of football’s royal family was attaching himself to Sarkisian, then LonhornzRule69 on the interwebs probably should too.

[Order THE LONGHORN ALPHABET For 16% OFF: Get the perfect gift for the Little Longhorn in Your Life]

Some are frustrated Sarkisian hasn’t taken Manning out for a few series to calm him down, or been more critical of his play in interviews, or even benched him altogether. And though football is still a meritocracy at the end of the day, this is the time Sarkisian is reminding the Longhorn fanbase to “dance with the one who brung ya.”

Because Manning once did the same for him. He trusted Sark when he had other options. He believed in him when no one else did.