Holly Rowe and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian shared a more pleasant interaction on Saturday compared to their previous encounter. Their last meeting after Texas’ 24-23 comeback victory saw Sarkisian rush away during Rowe’s interview attempt, leaving her visibly disappointed.
This time, before the much-anticipated clash between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, the interview proceeded smoothly. Rowe discussed the influence of Arch Manning’s uncle, Peyton Manning, who had a successful record at Neyland, before inquiring how Sarkisian advised Arch to handle the game.
“This is his moment. I want him to go out and have fun with his teammates, right? This team has been great all year. It’s going to continue to play great, but they need to play great together. It’s not about just Arch, it’s about the entire team,” Sarkisian told ESPN.
Rowe thanked the coach, to which Sarkisian responded warmly, “Appreciate you,” as he returned to his sideline. Their postgame interaction after the Ohio State match attracted significant attention. Manning mentioned an AI video of Sarkisian humorously depicted slapping Rowe, which amused many.
Following the incident, Manning apologized for his remarks. Sarkisian clarified ESPN faced delays and he was eager to celebrate with his team. He mentioned having a strong relationship with Rowe since his playing days at BYU.
Sarkisian expressed hope for another post-victory interview with Rowe after the Longhorns’ upcoming game. As of the writing, Texas led Tennessee 7-3 in the first quarter.