The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Video: No. 3 Football Sugar Bowl arrival press conference
12.27.2023 | Football
Football head coach Steve Sarkisian, wide receiver Jordan Whittington and linebacker Jaylan Ford spoke with the media upon the team's arrival in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.
Transcript from the Allstate Sugar Bowl team arrival press conference.
HEAD COACH STEVE SARKISIAN: Well, this is exciting for the week to finally be here. When you play in a conference championship game and then you don't get to play again for another month, it takes a while, right? There's a process to get to that point. But to finally make to it New Orleans, got my beads on, I feel good. I know our team's excited and we're excited to play a quality opponent, the University of Washington -- ton of respect for them -- in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which is a great honor in the CFP. So great opportunity. Fortunate to be here, and looking forward to the ballgame at the end of the week.
Q. Coach, the way you've recruited the New Orleans area, is this starting to feel like a second home for you?
COACH SARKISIAN: Well, I just think the natural proximity helps us. We joke sometimes on the staff: You never know when east Texas ends and Louisiana begins, right? So from a proximity standpoint, it's very natural for us to recruit Louisiana. Naturally, we have a couple coaches on staff who do a heck of a job recruiting the state. We've been fortunate to sign some really good players that are really good on our team right now. And hopefully, that can continue. We know that this state produces a ton of talent. So for us to be able to make some inroads here recruiting, and now to be playing in the Sugar Bowl, it's naturally, I think, comfortable for us.
Q. Coach, you've been in bowl games and you've also been in playoff situation at Alabama a couple years. How do you treat this different from a regular bowl game? And what have you done to maybe implement, but what did you learn, first, from being at Alabama in the playoffs like that? And what have you done to implement that this week?
COACH SARKISIAN: I think one of the keys is you do a lot of the structural work from a game-planning perspective back home, right? Because we have so much time, we kind of take the week to really implement what we want to do when we're back at home. When we're here, obviously, we want to take our time to make sure that we're putting forth maximum effort to get ready for the game. But also want to give our players a chance to experience this opportunity, experience the city of New Orleans, experience what they've earned -- which is to be in the CFP. But I think our players will echo the same sentiment, you know? We're here to play our best football that we can play to try to win a Semifinal game to get into the national championship. So I think there's definitely a workman-like mentality that this team has. But I want to make sure that they enjoy the experience as well, because they've earned it.
Q. Steve, obviously y'all are peaking at the right time, at the end of the year, after a month off. As an offensive guy, how do you keep an offensive rhythm when you haven't played for a month?
COACH SARKISIAN: Yeah, I think part of it was making sure that we did enough good-on-good in practice. Especially, early on in the prep. That we kept the speed of the competitiveness, of what a game would feel like in a practice setting. Not necessarily to scrimmage all the time, but at the line of scrimmage, offensive line, they need to feel the speed and physicality of our defensive line. Our DBs need to feel the speed and the rhythm of our passing game because that's critical to, you know, when that ball gets kicked off next Monday night, it's all going to be fast. So we have to make sure that we're playing to our tempo and our speed. I think, too, when you implement a game plan, what I've learned is you don't want to give it to them all at once. Because, ultimately, it can become monotonous. So we try to kind of keep giving them things as the day comes, and keep their interest really perked and on point, and making sure that practice is upbeat and energetic, and that we got a lot of positive vibes going in our building and on the practice field. And I think our guys are responding well to that.
Q. Steve, the messaging has been consistent throughout the year from yourself and the players about each week being a championship week. You talked about the workman-like mentality. How does that help the team not get overwhelmed by this atmosphere at the Sugar Bowl, and be laser-focused on the task at hand?
COACH SARKISIAN: Again, one thing that's helped us this year, we've played in some pretty tough environments, right? We had to go on the road. Naturally, playing in Tuscaloosa was helpful for us. Playing in the Big 12 championship game in Arlington was good for us. And to not be too enamored with the outside and what was going on outside, but stay focused on us. We have a simple adage: Be enamored with us. And we try to keep our focus internal, so that when the games come, it's about what we've prepared to go do. And not what might be going on around us. And a lot of times when you get into these settings, the world around you is pretty chaotic. We talk about it all the time as a team. What is going on around us is very chaotic. We want to make sure that we're a steady sea. And that we're focused on what we need to do. We're very calm when the moment comes, regardless of the circumstances, because adversity is going to strike. It's going to strike in this ballgame, and us keeping our composure, us keeping our poise, is going to be critical to our success.
Q. Coach, along those lines, not getting too enamored with New Orleans and the fun this week, what do you need to see to know your guys are in the right mindset as you go through the week?
COACH SARKISIAN: Well, I think that started back home. When you listen to our leaders talk -- you guys will get a chance to visit with them -- I think their focus is already there. Naturally, how we prepare, how we practice is going to tell me a lot. What are they talking about? Listen to conversations when we're on the bus and what's going on. But I also don't want us to be so over the top so early that we're exhausted by the time the game comes. So we operate pretty well as a group when we're loose. We have a lot of fun together as a team. But I also think that this group knows how to, when it's time to really be focused and locked in, that they have the ability to do that. So I don't think that we need to change a whole lot. I think that we already know how do that. And so trusting on our training to get us to this point, I think, will be big as well.
Q. Your staff had a month to prepare for them. Their staff had a month to prepare for you. Does that change how you go about things? How do you deal with that extra time?
COACH SARKISIAN: Well, it presents a heck of a challenge. Obviously, a lot of what we do early on is look at ourselves first. What are our tendencies? Where are we giving away too much in any phase -- offense, offense, or special teams? Two, knowing that Washington's staff, Coach [Kalen] DeBoer and his crew, they're great coaches and they do a heck of a job. So knowing that they've had the same amount of time that we've had, I think, is understanding as you navigate your way through it. But at the end, it all comes back to, let's not outsmart ourselves and let's make sure that we do the things that we do well. And let's make sure that we continue to do those things well. And let's make sure we continue to do those things well as we game plan and put some of the fluff around it.
Q. Steve, since there has been finals, some off-time holidays, since y'all are back together and this is go time, is the team's focus where you want it to be?
COACH SARKISIAN: I love where our team's at. I really thought when we came back to work, whatever that was, really getting back to it, I think it was the 22nd -- excuse me, end of the 22nd. But whatever that was, a couple Fridays ago -- I don't even know the dates anymore. It's been a long month. They were ready. Our guys were ready. I don't think they even wanted to stop practicing. But I knew that they needed it. We were a little fatigued by that Big 12 championship game. This was a heck of a week we just had last week. They had a few days there for the holidays and we came back the last two days and had two really good days of work. I like the mentality. So I am, I feel good about where we're at. I know that the hay is not in the barn for us. We've got work to do this week while we're here to put ourselves in the best position to be successful.
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WR JORDAN WHITTINGTON
On balancing the fun of being in New Orleans with the importance of the game:
You just have to give the game the respect it deserves. All the external things are really cool, so we'll get to see it and experience it, but other than that you have to respect the game because it demands it and we are here to win. We are here to play a football game. At the end of the day, you have to figure out what you want more, and we all know what we want, which is to play a football game. The other stuff like the city is cool, but we are locked in.
On the impact of the outcome from last year's bowl game on the mindset:
It's human nature to remember that you are not just going to forget that game, but at the same time teams change throughout the years so we are playing a new team and they are playing a new team so we are just sticking to how we prepare. It will be exciting that's a new team, really good, and we've got a lot of respect for them. It will be fun.
On what excites him the most about visiting New Orleans:
Today is when I'm going to do all the eating and then after this I am going to taper down. New Orleans has got something coming because I am coming for the food. I want some gumbo; I want everything that I can only get here. When I travel, I only want the local stuff, that's what I am coming for today.
LB JAYLAN FORD
On the team's mentality this year:
I think our mentality has just been understanding what we've been trying to achieve this whole year, and then going out there and actually doing it. Do what it takes to go out there and play at a high level. Everybody understands that they have a role on this team, and I think everyone's done a good job to take responsibility for their own role, to come out each week, practice however they need to and get better every week.
On getting into the right mindset for the game:
I think the biggest part is realizing how far you've come. Realizing you didn't come this far just to be here and enjoy the moment; you came this far to go win a national championship and hoist that trophy up into the air. I think when you keep that at the forefront of your mind, it pushes you to be better and to keep driving until you get to that point.
On what he's most looking forward to on this trip:
Honestly, just the experience of being with my teammates. Last year we had the Alamo Bowl, so this (Allstate Sugar Bowl) is a big step up. It's kind of a little vacation for the guys, but it's still business with the game and all. For us to get away from Austin and have a trip together and play ball, you really couldn't ask for much more.