From Newsweek · Matthew Couden · · 1m 20s
Sarkisian's rushed exit had a reason
Texas beat the No. 1 team, then its coach blew off ESPN in seconds and the internet turned on him.
In brief
Texas beat the No. 1 team, then its coach blew off ESPN in seconds and the internet turned on him. The clip everyone piled on was missing the context: ESPN's own gear had already burned Sarkisian's time. Originally reported by Newsweek.
A 21-point comeback
Texas erased a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23. Players and coaches were still celebrating on the field when ESPN came looking for the winning coach.
Four seconds with Holly Rowe
Sarkisian stood beside sideline reporter Holly Rowe, cut off her first question, and bolted.
“That's called Texas fight! That's called Texas fight! Hook 'em!”
ESPN pivoted to Arch Manning
The broadcast cut to Laura Rutledge and quarterback Arch Manning, who gave the long, reflective interview the network wanted from the coach.
X did what X does
An On3 clip of the walk-off spread fast, and commenters read it as a millionaire coach disrespecting a woman doing her job.
“You'd think for 5 million a year you could act like a human being”
The part nobody saw
Rutledge later explained that ESPN had technical problems with the Sarkisian interview. He had waited a long time, the network apologized, and he had to go.
Everyone lost the moment
A broken feed cost fans the postgame interview after one of the biggest wins of Sarkisian's tenure, and cost him a day of being called a jerk.
The headline
The clip everyone piled on was missing the context: ESPN's own gear had already burned Sarkisian's time.
