High-profile college football coaches are well-equipped to draw X’s and O’s but not to articulate solutions for the many problems within the sport.
Take Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. For a story published Tuesday, he roasted the Ole Miss Rebels for their academic standards, or lack thereof.
Steve Sarkisian calls out Ole Miss for academic policies
“At Texas, we will only take 50 percent of a player’s academic credit hours,” Sarkisian said, per USA Today’s Matt Hayes. “You may be a semester from graduating, but you’re going all the way back to 50 percent if you play here and want a degree. But at Ole Miss, they can take you. All you have to do is take basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree.”
Shortly after the report, Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall poked fun at the Texas head coach.
“Grateful to coach at a top 10 public university that also offers advanced basket weaving!” the coach wrote on X.
Sumrall, of course, was kidding. “Basket weaving” likely refers to the practice of big football schools (including Texas and Florida) offering easy courses in players’ curricula so they can pass and play. But some are more likely to disregard academics than others.
Per U.S. News, Ole Miss is tied for No. 169 among colleges (both public and private) in the nation. Texas and Florida, meanwhile, are tied for No. 30.
So, Sarkisian does have a point. The “academic standards” at some schools are essentially nonexistent, and the NCAA is doing nothing to enforce them.
“It’s like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5 percent of these guys will play in the NFL,” Sarkisian said.
Why Steve Sarkisian’s point was brushed aside
The problem, however, is the way Sarkisian delivered his comment. The “basket weaving” bit becomes the focus rather than his actual point. It’s good social media fodder that drives engagement, not a respectful discussion about the problems major college sports face in an ever-changing landscape and how to solve them.
The other issue is that Sarkisian’s comment could be construed as another attack on Ole Miss, which is already under NCAA investigation for tampering with former Clemson Tigers linebacker Luke Ferrelli. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Rebels head coach Pete Golding texted the ex-California Golden Bears star a picture of a $1M contract in January, which lured him back into the transfer portal and to the SEC school.
Meanwhile, LSU Tigers HC Lane Kiffin — Sarkisian’s close friend — told Vanity Fair Monday that Ole Miss’ association with Confederate symbols made recruiting more challenging, one reason he left last season. He later apologized for his remark.
Many of these topics should be discussed. They’re important issues. Most college football coaches, however, shouldn’t be leading the conversation.
Decision-makers who are well-versed in these topics should be, but those are clearly in short supply in college sports. We look to our coaches for guidance. Instead of providing solutions, they often put their foot in their mouths. And in this case, Sarkisian may have, even though he had good intentions.
