By admin 
There was no screaming into the void or losing his patience on the sideline today as Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe today.
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Sarkisian blew off Rowe after his team’s epic 20-point comeback win over Ohio State two weeks ago but was significantly more polite during a sideline interview at Neyland Stadium today. When Rowe asked him some basic questions about starting QB Arch Manning, Sarkisian answered them patiently and then finished the interview with a nice little compliment for Rowe:
“Thanks, Holly. Appreciate you,” he said as he walked off.
Ending the “Controversy”
The controversy began when Sarkisian appeared impatient with the interview and ended the exchange by saying, “Let’s talk Texas fight, hook ’em,” before walking away to celebrate with his players.
The clip quickly went viral, with some viewers criticizing Sarkisian for appearing dismissive toward Rowe. Sarkisian later acknowledged that he could have handled the situation with more patience, while emphasizing that he has a longstanding relationship with Rowe and “a ton of respect” for her and ESPN.
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The situation escalated several days later when an AI-generated fake video depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe circulated online. At a press conference, Texas quarterback Arch Manning joked about the fake video and called it “hilarious,” prompting backlash because the fabricated footage portrayed violence against a woman. Manning subsequently apologized publicly to Rowe, who accepted his apology.
Sarkisian also addressed the episode, saying Manning recognized his mistake and stressing that neither he nor the Texas program condones domestic violence or violence against women. The controversy therefore evolved from criticism of Sarkisian’s abrupt interview into a broader discussion about AI-generated misinformation, joking about simulated violence, and the treatment of women in sports media.
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This story was originally published September 26, 2026 at 12:24 PM.