Steve Sarkisian is leaning on a familiar kind of edge as Texas tries to steady itself.
On Monday, the Longhorns coach brought up Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” while meeting with reporters, a nod to the relentless standard Bryant became known for during his run with the Los Angeles Lakers. Sarkisian’s message came as Texas looks to keep building after dropping back-to-back games earlier this month.
The Horns got a needed response in Week 8, surviving Ole Miss 34-27 in Austin on Saturday night. That win set up another high-profile home spotlight in Week 9, when Mississippi State visits 11th-ranked Texas this Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN.
Sarkisian tied Bryant’s legacy to a broader philosophy of constant growth, describing the mindset as a push to keep sharpening every part of the job. By definition, the “Mamba Mentality” is explained as this:
Kobe Bryant’s philosophy of relentless self-improvement, defined as the constant pursuit of becoming the best version of yourself through discipline, resilience, fearlessness and obsessive preparation.
The connection ran deeper than basketball admiration for Sarkisian. He said he had a strong family connection with Bryant through their daughters, which made the late star’s approach resonate even more.
“I’m a huge fan, not only of the player but of the person, with the whole ‘Mamba Mentality,'” Steve Sarkisian said. “We definitely buy into that mentality.”
Now Texas gets another chance to put that message into action under the lights at home against the Bulldogs.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Suddenly Has Two Huge Injury Questions To Answer
Mississippi State is suddenly dealing with two major health questions at once, and the timing could hardly be worse. Head coach Jeff Lebby confirmed that starting linebacker Jalen Smith will miss the rest of the season after a non-contact knee injury that required surgery, a blow that leaves the Bulldogs thinner on the defensive side as they move deeper into the year.
The other issue hangs over the offense, where Kamario Taylors status remains unsettled after he aggravated a foot injury in the recent game against Oklahoma. The Bulldogs are waiting for a clearer read on how long that setback will linger, and with upcoming games on the schedule, the next update on Taylor could shape how Mississippi State approaches the immediate stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Suddenly Has Texas Bracing For A Different Fight
Texas is treating this week like a trap waiting to spring. Steve Sarkisian made it clear the Longhorns are approaching Mississippi State as a dangerous opponent, and the Bulldogs have given them enough reason to pay attention as the matchup nears Oct. 31. Texas comes in ranked No. 11 and looking to keep building momentum, but this is the kind of game where a shaky week can turn into a long afternoon if a team takes its eye off the details.
The biggest variable is Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, whose status has been up in the air because of a right foot injury. Taylor has been working through that issue, and his availability could change how Texas prepares for the Bulldogs in a hurry. For Mississippi State, the stakes are straightforward enough, since the Bulldogs are still chasing their first win at Texas since 1992, and any hope of pulling that off starts with having their quarterback situation settled. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Suddenly Has A Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Mississippi States fast 4-0 start has given way to a far more complicated stretch, and the concern now centers on a defense that has been too easy to attack through the air. The Bulldogs have dropped three straight to LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma, and in each of those games the issues felt familiar: trouble defending deep throws, too little consistent pressure on the quarterback and too many moments where opponents found open space when the game was still hanging in the balance.
For a team that opened the year looking like a real surprise, the recent skid has made the margins much thinner. Injuries and missed chances on offense have only added to the frustration, leaving Mississippi State at 4-3 and searching for fixes before the problems on the back end become the defining story of the season. [Read more 🡒]