Steve Sarkisian didn’t waste much time making the message clear after Texas’ 20-17 win over Tennessee: the celebrations that followed some of the Longhorns’ biggest plays went too far, and he doesn’t want to see that again.
Sarkisian met with Colin Simmons and Raleek Brown individually after the game to address what happened on the field, according to the reporting shared Monday. The head coach also made it plain to the rest of the locker room that this kind of behavior won’t be accepted going forward.
The focus fell hardest on Simmons, who had a huge night rushing the Tennessee offense and finished with five sacks of Faizon Brandon. But that production got overshadowed by a 15-yard penalty tied to a crude celebration that drew immediate attention. Kirk Herbstreit called it an “idiotic move,” and Sarkisian made sure the point landed with his team.
Brown also drew criticism for his own touchdown celebration, which was viewed the same way: over the line and unnecessary. The source described both actions as vulgar and said the pair were caught red-handed with celebrations that crossed a line.
For Simmons, the issue goes beyond one penalty. He’s being talked about as a future first-round pick, and the concern is that scenes like this can raise questions about maturity and character. That’s why the reaction to his sack celebration was so sharp, even with his dominant play against Tennessee’s offensive line, including former 5-star signee David Sanders Jr.
The celebration after the Hail Mary hit the turf didn’t help matters either. For Tennessee fans, it only added to the frustration of the loss, and for Texas, it created a different kind of conversation than the one Sarkisian wanted after a tight win.
Now it falls on Sarkisian to clean it up quickly. The game was a big one for Texas, but the behavior after the plays is what people are still talking about, and that’s exactly what the coach wants to shut down.
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Texas Had To Address A Tennessee Celebration Vols Fans Wont Forget
Texas left Neyland Stadium with a hard-earned 20-17 win over Tennessee, but some of the attention afterward centered on behavior rather than the final score. Head coach Steve Sarkisian met separately with Colin Simmons and Raleek Brown to address celebrations that crossed the line, including the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty Simmons drew after a touchdown. For a road win that already carried plenty of weight, it became clear the postgame conversation had to include discipline as much as execution.
Sarkisian made clear he was not brushing it off, especially with Simmons viewed as a potential first-round NFL draft pick and expected to carry himself accordingly. The message was about professionalism and setting a standard moving forward, the kind of correction that can linger long after the scoreboard is forgotten. Tennessee fans may not have liked the result, but they certainly noticed the celebration, and Texas had to answer for it. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Gave Vols Fans A New Respect Debate
Tennessees narrow 20-17 loss to top-ranked Texas at Neyland Stadium left the Vols with the kind of mixed review that tends to linger. The defense and special teams did enough to keep the game tight, but the offense never fully found its rhythm, and that imbalance showed up again when the latest 247Sports SEC poll landed after Week 4.
Georgia claimed the No. 1 spot, Texas settled in at No. 2 and Tennessee slid to No. 8, a drop that adds another layer to the ongoing respect conversation around the program. Florida and Mississippi State made noticeable climbs, while Texas A&M and Ole Miss also moved down, but for Tennessee the bigger question is how much a close battle with the nations top team actually changes the conference view of the Vols. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Gets A Charged Auburn Test After One Ugly Wake-Up Call
Tennessee gets back on the road Saturday, Oct. 3, and the timing of Auburn could hardly be more instructive. Both teams are 3-1, and for Josh Heupels group, the trip comes with a quick chance to reset after the offense sputtered in the loss to Texas, a game that forced the head coach to talk openly about what needs cleaning up.
Champions Weekend adds another layer to the afternoon in Auburn, with Tennessee honoring past championship teams and individuals while the current roster tries to restore some momentum. The Vols do not have much margin for another clunker this early, and this matchup should say plenty about how quickly Heupels offense can respond to the wake-up call it just got. [Read more 🡒]