Steve Sarkisian makes final decision about Texas football celebrations
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Steve Sarkisian makes final decision about Texas football celebrations originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian is not satisfied with his players drawing excessive celebration penalties and wants it to stop.
During his weekly press conference, Sarkisian sent a clear message and said it was "unacceptable." This comes after Texas defensive end Colin Simmons drew a penalty following a sack with a urination celebration. The moment itself was a stain on a near record-breaking game for Simmons, who had five and a half sacks.
"We've got to do a better job of celebrating with one another," Sarkisian said. "The moment you start to demean the opponent, the flags come out."
Simmons was briefly removed from the game against Tennessee, but the damage was done. Video clips of the moment were viral by halftime of Texas' 20-17 win over Tennessee.
Simmons apologized during Texas' postgame press conference. The nation's top defender has earned a ton of Heisman Trophy buzz, but wiping his hand across his crotch and being in the moment isn't a good look. The celebration topic is minor compared to other things in the course of the game. But Sarkisian isn't buying his team's conduct. He said he addressed the matter and will be moving forward.
"That behavior is unacceptable," Sarkisian added. "We take a lot of pride in the way we play the game."
"I don't think any of those actions are indicative of the character of the young men, and I think we'll see that as the season unfolds of whom these guys really are."
Sarkisian's most important message to his team is acting like they've been there before.
"We can't let the emotions of the game get the better of us because we're going to be in other hostile environments as the season goes on."
Texas is in the midst of a bye week before meeting Oklahoma for the latest edition of the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 10 in Dallas.
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