Texas Coach Sarkisian Points to 'Look at Me' Culture After Simmons Penalty

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian benched Colin Simmons after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Tennessee, then blamed a social media 'look at me' culture for the celebration.

Texas Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a crude celebration during Texas's game against the Tennessee Volunteers, and head coach Steve Sarkisian was left to explain both the punishment and what he believes caused the moment. The flag came shortly after Simmons sacked Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon near the 10-yard line.

The celebration itself simulated using the restroom, and officials penalized Simmons on the spot. What began as a sack for the Texas defense quickly became a discipline issue on the sideline, and it was a central topic when Sarkisian met with reporters after the game.

Sarkisian confirmed that the response was immediate: Simmons came out of the game. "We took him out," Sarkisian told reporters. "We addressed it, and put him back in." The coach drew a line between a short benching and a harsher penalty, adding, "I'm not gonna give the guy the death penalty over an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. We've got to fix it though. That can't continue as we move forward."

Beyond the in-game discipline, Sarkisian said the matter will be handled with the full roster in the days ahead. "As I touched on with the team in the locker room, we'll address that on Monday and what that looks like and how to control our emotions in the best way," he said.

Part of his message to players is redirecting the emotion that comes with big plays. "I know our guys are excited when they're making plays. The best thing you can do is go celebrate with a teammate," Sarkisian said. Shared celebration, rather than a solo display, is the standard he wants to see from his team.

Sarkisian then widened the discussion beyond his own locker room, attributing the celebration to an attention-seeking culture he tied directly to social media. "Unfortunately, in our society right now, we live in the 'look at me' society," he said. "All of you guys have your Twitter accounts, and as fast as you can type something because you want everyone to look at your account, and you get clicks. Well, that's the world that we live in."

The remedy, in the coach's telling, is a heavier emphasis on the collective. "So we've got to get to —it's about the team and focus on the team, and not so much 'look at me,'" Sarkisian said. "So we'll try to improve upon that, but five sacks was pretty cool today too."

That closing line acknowledged the performance wrapped inside the controversy. Simmons finished the game with five sacks, and Sarkisian made a point of noting it even as he criticized the celebration. The Monday meeting the coach referenced now stands as the next step in a matter he said cannot continue as Texas moves forward.