Tide stemmed: Norvell, Sarkisian sitting tight
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Mark Schlabach Close Mark Schlabach ESPN Senior Author Senior college football writer Author of
seven books on college football Graduate of the University of Georgia Andrea Adelson Close Andrea Adelson ESPN Senior Author ACC reporter. Joined ESPN.com in 2010. Graduate of the University of Florida.Jan 12, 2024, 12:43 PM ET Texas’Steve Sarkisian and Florida State’s Mike Norvell reaffirmed
- their commitments to their existing schools on social networks Friday after being connected to Alabama’s high-profile vacancy.Both Norvell and Sarkisian made the announcements on social media.Alabama has wasted no time in its search, a short time later sources telling ESPN that Washington’s Kalen DeBoer was negotiating an offer to change Nick Saban. Tide offending coordinator Tommy Rees was likewise slated to
be talked to, sources said, however it wasn’t right away clear where that stood.After Sarkisian and Norvell affirmed their commitments, Florida State announced that it had actually reached an”enhanced”handle Norvell. Sources informed ESPN that it’s an eight-year deal with an average of more than$10 million per season.
Florida State coach Mike Norvell and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian have both revealed they are remaining at their schools, and not pursuing the Alabama task. Picture by Chris Graythen/Getty Images “FANTASTIC DAY to be a FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLE !!”Norvell wrote on his X account.FSU athletic director Michael Alford informed ESPN,”We’re devoted to Coach Norvell and the program in continuing this climb.”A source suggested to ESPN that the school likewise made a dedication to Norvell to increase financing for extra resources for football, including increasing the recruiting budget.Meanwhile, in Texas, sources told ESPN that the Longhorns are also dealing with an agreement extension for Sarkisian, who signed a six-year,$34.2 million contract in 2021. In a Friday post on X, the Texas football program posted a brief video of Sarkisian with the caption,”
Just starting.” Sarkisian published the” Horns up”emoji in a response to the post. “I came here to win championships,”Sarkisian stated in the video.”That’s the goal.
We’re here to go after success, to win championships. This is the University of Texas and individuals are going to wish to become part of it. It sure is fantastic to be on the Forty Acres.”Sarkisian, 49, was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach when they finished 13-0 in 2020 and beat Ohio State 52-24 in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. It was Alabama’s sixth and last championship game under coach Nick Saban, who revealed his retirement Wednesday after 17 seasons.This past season, Sarkisian guided the Longhorns to a 12-2 record, a Big 12 title and their very first appearance in a CFP semifinal. Texas lost to Washington 37-31 in a CFP semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. His teams are 25-14 in three seasons at Texas.Sarkisian, a former coach at Washington and USC, also worked as an off-field analyst at Alabama in 2016, after he was fired by the Trojans.On Thursday, Oregon coach Dan Lanning, who was likewise pointed out as a potential replacement for Saban, took himself out of consideration with a video on social
media.Lanning’s video contained the caption: “If you’re frightened your coach is leaving, then come play for us. The Ducks aren’t going anywhere, and I’m not leaving.”The video also included an audio clip from Lanning, who said, “I want to be here in Eugene for as long as Eugene will have me.
“Lanning, who worked as a graduate assistant for Saban in 2015, is 22-5 in two seasons with the Ducks.ESPN’s Pete Thamel
, Chris Low and Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.