Football <\/p>\n
College football programs teach us something new every other day. For now, it\u2019s Steve Sarkisian<\/strong> and the Texas Longhorns who are doing the honors. Bitter rivalry, treating opponents as weak, and badmouthing about them have been a common sight in college football, right? That\u2019s when Sarkisian thought of breaking away from the trend.<\/span><\/p>\n The Texas HC has some immense respect for the Arizona State Sun Devils. The New Year\u2019s Day is gearing up for the Peach Bowl as the old Big 12 champs meet the new Big 12 champs. Well, we don\u2019t know who will be the winner. But both Sarkisian and Sun Devils HC Kenny Dillingham<\/strong> have already won hearts by spreading some good and positive vibes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Longhorns won the Big 12 title last year before joining the SEC. It was still swinging open when the Sun Devils waltzed in and won the league title in its debut season. The journey for both Sarkisian and Dillingham\u2019s squad has been somewhat similar. Both the programs had their doubters and had to prove themselves \u201cready\u201d for their new conference. So in that case, there should be a neck-to-neck rivalry, right?<\/span><\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Surprisingly, that\u2019s not the case. On the flip side, despite media attempts to downplay Arizona State\u2019s Big 12 Championship victory, Sarkisian has turned dead ears to any such misleading bias. Rather, the Longhorns HC switched into a praising mode. In an interview with CBS Sports<\/em>, Sarkisian said, giving props to the Sun Devils, \u201cThis is a heck of a challenge. You don\u2019t\u2014you\u2019re not a conference championship team, especially in the Big 12.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n He then compared Arizona State with the Longhorns, \u201cI want to remind everybody, we were in that Big 12, what, for 27 years? We won four. This is their first year in and they won a Big 12 Championship. It\u2019s a really hard thing to do. They\u2019re playing with a ton of confidence right now\u2026and that\u2019s a credit to Coach Dillingham and their staff.\u201d<\/em> Even though Texas is heavily favored in the matchup, opening up with a 12.5-point line, the Longhorns are not treating Arizona State lightly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After all, Sarkisian could feel the talent it demands to win the Big 12 championship. So, Dillingham\u2019s team, coming in as a surprise conference champion, is definitely going to be a tough opponent in the CFP quarterfinals. As the Texas HC stated, \u201cAnd doing it in their first year in the conference, his second year at Arizona State, is a heck of an accomplishment.\u201d<\/em> Now what does Dillingham have to say?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Did you know that Dillingham looks up to Sarkisian\u2019s coaching strategy and studies his tactics? Well, that\u2019s what the Arizona State HC had to say in the press conference before the Peach Bowl. In his opening statement, Dillingham said, \u201cIn terms of Coach Sarkisian, his program, it\u2019s remarkable where he\u2019s taken that program.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n He continued, \u201cHe\u2019s a guy that I think everybody on offense has studied, has watched, has learned from, either having the ability to go meet with him personally or from afar like myself.\u201d<\/em> Now that goes about coaches praising each other. Looks like the main reason that Sarkisian cannot take the Sun Devils easily is because of a particular player. That\u2019s none other than Dillingham\u2019s star running back, Cam Skattebo<\/strong>. After all, the young chap is currently second in the Big 12<\/a> and fifth nationally in rushing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The stats actually speak on his behalf\u2014rushing for 1,568 yards to go along with 19 touchdowns. Plus, his 2,074 yards from scrimmage are No. 2 nationally, just behind Boise State Broncos RB and the Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty<\/strong>. On that note, Steve Sarkisian said, \u201cSkattebo\u2019s a heck of a player\u2026We didn\u2019t know we were getting ready to play Arizona State, but we\u2019ve been watching them for about the last year and a half, and this guy\u2019s a monster.\u201d<\/em> So now you know where all the respect for the Sun Devils comes from!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFootball Why Steve Sarkisian cannot overlook Arizona State?<\/strong><\/h2>\n