Steve Sarkisian’s Classy Gesture to Injured Texas Player Impressed College Football Fans
Texas made pretty easy work of Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game Saturday, cruising to a 49–21 win at AT&T Stadium and making their best, last case to the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Coach Steve Sarkisian had the Longhorns ready to play from the jump, scoring with flair early and often, including a big man touchdown that made it immediately clear Texas would be taking no prisoners en route to the title.
While Sarkisian had a pretty easy time coaching through the second half given Texas’s big lead, one move from the coach impressed the collective college football world.
As the Longhorns lined up in victory formation to kneel the final seconds of the game away, running back Jonathan Brooks took the field. Brooks had suffered a torn ACL in a game against TCU in November. Before his injury, he had been a key part of the Longhorns’ offensive attack, ranking seventh in FBS with 113.9 yards per game.
Brooks’s ACL tear ended his season, but while he couldn’t take an active snap, he was still able to get on the field on Saturday in the Big 12 title game thanks to Sarkisian.
Steve Sarkisian gave Texas RB Jonathan Brooks a snap in the waning seconds of the Big 12 title game ????
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 2, 2023
Brooks tore his ACL in early November.
???? @TSN_Sportspic.twitter.com/AoHwEZ13Yk
College football fans loved Sarkisian’s gesture to make sure Brooks could be part of the win.
What an awesome moment. No, not Arch Manning kneeling out the Big 12 championship but Longhorns superstar Jon Brooks, who tore his ACL, in the victory formation pic.twitter.com/snRnNMoGSi
— JACK SETTLEMAN (@jacksettleman) December 2, 2023
This was awesome to see for Jonathon Brooks! pic.twitter.com/nCA8rEh97J
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) December 2, 2023
Brooks for the final play??? pic.twitter.com/uuvclrzJKu
— Longhorn Republic (@LonghornPod) December 2, 2023
Jonathon Brooks on the field as Texas wins pic.twitter.com/sVJaZvOmch
— Big Game Bengal (@BengalYouTube) December 2, 2023
Mad respect for Coach Sark for having Jonathon Brooks out on the field to have a moment there. pic.twitter.com/t18syq8xVx
— Rude Wayne a LEGEND if I ever leave (@Dewayne42005783) December 2, 2023
Legitimately tearing up for that Jonathan Brooks thing.
— DD (@BarkingCarnival) December 2, 2023
Putting Brooks on the field for that kneel down was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Hell yes.
— Corey Elliot (@CoreyElliot) December 2, 2023