Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that two Longhorns will face internal discipline after crude celebrations in No. 1 Texas’ 20-17 win at No. 14 Tennessee.
The Associated Press reports Sarkisian met separately with defensive end Colin Simmons and running back Raleek Brown after the team’s Monday review session. He declined to say what the punishment would be. “That’s not who we are as a team, and that behavior is unacceptable,” he said. “We take a lot of pride in the way we play the game.”
Simmons, a preseason All-American and Duncanville product, tied a school record with five sacks at Neyland Stadium on Saturday. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after a sack when officials said he simulated using the restroom. Sarkisian pulled him briefly, then put him back in. Video of the penalty spread quickly. Simmons apologized after the game, saying he got caught up in the moment.
Brown scored two touchdowns, including a late score that put Texas ahead 20-10. His celebration after that touchdown was not flagged. Sarkisian said it still could have drawn a penalty and that it did not meet the program’s standard.
Burnt Orange Nation reports Sarkisian told players they have to celebrate with teammates instead of showing up an opponent. He said he does not want to take away the team’s energy, but that the line on what draws a flag is clear. Teammates later crowded Simmons after other sacks to keep the moment from getting out of hand again.
Texas is 4-0 and 1-0 in the SEC after surviving a late Tennessee touchdown, an onside kick the SEC later said was officiated incorrectly, and a final Hail Mary. The Longhorns are off until the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma on Oct. 10 in Dallas.
Sarkisian said the celebrations are not a measure of the players’ character and that the team will show who it is as the season goes on. He did not announce any change in playing time.
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