Steve Sarkisian, head coach of the Texas Longhorns football program, has been no stranger to scrutiny throughout his coaching career. From his days navigating personal challenges to his efforts in resurrecting a once-great Texas program, Sarkisian has often walked a tightrope between public adoration and criticism. But in a turn few saw coming—and none expected to be this divisive—it was not a play call, a loss, or a recruiting decision that sparked the latest wave of controversy in Austin.
It was the name of his newborn son.
Late Wednesday night, Sarkisian and his wife Loreal announced the birth of their child, a healthy baby boy. But the joy was quickly eclipsed by a tidal wave of confusion, frustration, and, in many corners, outright anger. The reason? The name: Crimson Saban Sarkisian.
A Name Loaded with Implications
“Crimson” on its own might have been viewed as unusual but harmless. Creative baby names are nothing new in the world of sports, after all. But paired with “Saban,” the middle name seemed to many fans to cross a line that couldn’t be walked back.
To fully appreciate the reaction, one must understand the fierce rivalry and deep-seated history between Texas and Alabama, as well as the man at the center of the firestorm—Nick Saban. Saban, who retired earlier this year after a legendary coaching career at Alabama, is viewed with a complex blend of reverence and resentment throughout college football. But for Texas fans, memories are still fresh of the 2022 and 2023 battles with Alabama, including a bitter loss in 2022 that dashed early hopes for a return to national relevance.
Despite Sarkisian’s own past as Saban’s assistant in Tuscaloosa, Texas fans expected that relationship to remain part of Sark’s past—not enshrined in his family lineage. Naming a child “Crimson Saban” felt, to many, like a betrayal.
Fallout in Longhorn Nation
Almost immediately after the announcement, Longhorn message boards and social media platforms were flooded with reactions. The famed Horns247 forum lit up with threads titled “Is Sark Even One of Us?” and “Crimson? Seriously?” Within hours, the topic was trending across Texas, then nationwide.
“It’s like if Coach K had named his son ‘Carolina Dean,’” one fan posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I don’t care how much he respects Saban—this is Texas. You don’t name your kid after the enemy.”
Even prominent Longhorn alumni weighed in. Former quarterback Colt McCoy shared a cryptic but clearly targeted post: “Legacy matters. Never forget where you stand.”
Legendary Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson, usually measured in his commentary, told The Athletic: “Look, I respect Coach Sark. He’s done a lot for this program. But that name? Man… it just doesn’t sit right.”
The backlash was not limited to fans and alumni. Rumors began swirling that a few high-level donors were “deeply disappointed” and that some had even reconsidered their planned contributions to the athletic department.
The Alabama Connection
To be fair, Steve Sarkisian has never hidden his gratitude toward Nick Saban. After being dismissed from USC due to personal issues and battling alcoholism, Saban gave Sarkisian a second chance. First as an analyst and then as offensive coordinator at Alabama, Sark rebuilt his career and his life under Saban’s mentorship.
By the time he was hired at Texas in 2021, Sarkisian was a man renewed—professionally and personally. He credited Saban on multiple occasions during interviews and speeches.
“I owe Coach Saban more than I can ever say,” Sarkisian said during a 2023 ESPN special. “He believed in me when nobody else would.”
So it stands to reason that naming a son after his former mentor was, in Sarkisian’s eyes, a heartfelt tribute. But it’s the combination of “Crimson” and “Saban” that proved too much for Texas fans to bear.
“Crimson alone might’ve raised eyebrows,” said Longhorn historian and author Taylor Raines. “But ‘Crimson Saban’? That’s like pouring salt in a wound for a program still trying to escape Alabama’s shadow.”
Sarkisian Defends the Name
In the face of mounting criticism, Sarkisian didn’t wait long to respond. During a hastily organized press conference Thursday morning, he addressed the controversy head-on.
“I want to start by saying how grateful we are for the love and support from so many of you,” he began. “But I also want to be clear about something: This name is personal. It represents a journey, not a rivalry.”
Sarkisian became emotional while describing what Nick Saban had meant to his family.
“When I was at my lowest, Nick Saban didn’t just hire me—he gave me dignity. My wife and I chose this name because it symbolizes resilience, loyalty, and respect. Not because of football colors.”
He added, “I understand the reactions, but my son’s name doesn’t change who I am or what I’m building at Texas.”
His defense was passionate, but whether it was persuasive remains to be seen.
Recruiting Repercussions?
The controversy raises the question of whether this personal choice could have professional consequences, particularly in recruiting—a world built on optics, loyalty, and momentum.
“Coaches are always looking for angles,” said an anonymous SEC assistant. “Don’t think for a second that opposing staffs won’t bring this up in living rooms: ‘You sure you wanna play for a guy who named his kid Crimson?’ It’s going to be used against him.”
Some recruits appeared unfazed. 2026 five-star QB target Tanner McMillan told Rivals, “It’s just a name. Doesn’t affect how I see Texas or Coach Sark.” But others were less diplomatic.
“Man, he shoulda just named the kid Bevo,” one current recruit joked in a now-deleted Instagram story.
National Reaction
Outside Texas, reactions were more varied. In Alabama, the name was celebrated by Crimson Tide faithful, many of whom took it as the ultimate nod to their former head coach.
“Baby Crimson Saban Sarkisian—has a ring to it,” one Alabama fan wrote. “Even Texas bows to the GOAT.”
Paul Finebaum, never one to shy from controversy, offered his take during his daily SEC Network show.
“This is vintage Sark. Emotional, bold, and just a little tone-deaf,” Finebaum said. “He might’ve meant well, but let’s be honest—he set off a five-alarm fire in Austin.”
Some even speculated that Saban himself might have advised against the name had he known. So far, Saban has not issued any public comment.
Bigger Than Football?
There is a deeper layer to the saga that transcends sports and gets to the heart of public perception and tribalism. College football fans form identities around their schools, colors, and legends. When those boundaries blur—especially in such a public, irreversible way—it touches nerves that run deep.
“It’s not just about football,” said sociologist Dr. Leah Bowers of UT-Austin. “This controversy reveals how much people intertwine loyalty to a school with personal identity. Sarkisian’s decision, to some, feels like a betrayal of that shared identity.”
There’s also a generational divide. Younger fans were more likely to see the name as quirky, even cool. Older fans, many of whom remember Texas’s dominance in the early 2000s and the painful fall that followed, viewed it as symbolic of surrender.
Where Does Texas Go From Here?
Amid the storm, the program itself must press forward. The Longhorns enter the 2025 season as legitimate national title contenders, with a top-5 recruiting class and a loaded returning roster. But distractions like this one have a way of lingering—especially in a media environment hungry for drama.
University officials have remained mostly quiet, though sources say athletic director Chris Del Conte was “surprised” by the name choice and urged Sarkisian to address the matter swiftly.
Ultimately, whether this moment becomes a mere footnote or a turning point in Sarkisian’s tenure remains to be seen. Winning cures most ills, and a Big 12 title—or a playoff appearance—could render the entire controversy moot.
But if the Longhorns stumble? If they lose a close one to Alabama again next year? If rival coaches successfully weaponize this moment on the recruiting trail?
Then “Crimson Saban Sarkisian” may come to symbolize more than just a baby’s name—it may mark the moment the honeymoon ended for Steve Sarkisian in Austin.
Final Thoughts
In the pantheon of college football controversies, this may be the first rooted in a baby’s birth certificate. And while it’s easy to dismiss the uproar as a symptom of fan overreaction, it also serves as a reminder of how deeply personal college football can be—for fans, coaches, and everyone in between.
Steve Sarkisian may have wanted to honor a mentor. Instead, he opened a Pandora’s box.
And Longhorn Nation, it seems, is still deciding how—or if—they want to close it.