Alabama tried using Steve Sarkisian’s alcoholic past to lure Arch Manning away from Texas

Alabama didn’t hold back in its attempt to land Arch Manning.

Then-Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Pete Golding referenced Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s battles with alcoholism in an attempt to send the prodigy to Tuscaloosa over Austin, as detailed in the upcoming book, “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” by Seth Wickersham.

“Competition was so fierce that everything was fair game,” Wickersham wrote, as detailed in an ESPN excerpt. “It was public record that Steve Sarkisian had battled alcoholism, a disease that nearly cost him his career. Sark had rebuilt his life and work in recovery. But during one Zoom call with Arch, Golding was discussing Alabama’s schematics and culture, and then he went there.

“‘I love Sark,’” Golding said. ‘He’s my best friend.’ He paused. ‘I hope he can stay sober.’”

Isidore Newman School (La.) coach Nelson Stewart could not believe what Golding said and called him right after the Zoom session with Manning.

“Pete, that’s f–ked up!” he said, per the excerpt.

Golding then told Stewart that former Alabama coach Nick Saban — whose assistants “affectionally” called Daddy — had been playing pressure.

“Daddy’s on me,” Golding said to Stewart.

Teams look for any edge when it comes to recruiting — especially for a No. 1 recruit like Manning — and if they see a potential opening, the moral playbook can go out the window.

In this case, the playbook seemingly meant to create doubt in Manning’s heads that Sarkisian would remain in his position to coach him.

Sarkisian took a leave of absence while coaching USC in 2015, with reports emerging he had reeked of alcohol around coaches and players.

USC fired him on Oct. 12, 2015, with then-athletic director Pat Haden saying a day before that it was “clear to me that was not healthy,” per an ESPN report at the time.

Sarkisian reportedly checked himself into a rehab facility after his firing.

He ironically began his comeback in 2016 by joining Alabama as an analyst before being hired as the Falcons offensive coordinator, returning to Alabama to be its offensive coordinator after Atlanta fired him and then taking over as Texas’ head coach before the 2021 season.

He now guides the preseason No. 1 team in large part thanks to Manning, whom he landed after winning a massive recruiting battle with Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and others.

Manning’s father, Cooper, actually wanted him to go to Virginia.

“(Manning) liked Sark. He especially liked that Sark was the head coach and the play-caller, increasing the odds that he’d be there for the duration of Arch’s time. Texas was a good school, in case he were to suffer a career-ending injury,” Wickersham wrote of Arch’s decision.

“He liked that Texas was joining the Southeastern Conference. Texas had just finished an 8-5 season when he committed; he wanted to be part of an upswing, of bringing something back.”

When news of Manning’s decision became public, Golding — now Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator — texted Stewart asking why.

Golding told him the reasons and added that Manning felt he may not be recognized in Austin due to its size.

“Stop,” Golding replied, per the excerpt. “No motherf–king way.”

Texas opens the season as underdogs on the road against the defending national champion in No. 3 Ohio State, and the Longhorns are the first top-ranked team to not be favored in their first game.

This season will mark Manning’s first as Texas’ starter after two years as a backup, and it’s unsure if he’ll enter the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft.

Grandfather Archie said his grandson is waiting for 2027, but Arch recently shot that thought down.

“Yeah, I don’t know where he got that from,” Arch said. “He texted me and apologized about that. I’m really just taking it day by day right now.”