Texas reveals real reason for coach Steve Sarkisian's 'classless' response to reporter... after ESPN's chaotic coverage of college showdown

The University of Texas has blamed ESPN's technical glitches for Steve Sarkisian's abrupt snub of a sideline reporter following the Longhorns' win over Ohio State.

Sarkisian came under intense scrutiny across social media on Saturday night after he appeared to dismiss Rowe on the field, moments after Texas completed an extraordinary 24-23 comeback victory against the Buckeyes. 

As ESPN's Chris Fowler threw the broadcast down the field, on-field reporter Holly Rowe approached Sarkisian for an interview. But as Rowe tried to speak to the head coach, he shouted over her: 'Texas fight. That's called Texas fight. Hook 'Em!'.

He threw up a Longhorns sign to the camera with his left hand as he stormed away from Rowe and joined his team celebrating, refusing to give any insight into the game or answer any of her questions.

Veteran reporter Rowe was left visibly annoyed and frustrated as Sarkisian walked away, and fans online were unimpressed with his behavior towards one of the most well-respected reporters in the industry. 

Sarkisian was slammed online as 'classless' for his response, with one fan pointing out his quarterback, Arch Manning, was happy to do a post-game interview. 

However, a Texas spokesperson has now clarified the bizarre sequence, revealing that technical issues with ESPN's equipment once again resurfaced on the field postgame, leading to Sarkisian's awkward exit from the interview.

The incident came after an awkward halftime situation occurred between Sarkisian and the ESPN broadcast, raising questions over the network's nationally televised coverage of one of the marquee Week 2 matchup. 

Rowe's fellow sideline reporter, Rutledge, was waiting to speak to Sarkisian at the interval with his team losing 20-3. But the camera panned to her as Sarkisian was running down the tunnel into the locker room.

 'Alright, we actually just lost Sark because he had to go,' Rutledge explained. 'I'm sorry about that, you guys. He waited for a long time. Credit to him for waiting. We'll try to get him on the way out of the half.'

Rutledge was unable to speak to Sarkisian as he made his way back out for the second half, but later assured that he had 'been very patient' and 'apologized' despite the fact she said ESPN owed him the apology.

She explained: 'I do want to make sure we clear something up. [Steve Sarkisian] did decline the interview at the half. 

'He had waited a long time, been very patient with some technical issues that we had. He apologized to us. We should be apologizing to him, which we did.'

Many fans slammed ESPN for the situation and suggested it contributed to Sarkisian's short interaction with Rowe after the game.  

One fan wrote: 'Maybe ESPN shouldn’t have made him stand around at half time waiting to come to him before kissing Ryan Days a**. Tell the whole story. Sorry Holly took the brunt of it but after that win and the snub at half time he wanted to be with his team not ESPN.'

Another theorized: 'I think there was some bad blood because they were supposed to interview him at the end of the first half and they blew him off. I think he was still a little sore about it. Evidently he waited before going into the locker room before the first half and then never spoke to him.' 

Rutledge spoke to Manning while Rowe was getting snubbed by Sarkisian, with the Texas quarterback explaining how he was fueled by last year's loss to the same opponent.

'We couldn't lose to them again,' Manning said. 'I had nightmares about that game last year. It wasn't pretty but we found a way to win.'