Texas Longhorns Coach Steve Sarkisian Had 'Tremendous Confidence' in Kicker Bert Auburn

Texas Longhorn kicker Bert Auburn nailed the game-winning field goal on Saturday against the Kansas State Wildcats.

Texas Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn hit perhaps the biggest kick of his career on Saturday, sending his team to a 33-30 overtime win over the Kansas State Wildcats. 

On a fourth-and-goal in overtime, trailing by three points, the Wildcats gambled and chose to go for the end zone rather than kicking a field goal to potentially tie the matchup. This risky play caught many by surprise, especially Auburn.

"I was thinking they were gonna kick it," Auburn said after the game. "But you know they have to play to win it, you know, that's what most teams are gonna do against us for the win."

Texas Longhorn Kicker Bert Auburn / © Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman

Auburn speaks highly of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and praises him for embedding confidence in him and the rest of the Longhorn roster. 

Close-scoring games, like the Texas versus Kansas State matchup, are the moments in which coaches can display trust in their kickers. Sarkisian did just that on Saturday.

"Oh Sark has helped tremendously I mean just constantly put me out there despite you know a shaky season from the start," Auburn said. "He's just had tremendous confidence just keep putting me out there and out there and that that means the world to you as a kicker, that to know that your coach has your back."

Although Auburn had some early season struggles, he has improved tremendously. 

Auburn mentioned that he tries not to dwell on his past mistakes, but keeps looking forward to improving every game.

"You know, as a kicker, you're gonna miss kicks," Auburn said. "You wish you could have them back but that's just how it goes. And you got to leave them in the past and just keep working steadily."