When it comes to the high-stakes world of college football recruiting, few stories have captured the sport’s imagination quite like the saga of Arch Manning. The nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class, and the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch’s recruitment was shrouded in secrecy and speculation. Yet, as new revelations emerge from Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, the tale takes on new dimensions—shedding light on the fierce, sometimes ruthless, tactics that define the recruiting trail.
In the summer of 2022, the eyes of the college football world were locked on Manning’s decision. Programs from every corner of the country clamored for his signature, but behind the scenes, the battle for his commitment was anything but straightforward. According to Wickersham, the Alabama Crimson Tide, led by legendary coach Nick Saban, pulled out all the stops in their pursuit. Yet, it was a single moment—a Zoom call, no less—that may have changed the course of college football history.
During this pivotal call, then-Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding, alongside Arch, his father Cooper, and Isidore Newman High School coach Nelson Stewart, made a fateful remark about Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian’s well-documented battle with alcoholism. "I love Sark. He’s my best friend," Golding reportedly said, pausing before dropping the bombshell: "I hope he can stay sober." According to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, this was not just idle chatter. It was a calculated move—one that aimed to plant a seed of doubt in Manning’s mind about Sarkisian’s ability to lead the Texas program long-term.
Sarkisian’s struggle with alcoholism is no secret. In October 2015, he was fired by USC after being asked to take an indefinite leave of absence, with then-athletic director Pat Haden telling ESPN, "it was clear to me that he was not healthy." Yet, Sarkisian’s journey didn’t end there. He rebuilt his career with stops at the Atlanta Falcons and Alabama before landing at Texas, where he’s since transformed a struggling program into a national contender. Far from hiding his past, Sarkisian has made it a centerpiece of his leadership philosophy. As he told Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt, "Trust is not at the highest level, being vulnerable, open and honest are not at the top of the priority list for a lot of young men. We want to suppress things, we want to keep things down. So, how do I get them to feel comfortable to do that? Well, why don’t I share? Why don’t I become vulnerable? … Every year, at the start of the summer, I tell my story."
Negative recruiting—where coaches highlight the perceived weaknesses or past mistakes of rival programs—has long been an open secret in college football. But the Golding episode, as chronicled by Wickersham and reported by outlets like the New York Post and ESPN, took it to a new level. After the Zoom call, Nelson Stewart, Manning’s high school coach, immediately called out Golding, saying, "Pete, that’s f----d up!" Golding’s response? "Daddy’s on me," a reference to the pressure he felt from Nick Saban, whom Alabama assistants reportedly referred to as "Daddy." The anecdote underscores the cutthroat nature of recruiting at the sport’s highest level, where even personal struggles can become fair game.
Ironically, Golding himself was arrested on a DUI charge in February 2022, while still serving as Alabama’s defensive coordinator and actively recruiting Manning. The revelation adds another layer of complexity—and, some might say, hypocrisy—to the story. Despite the intense pressure and the questionable tactics, the plan backfired spectacularly. Manning committed to Texas in June 2022, a decision that sent shockwaves through the college football landscape and, perhaps, signaled a shift in the sport’s balance of power.
Was it karma? As the New York Post’s Matt Ehalt put it, "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." The attempt to undermine Sarkisian’s credibility not only failed but may have reinforced Manning’s resolve to choose Texas. While there’s no definitive proof that Alabama’s negative recruiting cost them Manning, there’s no way to disprove it, either. What’s clear is that the episode has cast a long shadow over Alabama’s recruiting culture, especially in the wake of Saban’s sudden retirement in January 2024.
For Texas, the payoff is enormous. With Manning at the helm and Sarkisian guiding the program, the Longhorns are set to open the 2025 season ranked No. 1, facing off against No. 3 Ohio State in a blockbuster matchup. Manning, once the most coveted recruit in the nation, now steps into the spotlight as the starting quarterback for one of college football’s most storied programs. Meanwhile, Alabama will begin their season with Ty Simpson at quarterback, marking a new era in Tuscaloosa following Saban’s departure.
The saga also raises broader questions about the ethics of recruiting and the pressures faced by coaches and players alike. Golding’s actions—spurred, he claims, by the relentless expectations of Saban—highlight the sometimes toxic environment that surrounds elite college football. "It got so tight that Pete Golding was on a call with Arch, Cooper and Nelson Stewart, a Zoom," Wickersham recounted. "And you know people know that Steve Sarkisian the coach of the University of Texas, has battled alcoholism. It’s public record. It almost cost him his career…He managed to find a way through it and he’s built a terrific career. And stuff like that ends up being fair game."
Yet, for all the drama and intrigue, the story is ultimately one of resilience and redemption. Sarkisian’s willingness to own his past and use it as a teaching tool has not only helped him rebuild his career but has also fostered a culture of openness and trust at Texas. As the Longhorns prepare for their biggest season opener in years, the lessons of the past loom large—but so does the promise of a new chapter.
With the 2025 college football season just days away, all eyes will be on Manning, Sarkisian, and the Texas Longhorns as they take the field against Ohio State. The recruiting battles, the rumors, and the controversies may linger in the background, but for now, the focus shifts to the action on the gridiron and the stories yet to be written.
