NEW ORLEANS — As Arch Manning took a seat on a bench among several fellow Texas reserves, he was besieged by a throng of media.
The crowd was notably larger than at any of the mini podiums intended for noteworthy Longhorns starters on the Superdome field.
The 19-year-old Manning, grandson of one former NFL quarterback and nephew of two Super Bowl-winning ones, then proceeded to explain why he envisions remaining at Texas — even if Quinn Ewers, the starting QB against Washington in Monday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl, decides to come back next season.
“Obviously, there’s always rumors, especially nowadays, but I haven’t looked into transferring at all,” Manning said Saturday. “I’m just focused on developing and helping this team any way I can and hopefully one day playing for the University of Texas, like I’ve always wanted to.”
Manning rebuffed the notion that he could be enticed away by large name-image-and-likeness money to another power institution needing a new starting QB. One of the reasons he opted to attend to college in Austin, Texas, was his belief in the offensive mind of Coach Steve Sarkisian.
“I don’t think it’s about money right now,” Manning remarked. “I want to evolve from Sark. I was told that wonderful things happen to people who work hard and put their head down, and that’s what I’m focusing on.”
Manning’s father, Cooper, said his son put a lot of care and thought into picking where to attend college, and many decisions had nothing to do with football.
“The way we approached it was: If you throw three interceptions and your girlfriend broke up with you, where do you still want to be,” Cooper Manning said. “We want him to enjoy going to class and mixing with his classmates and everything that goes into the college experience.”
Archie Manning said he can see his grandson is pleased at Texas.
“To me, that’s important for any college kid,” he remarked. “They deserve to be happy in college. He’s off to a good start.”
Arch Manning said being asked to pose for photos around campus was an adjustment. But he recognized that comes with his family name and the anticipation around his recruitment.
“Austin for me was a good spot just because I can kind of blend in a little bit more in a big city rather than Oxford (Mississippi) or Athens (Georgia) or Tuscaloosa (Alabama),” Manning said. “That’s a place I would love to go to college if I wasn’t playing football.
“I don’t know if I could get in,” he continued with a self-effacing grin. “But that’s a place I would want to be.”
Ewers, whose plans for next year remain unknown, could be seen actually gazing over his shoulder at the mob around his fresh-faced backup. But the event was much less a metaphor for Texas’ QB predicament than a reflection of some peculiar circumstances surrounding the Sugar Bowl.
New Orleans reporters gravitated to Manning to discuss him being back in his hometown, where he thrived at Newman High School, and where his grandpa played so spectacularly for the Saints that his name hangs above the Superdome’s enormous upper deck. The younger Manning told about inviting his Texas teammates to his house in New Orleans’ historic “Uptown” neighborhood, where his mother, Ellen, cooked chicken and sausage gumbo. He also recalls visiting the Sugar Bowl nearly every year as a boy with Archie Manning, whom he calls his role model, and who has spent decades as one of the bowl’s official committee members.
Meanwhile, media from Austin, Texas, and throughout the world, finally got their first chance to talk with Manning since he joined the Longhorns. Saturday marked his first media interview of any kind since high school. Ewers, by contrast, had met with journalists the day before.
Ewers and Manning share hotel rooms on team road trips and appear to get along well.
“I think we have to be buddies. We’re roommates everywhere we go,” Ewers added. “He’s wonderful. He’s cool to be around. Just like a humble guy. I can tell he truly wants to be a terrific player.”
Manning speaks similarly of Ewers.
“Just a good dude. I like the way he handles his preparation and carries himself, because he was a big-time recruit,” Manning said. “He’s been dialed this year. Y’all can see that on the field. It’s been fun to pick his brain.”
Manning said there are parts good and bad that go with having a name made famous by his grandpa and uncles Peyton and Eli, who not only flourished in the NFL but have become known faces on TV commercials and as sports commentators.
“The bad thing is you’re kind of recognized a lot of places you go, and sometimes you just kind of want to be laid back and under cover,” Manning said. “But there’s a lot of good to it. I get a lot of grade-A suggestions.”
Manning poked fun at the gathering of reporters he attracted.
“I don’t see y’all giving this much attention to other backups,” he remarked. “It’s definitely weird. I’ve never actually played serious football in college.”
Yet, he’s just one play away if Ewers gets hurt.
“Hopefully doesn’t happen,” Manning added. “I’m fired up to watch, but I’ll be ready to play.”
Manning moved up the depth chart when previous second-stringer Maalik Murphy decided to depart earlier this month. Murphy later chose to attend Duke.
“I tried to prepare the whole time like I was the beginning. That was the advise Peyton and Eli gave me before the season,” Manning said. “At the end of the day, it’s just football, going out there and doing what I’ve done my whole life.”
Leave a Reply