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Simms' show Longhorns freshman puts on spring show
Posted: Thursday March 30, 2000 08:28 PM
By Tim Griffin, Special to CNNSI.com AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas quarterback Chris Simms learned quickly last year about life in the Austin fishbowl, where Longhorns are often treated like royalty. The notion was reinforced several weeks ago as he wandered the city late one night with Kyle Shanahan, a walk-on wide receiver for the Longhorns and the son of Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. "The first night we went out in Austin, Kyle couldn't believe it," Simms said with a laugh. "He told me he felt like he was going out with John Elway. And I was just the freaking backup." Simms is taking huge steps this spring to live up to the expectations. Starter Major Applewhite's knee injury has given Simms the opportunity to receive his most extensive work with the Texas offense since arriving as the nation's top incoming freshman last year. In his final tune-up before Saturday's Orange-White Game, Simms blistered the Longhorns' defense by completing 16 of 21 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns. His spring work is making some observers think that Applewhite, the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Year last year, could have trouble winning his job back in the fall when he rehabilitates. "I thought Chris has done really well," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "He continues to get better. I thought he was handling the huddle better, which is what we wanted in our game-type situations. I thought he got rid of the ball quicker than we've seen him. So I think he's doing really well and we've been pleased with him." Applewhite is not expected to return to extensive work until June, at the earliest. His departure is giving Simms ample opportunity to learn the Texas offensive system. "His biggest improvement is his leadership," Brown said. "Young quarterbacks get so high on a big play and then they struggle when they make a mistake and they'll go out and make two more. He hasn't done that this spring." Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis has been impressed with Simms' development over the last several weeks. His familiarity with the Texas offense, as well as his ability to choose secondary receivers has been particularly noticeable this spring, Davis said. "He had such an advantage because he prepared to play every week last year," Davis said. "I'm not surprised because he adapted so well because of his work during the fall."
A big return from the Texas quarterback will be important as the Longhorns hope to rebound from a disappointing 1999 finish. Texas was ranked No. 7 in the country after clinching the Big 12 South Division title with one game left in the regular season. But losses to Texas A&M, Nebraska and Arkansas marked the first time since 1984 the Longhorns finished the season with a three-game losing streak. "Sometimes, you need a wake-up call," Brown said. "In this business, you start feeling pretty good and you'll get hit right in the mouth. You need to stay humbled. We definitely got humbled." How they did it was even more un-Texas like. The Longhorns failed to produce an offensive touchdown in their final 10 quarters and posted the lowest rushing total in the school's 105-year football history with their 6-yard performance against Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship game. Their minus-27 yard rushing effort against Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl was even worse -- except that bowl game statistics aren't counted in the school's records. "It was kind of disgusting, to tell you the truth," Simms said. "We felt like we couldn't do anything. You hate to see that happen, especially at a place like this. At the University of Texas, we're not supposed to lose the last three games of the season." After that loss, Brown started a seven-step evaluation process including personal meetings with all players and assistant coaches. Coaches spent more time in the athletic dorms to meet with players. Staff members, coaches and players were given a questionnaire asking them to evaluate the program and coaching staff in all areas. Each player was graded by all of his teammates and coaches in terms of leadership. "I even had them [Texas players] rate how happy their parents are with the program," Brown said, laughing. "Is that a way to be brutalized? I was asking for it." As the Longhorns conclude spring practice, Brown is convinced he has a better understanding of his team than any previous year. "I know more about this team than any of them," Brown said. "I don't think it's surprising, but they felt like I did leaving Dallas. They are hungry with something to prove. We lost some momentum and we need to get it back." A looming quarterback controversy appears to be in the works. Brown is careful to say that he wants both quarterbacks to be ready when the regular season opens Sept. 9 against Louisiana-Lafayette. "The truth is, we want to play two [quarterbacks]," Brown said. "I wasn't trying to cover myself. We want two ready to play. And we sincerely have the track record of playing the one who will get us in the end zone most." Ironically, no quarterback in Texas history had the kind of season like Applewhite last year, who set school records for passing yards (3,357), total offense (3,211) and touchdown passes (21). "I know the old saying, 'When you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one,'" Davis said. "Except I don't really believe that's an accurate assessment of our particular situation. We just think we have two quarterbacks -- two very good quarterbacks." The Longhorns lose three of the four most productive wide receivers from last year and the Big 12's top two receivers (in receptions) with the loss of Kwame Cavil and Ryan Nunez from last year's team. The strength of the Longhorns' 2000 recruiting class appears to be the arrival of heralded wide receivers B.J. Johnson, Sloan Thomas and Roy Williams. All credited Simms for his role in recruiting them to Texas. Their arrival should boost Texas' vertical passing game, giving the Longhorns their best deep speed in many years. Simms can't wait to throwing deep strikes to his new group. "We want to make this like a Florida State or a Florida where we can go out every week and as soon as you walk out on the field, you fear the other team," Simms said. "With those three wide receivers, there's a lot of big-play capabilities in every game." Two top-five recruiting classes in a row are pushing the Longhorns near that level, according to Simms. "We're not that far away," Simms said. "If you look at it, first team on first team, there's not a big difference. It's just that there second team is pretty much their first team and their third team is not that far behind. They can shuffle in players and stay fresh. "But with the last three recruiting classes here, and one or two more, we'll be pretty close. Real close." CNNSI.com's Big 12 Insider Tim Griffin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News.
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