Former University of Texas quarterback Chris Simms decided to open up about some improper benefits he may have received during his playing days in Austin.
It’s these types of comments that can put a university in the midst of a NCAA investigation (via CBS Sports):
“They (Texas) didn’t pay me, but there may have been cash going around to some other players,” Simms said on CBS Sports Radio. “I’m not going to deny that. I may have gotten a few $100 handshakes every now and then to sign some autographs for alumni.”
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos quarterback, who played for the Longhorns under former head coach Mack Brown from 2009-2012, didn’t stop there:
“I don’t care how rich your upbringing was. Yes, I grew up with a silver spoon, but if you give me a few extra $100 as a college kid, that’s great.”
Considering the NCAA has a long history of opening up investigations based on comments much less damning than what Simms shared on the air, we are pretty sure Texas will be hearing from the governing body at some point soon. Still, it’s hard to imagine the NCAA actually being able to police stuff like this.
Colt McCoy’s wife, Rachel, indicated back in 2011 that her husband was approached by boosters and agents for improper benefits during his days with the Longhorns (via Yahoo Sports):
“His (Colt McCoy’s) dad did a really good job of handling all of that, so early on, they decided that Colt wouldn’t have contact with any of them (boosters, agents), even the best of the best. I know he was approached a lot, but you know how Colt is; he can just kind of brush it off and move on and not go down that road. But I saw so many of his teammates who didn’t have that self-control to say ‘No’ to somebody. I can’t — it’s not my personality and I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings.”
These latest comments by Simms are just another in a long line of similar stories from former college football players throughout the years. They do, however, bring us closer to understanding the climate surrounding Longhorn football during the Mack Brown era.
Photo: NFL.com