AUSTIN, Texas — What we have here is a significant difference
of opinion.
On one side of the Red River, Texas football coach Mack Brown gushes about the improvement of quarterback Chris Simms, who is prepared to make one of the defining starts in his college career when No. 3 Texas (5-0, 1-0) meets No. 2 Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.
On the other side of the river, Oklahoma coaches wonder how much of Simms’ stellar completion percentage (56.1) and improved touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio (10-3) should be attributed to a schedule that has yet to see the Longhorns face an opponent with a winning record.
Asked to gauge Simms’ progress since throwing four interceptions in last year’s 14-3 loss to the Sooners, Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said: “It’s hard to tell. They haven’t seen a lot of quality defenses this season. A lot of pressure is reduced in those situations because (Simms) hasn’t had to force anything. When you play against good people, you’re forced to try and make bigger plays when your running game isn’t working.”
In Brown’s estimation, Simms has more than acquitted himself during victories over five opponents with a combined record of 10-17. He cited a laundry list of areas where Simms is better in 2002, including leadership, judgment, mobility and mental toughness.
“He’s only made one bad throw all year,” Brown said, referring to a potential interception that was dropped by a Houston defender. “He’s really stepped up his game in all areas.”
Despite an enviable pass-efficiency rating (132) that places him 47th nationally among major-college quarterbacks, Simms knows he will never be judged by what he does against North Texas or Tulane. Not after balancing 12 turnovers against one touchdown pass in his past three appearances against top-10 opponents (all losses).
In many ways, Simms’ legacy as a college quarterback figures to be shaped by what happens Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. The senior from Franklin Lakes, N.J., said Monday that he is ready for the scrutiny.
Color the Sooners skeptical. After offering pregame praise for Simms last season and having Brown dismiss it as possible gamesmanship, Oklahoma coaches are not tossing verbal bouquets this season.
Asked if Simms is less error-prone in 2002, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said: “That’s hard to say. I never thought he was careless with the ball. … Our comments (last year) that he was better went unnoticed. People wanted to comment that we weren’t sincere, but we were. We don’t lie. We say what we mean.”
This time, the Sooners are saying Simms must prove it to them on the field.
(c) 2002, Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.