The Quarterback Controversy: You Decide

I’ve wanted to write about the 1999-2001 Quarterback Controversy at Texas for a long time, but have hesitated because I feel I am so clearly biased. I am possibly Major Applewhite’s biggest fan. I adore him and think he was a fabulous and underrated college quarterback. He always had his head in the game, he was a student of the game, he was a coach on the field, a leader. He was the physical underdog, the quarterback who played with his head and not his arm. When the team won, Major always talked about the “we” in his post-game interviews. When they lost, he talked about the “I”. When he graduated, I, like many Longhorns, waited for his return to Texas as a coach.

I always felt like Chris Simms was everything that Major Applewhite was not. He was an “I” when they were winning and a “we” when they were losing. A classically built quarterback with an arm like a gun, he never quite caught on to the nuances that a good player needs to have to be a great quarterback. Defenses could read him like a book.  I don't know many people that can forget the image of Simms on the sidelines in the 3rd quarter of the 2001 Big XII Championship game, shooting the breeze and laughing with some 3rd string player while Major cleaned up his mess on the field.  I know he was just a kid, and I know all the things that happened in that game weren't his fault, but in that moment, I wanted him to be as mad and as focused on the game as I was.

I'm sure both Major and Chris were good guys. I heard stories about how nice they each were to other students and the work they did in the community. Certainly when it comes down to it, Simms got a raw deal from Texas fans – and I can admit to being a part of that. Non-Texas fans are outraged that Longhorns sided with Major unwaveringly – but they weren’t there week after week as it was happening.

I decided it was time to put away my biases and try to find out the truth – could I unravel the mystery of the quarterback controversy?  The facts and figures you're about to read came mostly from ESPN.com, Rivals.com, ncaafootball.com and Mackbrown-texasfootball.com.  I cross checked all of the sources and looked at play-by-play transcripts of each game from 1998-2002. 

While researching this post, I ran across several other blogs that talk about the great debate. Most of them read along the same lines as this one from Sports Nickel: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/the-truth-about-major-applewhite-chris-simms

Sports Nickel (and most others that have taken the time to actually write about the fiasco) feels that Texas fans are blind to the truth, and that “statistically speaking” Simms was the superior quarterback. So, Sports Nickel. Let’s break it down:

The first few paragraphs of the article basically outlines that Texas fans hate Chris Simms. He also indicates that it’s a baseless hatred: Major Applewhite, Texas’ golden boy, unsung hero/underdog whose position was taken from him by the big bad Debo that is Christopher David Simms. Why? Why was such a legend’s position taken from him and replaced by an inferior talent? He goes on to point out that Simms could have gone to any school he wanted, but he chose Texas So here you are, in Austin, expectations of late have been heavy and you are expected to win at all cost. Failure is not an option. You will be held to the said expectations and if you fail to achieve them, then you are subject to boo’s, mistreatment and the harshest of ridicule, unless your name is Major.

Sports Nickel then talks for awhile about why Texas fans hate Chris Simms – he even posted the question on his Facebook page and used some of the responses in his article, noting None of these opinions are ones I have not heard before, some may be valid, and some may not. Lets explore them a little more in depth. Yes, Facebook.  A place of rational people posting well thought out opinions.

Ah ha. Now we get into it: “the facts”. Oh, wait, before we get into “the facts”, Sports Nickel states his opinions that 1) Mack Brown was not influenced by Phil Simms and 2) Major Applewhite is an opportunist who thrives on the role of backup/savior. Since opinions can’t really be proven either way, I’m not going to get into that, except to say that I agree with Sports Nickel that Mack Brown didn’t make a deal with the devil or Phil Simms. As for the martyr issue, even if it were true, Major was just playing the hand he was dealt. I’m sure he would have preferred to play the role of starting quarterback. In the words of Holloway, “It is what it is and whatnot.”

Now let’s look at “the facts” Sports Nickel presents:

In 1998 Texas finished 9-3 and finished ranked 16th
Applewhite: 174/299 for 2678 yards, 58% comp, 21 TD’s and 11 Int’s.

Major had a very decent season for a freshman, but nothing great about it. That season included losses to #6 UCLA (Major did not play), #5 Kansas State and unranked Texas Tech. Texas finished 2nd in the Big 12 South. Now keep in mind, this is a team that had a Heisman winning season from Ricky and at that time the most prolific WR corp. Texas has ever seen, a corp. that included Wane McGarity and Kwame Kavil. Seems like there were some “BIG” games lost in that season. 

Fact check: Major did play in the UCLA game - in fact the offense scored in the only possession he played.

In 1999 Texas finished 9-5 and ranked 23rd

Applewhite: 271/467 for 3,349 (286/494 for 3478), 58% comp, 21 TD’s, 9 Int’s, Fumbles 9-5

*Simms: 28/55 for 314, 50% comp, 2 TD’s, 2 Int’s, 2-2 Fumbles

Major, again had a decent season. Not a great season. Texas lost to NC State, #13 Kansas State, A&M, Nebraska and Arkansas that year. So again, a disappointing season, most seem to have suppressed from their memory.

*And, are we forgetting that Mr. Simms played in a few of these games as well? I added his stats. In fact, let’s check out Simms vs. Applewhite in 1999:

Yes, Texas did lose to Nebraska in the BIG XII Championship (did Sports Nickel forget to mention that Texas was #1 in the Big XII South? He mentioned that in 1998 we were #2 in the Big XII South, that’s weird. He also mentions later that Simms led the 2001 team to a conference championship game.)

In 2000 Texas finished 9-3 and ranked 12th

Applewhite: 152/279 for 2,164 yards, 54% (55%) comp, 18 TD’s, 7 Int’s, 7-3 Fumbles
Simms: 84/150 for 1,309 yards, 56% comp, 9 TD’s, 14 Int’s, 0-0 Fumbles

2000, perhaps was the most disappointing of the 3 seasons Major started, with losses to unranked Stanford (at home) and a 14-63 loss to OU. Texas was once again shut out of national and conference Championship play.

So there it is. Almost three full seasons Major started. Most of his losses were to ranked teams. So why is there not the same criticism of Major? He could not win a “BIG” game. Is it because his dad was not famous enough? Like Simms, he was human and in the grand scheme of football, wasn’t drastically better as a player.

Let’s look closer: In the 2000 Season: Applewhite was not "the starter" in fact; Simms* (his stats were added by me) started 6 of the 11 games. When both quarterbacks played in a game, Simms and Applewhite were rotated as often as every other possession. There was not a "starter" that season, as spoken by Mack Brown himself: ''You might as well not ask, I'm not going to say anything about next week.''

Of the 8 games where both quarterbacks played, Chris Simms led the offense to score 8 of their touchdown drives. Major Applewhite led 23. Applewhite led the offense to score touchdowns 31% of the times he played in a possession Simms led the offense to score touchdowns 25% of the times he played in a possession.

Applewhite played in only 3 possessions more than Simms in the 2000 season, yet made 86% more pass attempts, had 81% more completions and 66% more total yards. He also had twice as many touchdowns. Applewhite did have 7 fumbles, 3 for turnovers to Simms’ zero. Still, Simms errors turned the ball over by 40% more than Applewhite's.

Suddenly that 1% better completion rate isn’t convincing me that Simms was the better quarterback.

In 2001 Texas finished 11-2 and ranked 5th
Simms: 214/362 for 2,603 yards, 59% (60%) comp, 22 (29) TD’s, 11 Int’s, 5-2 Fumbles
*Applewhite: 66/101 for 852 yards, 66% comp, 8 TD’s, 1 Int’s, 1-0 Fumbles

In 2001 Texas’ had its first 11-win season since 1983. So the only loss in the regular season Chris Simms first full year as starter was to OU, 14-3. A game decided by one of the most outstanding individual plays by then OU safety Roy Williams. True, Simms had a horrid game against Colorado but seeing as he led Texas to its best season in almost 20years, I think it was ridiculous he got booed the way he did. Most people site this game as a reason to despise him. What people don’t realize, we would have never been in this game if not for Simms.

Yeah, I don’t think most Texas fans are super ‘grateful’ that Simms “got us” to a Big XII Championship Game and then completely melted down in it, blowing a shot at the BCS Championship Game. As for that OU game...if Simms had been able to lead the offense to score, I would have felt a lot better about Simms’ performance. Let us enjoy the above statistical box.....Hmmmm.

In 2002 Texas finished 11-2 and ranked 7th

235/396 for 3,207 yards, 59% comp. 26 TD’s and 12 ints

So Simms again helps Texas to its 2nd 11 win season in a row and only loss to OU and Texas Tech. Tech was unranked – I only bring it up because Sports Nickel brought it up regarding Major’s season without Simms.

Amazing! Simms won more and was able to do something 20 years of QB’s at Texas could not. Win 11 games in a season. He also lead teams that finished ranked no lower than 7th in the nation (except for that pesky 2000 season when Major and Simms split starting and playing time almost evenly), pretty damn decent if you ask me. Check out the 2002 graphic:

This Sports Nickel guy is cracking me up. Sadly, when I first read this article, I started to think... “wow, Simms really did a great job at Texas. I was really wrong.”

Then I realized that all of his statistics were simply numbers pulled out of other, bigger statistics to make Simms appear to be a better quarterback than Applewhite.

Now, I particularly enjoy this next part of the article, where Sports Nickel talks about some random Chris Simms’ records and none of Applewhite’s. Let’s have some record/awards comparison fun:

*In 2001 Simms lead Texas to its first 11-win season since 1983 This really isn’t an individual record or statistic, but okay. Gosh, what are those words coming into my mind? Sloan, BJ, Cedric, Roy, Montrell, Jammer, Tubbs, Vasher, Huff, Bo…Aaaand, Texas’s D led the nation in 2001 in total Defense.

*Simms held the Texas school record for highest Career Pass Efficiency (138.4) till surpassed by someone we all can love Colt McCoy. Yes, that means he was a more efficient passer that Major. No other way to say this. I can’t confirm or refute this...but! I forgot to stick in my TOTAL COMPARISON TABLE! Here it is....you decide for yourself who the most effiecient quarterback was:

* Simms has the 4rd (what is a 4rd?) best winning % behind only Colt, VY and Bobby Layne. Yes, Simms won more and lost less that Major. Again, I feel like this isn’t an individual stat, award or record, but that’s cool. 

*Simms ranks 2nd in career touchdowns, behind only Major. So they were very close in this respect. Aaaand, Major was better. And Colt was even bester. I’m not sure where this stat came from. I’m confused....

*2nd most TD in a single season behind Colt and tied with VY. Yes, Simms had one of the most prolific scoring seasons in Texas history. This is true-ish. To phrase it fairly, it would be “ranked 4th, tied with VY in single season passing TD’s. Colt holds the top three individual records. Also, does he know what prolific means? Dan Marino – prolific. Simms? Uh, no.

* In their careers, only 2 TD passes separate Colt and Chris for total TD passes. Yeah, this is completely false. Colt had 112 career TD passes, Simms had 58. Applewhite had 60. Could he have meant Applewhite?

Being the fair and unbiased, great researcher that I am, if I was going to compare the records and awards of the two quarterbacks, I would do it this way:

Bowl Game Records – The University of Texas

*Major Applewhite – Most passing yards in a bowl game, 473 – 2001 Holiday
*Major Applewhite – Most touchdown passes in a bowl game, 4 – 2001 Holiday
*Major Applewhite – Most total offense in a bowl game, 476 – 2001 Holiday
*Major Applewhite – #1 200 yard passer in a bowl game, 37-55-473-4 – 2001 Holiday
  Chris Simms - #5 200 yard passer in a bowl game, 15-28-269-2 – 2003 Cotton
  Chris Simms - #8 200 yard passer in a bowl game, 17-33-245-0 – 2000 Holiday
  Major Applewhite - #9 200 yard passer in a bowl game, 15-26-225-3 – 1999 Cotton

Individual Scoring Records – The University of Texas
*Major Applewhite - #1 Longest scoring play, 97 yards – 1998 vs Oklahoma
  Major Applewhite - #2 Longest scoring play, 96 yards – 2000 vs Oklahoma State
  Chris Simms - #6 Longest scoring play, 92 yards – 2001 at Houston
  Chris Simms - #16 Longest scoring play, 84 yards – 2002 at Texas Tech
  Major Applewhite - #18 Longest scoring play, 80 yards – 1999 vs NC State
Individual Total Offense Records – The University of Texas
*Major Applewhite - #4 Total offense, single game, 476 yards – 2001 vs Washington
  Chris Simms - #9 Total offense, single game, 411 yards – 2002 vs Nebraska
*Major Applewhite - #5 Total offense, single season, 3,211yards – 1999
  Chris Simms - #7 Total offense, single season, 3,083 – 2002
*Major Applewhite - #3 Total offense, career, 8,059 yards, 1998-2001
  Chris Simms - #6 Total offense, career, 6,960 yards, 1999-2002

Individual Passing Records – The University of Texas
*Major Applewhite - #1 200 yard passing game, 473/37-55 – 2001 vs Washington
  Chris Simms - #3 200 yard passing game, 419/29-47 – 2002 vs Nebraska
*Major Applewhite - #3 Single season passing yards, 3,357 – 1999
  Chris Simms - #5 Single season passing yards, 3,207 – 2002
*Major Applewhite - #1 First to 2,000 passing yards, 7 games – 1999
  Major Applewhite - #2 (tie) First to 2,000 passing yards, 8 games, 2000
  Chris Simms - #5 (tie) First to 2,000 passing yards, 9 games – 2002 & 2001
*Major Applewhite - #1 (tie) First to 1,000 passing yards, 4 games – 1999 & 2000
  Chris Simms - #7 (tie) First to 1,000 passing yards, 5 games – 2001 & 2002
*Major Applewhtie - #2 Career passing yards, 8,353 – 1998-2001
  Chris Smms - #5 Career passing yards, 7,097 – 1999-2002
*Chris Simms - #4 Career victories as a quarterback, 26-6 – 1999-2002
  Major Applewhite - #8 Career victories as a quarterback, 22-8 – 1998-2001
*Major Applewhite - #2 Single season passing attempts, 467 – 1999
*Major Applewhite - #2 Career passing attempts, 1,065 – 1998-2001
  Chris Simms - #5 Career passing attempts, 911 – 1999-2002
*Major Applewhite - #4 Single season completions, 271 – 1999
*Major Applewhite - #2 Career completions, 611 – 1998-2001
  Chris Simms - #5 Career completions, 535, 1999-2002
*Major Applewhite - #1 Consecutive passes without an interception, 156 – 1999
  Major Applewhite - #2 Consecutive passes without an interception, 138 - 1999
  Major Applewhite - #1 Lowest career % of intercepted passes, 2.6 – 1998-2001
*Chris Simms - #4 (tied) Single season touchdown passes, 26 – 2002
*Major Applewhite - #2 Career touchdown passes, 60 – 1998-2001
  Chris Simms - #3 Career touchdown passes – 58 – 1999 – 2002
*Major Applewhite - #1 Most consecutive 200 yard games, season, 11 – 1999
*Major Applewhite - #1 Most consecutive 200 yard games, career, 21 – 1998-1999

Individual Freshman Records – The University of Texas
*Major Applewhite - #2 Most victories by a Freshman quarterback, 8 – 1998
*Major Applewhite - #1 Most passing yards by a freshman, single game, 408 -1998
*Major Applewhite - #2 Most Passing yards in a freshman season, 2,453 - 1998
*Major Applewhite - #3 (tie) Most TD passes as a freshman, game, 4 – 1998 at Tech
*Major Applewhite - #2 Most TD passes in a freshman season, 18 – 1998
*Major Applewhite - #1 Most completions by a freshman, game, 29 – 1998
*Major Applewhite - #1 Longest play by a freshman, 97 yards – 1998

Awards and Honors
*Major Applewhite – Big XII Offensive Freshman of the Year – 1998
  Major Applewhite – Big XII Offensive Player of the Year – 1999
*Major Applewhite – AP Offensive Player of the Year – 1999
*Major Applewhite – AP Team – 2nd team QB – 1998
  Major Applewhite – AP Team – 1st team QB – 1999
  Chris Simms – AP Team – Honorable Mention – 2002

*Major Applewhite – Big XII Team – 1st team QB – 1999
  Chris Simms – Big XII Team – 3rd team QB – 2001
  Chris Simms – Big XII Team – 3rd team QB – 2002
*Chris Simms – Longhorn Season MVP – 2002
*Major Applewhite – Longhorn Captain – 2001
  Chris Simms – Longhorn Captain - 2002
*Major Applewhite – Offensive MVP – Holiday Bowl 200
*Major Applewhite – Holiday Bowl Hall of Fame – 2011 (for 2001 game)

Sports Nickel wraps it all up with this fabulous, fact based gem:

It’s debatable who was the best QB while at Texas; numbers tend to supports Simms slightly (Which numbers?). It’s not as clear-cut as everyone makes it seem. This is a TEAM sport where things on the field happen we just cannot know about. Lets also remember Major had a serious knee injury which ultimately lead to Chris taking over (not in the 2000 season, both were healthy). It was not his Dad, it was not money or some great big whimsical conspiracy theory, it was practice and Simms being a very decent football player.
I decided to write this because the hate for Chris Simms is totally unwarranted (you know what’s annoying? When your quarterback scores and holds up his #1 finger and not his horns. That’s just one reason I know a lot of people disliked him). If you look at Texas passing records Simms is top 3 in most (wrong) and is one of the most prolific passers in Texas history (also wrong – he’s not even the most prolific passer in this article). This alone should demand respect. I’ve heard stories of frat idiots pelting his car with beer cups (um, I don’t think that was exclusive to Chris Simms, I think some frat guys will throw beer cups at just about anything), the Big 12 Championship game where he was booed (Yes, I did this, and I'm ashamed. I did this, but I was really booing Mack Brown). I think its about time we show a this Texas great the respect he deserves. (Huh?)
I hope this article has helped you change your whole thought process of what you think happened in those “QB controversy” years. (It made me do a lot of research to expose your biased fact reporting) One thing is for sure; everyone has an opinion on this topic.

Well, he’s actually gotten one thing right, everyone has an opinion. As an aside, can anyone just print whatever they want on the internet and call it fact? 

I did my best to accurately compare the two QB’s, not only looking at starts and wins, but possessions played and TD drives led. It was hard to be objective, and I found it interesting how close the two actually were statistically.

But what statistics don’t show are things like complete meltdowns and emotional rallies. I don’t know many people that were true game-watching fans that would have chosen Simms over Applewhite if the decision was theirs – that has to speak to something.

So now you know what I know about the Simms/Applewhite quarterback controversy....but keep an eye out for my upcoming “all things Major” post, where there are no facts and all opinions.