Chris Simms: I took '$100 handshakes' from Texas boosters

[BobPSU92]

See the link. One could read this short article and focus on the woes of college football players and the need to pay them a small salary or one could focus on the boosters giving players $100, in violation of ncaa rules. Of course, one could consider both topics as being relevant. They are relevant, but not mutually exclusive. It would be naive to think that "$100 handshakes" would stop if college football players were to receive a salary. The salary would never be enough, and zealous boosters will always be around trying to give their team an advantage.

Of course, the other question is whether Simms' account is true. Why would he lie about it after all these years? Let's assume he is being truthful. Will other Texas players come forward about $100 handshakes or similar handouts? Does anyone at Texas care? Does the ncaa care?

http://espn.go.com/college-football...-simms-recalls-100-handshakes-texas-longhorns

 

[PSUriseANDfire]

I don't understand why these players come out with this stuff years later. It doesn't usually even seem like they are trying to gain anything from it. Why risk getting your school in trouble if your time there was good? Maybe a guilty conscience.

It's not like Chris Simms was a normal student with a normal family. I am sure Phil probably had him set up well. Why would he need 100 dollar handshakes?

 

[LionJim]

It's not like Chris Simms was a normal student with a normal family. I am sure Phil probably had him set up well. Why would he need 100 dollar handshakes?

Would YOU turn down a $100 handshake? "Here's a hundred bucks, no strings attached," you'd say, "No thanks?" I wouldn't.

 

[PSUriseANDfire]

Would YOU turn down a $100 handshake? "Here's a hundred bucks, no strings attached," you'd say, "No thanks?" I wouldn't.

Oh I would take it. I also wouldn't bring it up 13 years later for what seems like no reason.

 

[demlion]

I don't understand why these players come out with this stuff years later.

He is about as colorless and untalented and irrelevant as anyone who still has a job in or around professional sports. He needs the publicity now more than he ever needed the hundred buck back then. Without his Dad's influence the guy would never have had much of a career in the public eye.

 

[joeparules]

The old SWC made the SEC look like choir boys.with the Pony Excess leading the pack. Back in the day my friend said it stood for "So, We Cheat!" He also had a highly recruited friend from Conestoga HS in the early 80s tell him he got a $100 hand shake from Vince Dooley as soon as he stepped off the plane.

Anyone who doesn't think this has (unfortunately) been going on as long as there has been CFB is only fooling themselves.

 

[Cletus11]

even rich kids are going to take a $100 if somebody gives it to them. they might even feel more intighteled to take it. the whole Simms thing never made sense to me with him going to Texas when they had a true frosh who started for them and played great. Then Simms comes in and beats him out of over time. There was way more going on there and the $100 handshakes probably make some sense as I suspect that some boosters paid big money to get Simms to Texas for whatever reason.

 

[BBrown]

See the link. One could read this short article and focus on the woes of college football players and the need to pay them a small salary or one could focus on the boosters giving players $100, in violation of ncaa rules. Of course, one could consider both topics as being relevant. They are relevant, but not mutually exclusive. It would be naive to think that "$100 handshakes" would stop if college football players were to receive a salary. The salary would never be enough, and zealous boosters will always be around trying to give their team an advantage.

Of course, the other question is whether Simms' account is true. Why would he lie about it after all these years? Let's assume he is being truthful. Will other Texas players come forward about $100 handshakes or similar handouts? Does anyone at Texas care? Does the ncaa care?

http://espn.go.com/college-football...-simms-recalls-100-handshakes-texas-longhorns

I believe it. Texas boosters maybe the richest in college football just ask Craig James, Eric Dickerson and Sean Stopperich. (sp?)

 

[psu1969a]

Suppose is nice, ask any weatherman! Maybe Simms is owning up because he is in AAA or like organization. One of the steps is making amends for pass wrongs.

 

[step.eng69]

He is about as colorless and untalented and irrelevant as anyone who still has a job in or around professional sports. He needs the publicity now more than he ever needed the hundred buck back then. Without his Dad's influence the guy would never have had much of a career in the public eye.

My thoughts were the same after reading some comments. I didn’t read the article.
I felt he needed to attract attention to himself.

 

[BBrown]

My thoughts were the same after reading some comments. I didn’t read the article.
I felt he needed to attract attention to himself.

LOL, he ALWAYS needed to attract attention to himself. Do you remember the recruiting fiasco with him? I think that maybe where the term
"Monkey on Crack" came from. I cant remember if this was still the "plotit" board or the first stages of BWI but I remember using a "dial up" modem. LOL.

 

[LionJim]

Oh I would take it. I also wouldn't bring it up 13 years later for what seems like no reason.

Yeah, that's the head-scratching part.

 

[pap17754]

Back in the 50's there was an article in one of the sport magazines that the going price for a tail back in the old SWC was $25,000.00. Take that and add in for the revalued dollar and you are talking about some real cash.

 

[Ranger Dan]

My friend played for Marshall in the late 80's and he said that after a win there would be money waiting in the pockets of their lettermens jackets. Of course the stars got larger denominations, but the money was all around.

 

[LionJim]

My friend played for Marshall in the late 80's and he said that after a win there would be money waiting in the pockets of their lettermens jackets. Of course the stars got larger denominations, but the money was all around.

This isn't exactly something that coaching staffs can prevent. I guess that they could tell boosters to stay away from their players, but beyond that, I'm not sure what a coach could do. It's another thing for coaching staffs to know what's going on and encourage interaction but if there's someone in State College who wants to do something like this, what can the coach do?

 

[psu00]

This isn't exactly something that coaching staffs can prevent. I guess that they could tell boosters to stay away from their players, but beyond that, I'm not sure what a coach could do. It's another thing for coaching staffs to know what's going on and encourage interaction but if there's someone in State College who wants to do something like this, what can the coach do?

I think that's partly true. There needs to be a culture intact that this is not acceptable....and that is hammered to players and boosters to cut off trouble before it begins.

The real issue is what do the coaches and university do after they find out it happened? Do they say everyone does it and get it was 13 years ago or do they get Simms on the phone immediately wanting to know who did this, how prevalent was it, all boosters who were involved etc?

Rogue individuals can be at any university but if it's made clear this is not acceptable and anyone caught (booster or player) is banned from the program, games, practices, contact with coaches/ athletes etc then you can minimize it.

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

This isn't exactly something that coaching staffs can prevent. I guess that they could tell boosters to stay away from their players, but beyond that, I'm not sure what a coach could do. It's another thing for coaching staffs to know what's going on and encourage interaction but if there's someone in State College who wants to do something like this, what can the coach do?

Presumably, the jackets were in the locker room. So, yeah, this is one that the coaches could have prevented....had they wanted to.

 

[LionJim]

Presumably, the jackets were in the locker room. So, yeah, this is one that the coaches could have prevented....had they wanted to.

I didn't read the article. Yeah, you kind of answered my question there.

 

[LionJim]

I think that's partly true. There needs to be a culture intact that this is not acceptable....and that is hammered to players and boosters to cut off trouble before it begins.

The real issue is what do the coaches and university do after they find out it happened? Do they say everyone does it and get it was 13 years ago or do they get Simms on the phone immediately wanting to know who did this, how prevalent was it, all boosters who were involved etc?

Rogue individuals can be at any university but if it's made clear this is not acceptable and anyone caught (booster or player) is banned from the program, games, practices, contact with coaches/ athletes etc then you can minimize it.

I recall Joe saying once that he wasn't sure whether or not that happened at PSU. This would have been in the seventies. I don't like quoting someone from thirty or forty years ago on such a sensitive subject, but that's what I recall.

 

[PSUriseANDfire]

Well coaches need the donors so it's impossible to not look the other direction or just cover your eyes at points I'm sure.

 

[sluggo72]

I recall Joe saying once that he wasn't sure whether or not that happened at PSU. This would have been in the seventies. I don't like quoting someone from thirty or forty years ago on such a sensitive subject, but that's what I recall.

Jim. IMHO it is naïve to believe it didn't/doesnt happen at PSU. Players walk thru at tailgate after a game, there is going to be money shoved in their pockets. DR Gotrocks has his motorhome over, come on in son, and I'll tell you a story, while shoving a $100 bill in his pocket. That's for the beer, Dr!!, got to go!!! On to the next tailgate. This stuff doesn't bother me a whole lot, it is when it is organized by the coaches, or boosters to the extent the coach knew or encouraged it. FWIW the long time standing rumor outside of PSU, was the Second Mile was the slush fund for paying the PSU players. I don't believe that, although sometimes with the way our BOT acts, they are protecting the TSM from something, could this be it?? I doubt it.

 

[step.eng69]

LOL, he ALWAYS needed to attract attention to himself. Do you remember the recruiting fiasco with him? I think that maybe where the term
"Monkey on Crack" came from. I cant remember if this was still the "plotit" board or the first stages of BWI but I remember using a "dial up" modem. LOL.

Wasn’t there speculation that PSU was on his list of schools to attend? Maybe my memory is fading.

 

[BBrown]

Wasn’t there speculation that PSU was on his list of schools to attend? Maybe my memory is fading.

Your memory isn't failing IIRC we were very close to the top.

 

[mhentz]

Texas boosters got ripped off.

 

[Ranger Dan]

PSU was on his list

Actually, he was a virtual lock for PSU and then seemed to flip to Texas. There seems to be a sordid story or at least some interesting drama surrounding Simms flip, but nobody that is familiar with the details (Tom McAndrew) will share them publicly. I've offered to loosen his vocal chords with a drink, but he's taking this one to the grave.... or at least until he writes a book.

 

[step.eng69]

Actually, he was a virtual lock for PSU and then seemed to flip to Texas. There seems to be a sordid story or at least some interesting drama surrounding Simms flip, but nobody that is familiar with the details (Tom McAndrew) will share them publicly. I've offered to loosen his vocal chords with a drink, but he's taking this one to the grave.... or at least until he writes a book.

Pretty funny Ranger

 

[BBrown]

Actually, he was a virtual lock for PSU and then seemed to flip to Texas. There seems to be a sordid story or at least some interesting drama surrounding Simms flip, but nobody that is familiar with the details (Tom McAndrew) will share them publicly. I've offered to loosen his vocal chords with a drink, but he's taking this one to the grave.... or at least until he writes a book.

I thought it was us and someone else (maybe Tennessee) and he kind did the same thing to them the "solid verbal" and then flipped to Texas?

 

[step.eng69]

I thought it was us and someone else (maybe Tennessee) and he kind did the same thing to them the "solid verbal" and then flipped to Texas?

YES, I DO THINK HE SCREWED TWO POOCHES. WASN'T HIS FARTHER LEADING HIM AROUND BY THE SNOUT?

JUST FOUND THIS:
Why not Penn State?

According to Phil Grosz, a State College-based national recruiting analyst and editor of G&W Recruiting Report, Simms, son of former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, assured Penn State offensive coordinator Fran Ganter in a face-to-face visit Dec. 1 that he was going to Penn State. Anticipation heightened when a smiling Simms was shown on television, seated with Ganter, linebacker LaVar Arrington and running back Eric McCoo, during the Dec. 12 Penn State-Penn basketball game at Bryce Jordan Arena.

``I know for certain that Simms told Ganter he shouldn't bother recruiting another quarterback, because he was going to Penn State,'' Grosz said. ``Fran had told Simms Penn State didn't want to get caught without a quarterback if Simms decided not to come. Whatever happened afterward, I'm not sure, but I was told that Simms' father didn't want him to go to Penn State.''

 

[LionJim]

Actually, he was a virtual lock for PSU and then seemed to flip to Texas. There seems to be a sordid story or at least some interesting drama surrounding Simms flip, but nobody that is familiar with the details (Tom McAndrew) will share them publicly. I've offered to loosen his vocal chords with a drink, but he's taking this one to the grave.... or at least until he writes a book.

Tom McAndrew? A book? It would read like a combination of David McCulloch and Thomas Pynchon.

I don't recall if he ever verbaled to PSU, but he did verbal to Tennessee first, and then flipped to Texas. The circumstances of his switching his verbal from Tennessee were complicated by his saying something really negative about UT, saying it was the primary reason he'd switched. Ugly.

 

[Ranger Dan]

I don't recall if he ever verbaled to PSU

I believe that Simms was the classic "silent verbal" or at least alleged to be. This was the straw that broke my back relative to following recruiting closely. Not that I was ever an insider or had any firsthand information, but I could tell you the name of the town and high school from every prospect that PSU had issued a scholarship. I used to pour over copies of the BWI wondering who and when we are getting a verbal. I still like to see verbals from promising student athletes, but don't get caught up in it like I used to.