Texas star player penalized ‘for simulating using the restroom’ after QB sack

A star Texas player received a penalty for his vulgar celebration after sacking the opposing team’s quarterback Saturday afternoon.

With the No. 1 Longhorns leading 10-3 and 5:20 left in the second quarter against Tennessee, defensive end Colin Simmons tackled quarterback Faizon Brandon at the first-and-13 at the Vols’ 27-yard line. He then stood and mimed unzipping his pants and urinating profusely on the field of Neyland Stadium. The act drew a quick penalty flag.

The crowd’s cheers dropped a pitch and Simmons raised his palms in a questioning shrug.

“After the play, unsportsmanlike conduct, defense No. 1,” said SEC referee Kyle Olson into his microphone, “for simulating using the restroom.”

The Longhorns received a 15-yard penalty.

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Simmons is considered a top prospect for the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 246-pound junior made five of his team’s 10 sacks of the game Saturday, tying the program record that Shane Dronnett set in 1990. But his record didn’t save him from a reprimand from live sports broadcasters.

“Just an absolutely idiotic move by Colin Simmons doing that when he’s supposed to be one of the leaders of this defense,” said ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit.

“Idiotic, and it doesn’t get more vulgar either,” said ABC play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler.

The Texas coach was more forgiving. Steve Sarkisian said he pulled Simmons from the field and addressed his behavior before returning him to play.

“At that point, I’m not going to give the guy a death penalty over an unsportsmanlike conduct,” Sarkisian said. “We got to fix it though. That can’t continue.”

The Longhorns ended up beating the 14th-ranked Volunteers 20-17 at the game where President Donald Trump made an appearance. The victory improves Texas’ record to 4-0.

After the game, Simmons apologized for the celebration and said, “I was definitely in that mode feeling myself but you know, it happens. Charge it to the game.”

When a reporter later asked about the move, the player said, “Next-play mentality and move on.”

Simmons made only four tackles through Texas’ first three games after suffering a lower-body injury early this season. The Dallas native has 28 sacks in his 33-game career with the Longhorns.

Texans commenting on a clip of the play that ESPN College Football posted on X had sharper words for Simmons than his coach.

“That was gross,” wrote PatriciaPPerez1. “I thought our Longhorns were better men than that.”

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This article originally published at Texas star player penalized ‘for simulating using the restroom’ after QB sack.

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