There is no arguing the importance of having a good quarterback in college football. Often, teams will go as far as their quarterback can take them.
The team record is, more often than not, placed on the quarterback. When Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore is analyzed, one of Moore’s stats brought into the conversation, more than any other, is his 38-2 record as a starting quarterback.
The same goes for past USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who had a 37-2 record. Ken Dorsey at Miami (Fla.) had a 38-2 record from 2000-2002.
So if I told you there was a quarterback in the SEC with a 2-6 record and his only two wins came against a FCS school and UAB, I would assume you’d tell me he doesn’t seem like a very good quarterback, right? That’s not the end of it, though.
He was benched halfway through the season and replaced by a quarterback who brought in four straight wins, for which his team became bowl eligible. So it couldn’t have been the team, or the coaching.
Excluding the FCS game, the offense averaged just 17.7 points with the later quarterback at the helm. His replacement, with the same team, averaged 35.4 points.
The first quarterback is Tennessee junior Matt Simms (right), son of ex-NFL quarterback and CBS commentator Phil Simms. The second is Tennessee true-freshman Tyler Bray – no famous parents attached.
If you’re thinking of calling Simms a bad quarterback, though, you may want to whisper it, maybe even hold it under your breath. Phil Simms (below) doesn’t take kindly to negative talk towards his son.
Evidence of the matter came during pre Super Bowl festivities at a NFL Experience gathering in Dallas. Simms got into a confrontation and near shoving match with past Heisman winner and ESPN College Gameday commentator, Desmond Howard. Security was forced to intervene and Howard tweeted that Simms threatened to hit him.
The argument stemmed from Howard calling Matt one of the worse quarterbacks in the SEC, during a pregame show earlier in the year. The topic was regarding the Tennessee vs. LSU game, in which Howard stated, “You will see three of the worse QBs in the SEC.”
Howard wasn’t wrong, though. Simms and the two LSU quarterbacks, Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, are hard to argue against being the worse three starting quarterbacks. It’s a strong, supported opinion.
Howard had a job to do, which was to state his opinion, and he did it. He didn’t need to hold back because of who Simms dad was. Phil Simms stepped out of line confronting Howard, and he’s apologized since, though.
The quarrel brings up another good argument, however. Phil Simms isn’t the first high profile football dad stepping into his son’s defense or arguing for more playing time for their son.
A year ago, Craig James, an ESPN commentator, brought Texas Tech and former Tech coach Mike Leach, into a lawsuit, which came from an argument with the program regarding his son, wideout Adam James.
Before the lawsuit was filed though, it was alleged that Craig sent Tech assistant coaches hateful emails and called coaches arguing about his son’s playing time. Craig insisted his son was “the best player at the wide receiver position,” in an email, which was sent to assistant coach Lincoln Riley.
Just because Phil and Craig accomplished high accolades in their athletic careers, doesn’t mean their sons are going to. Look up Nate Montana at Notre Dame as a good example, ever hear from his father, Joe Montana?
The fact of the matter is, Matt Simms and Adam James aren’t all that good of FBS football players. Simms’ record speaks for itself. His 8-to-6 touchdown to interception ratio isn’t all that great either. I’ve watched Simms play, too. It’s about like watching Stevie Wonder play darts.
James had 17 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown when Craig argued for more playing time to Leach’s staff. This year, when Tommy Tuberville stepped in, Adam caught just two catches for 26 yards. Apparently, it wasn’t only what Leach saw.
Both Phil Simms and Craig James have appeared to abuse their “expert” opinions.
If the rest of the parents in the country whose kids have been benched, or are backups, have to take the criticism dished out by commentators, then so do Simms and James. It’s all part of the business they signed up for.
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