Edwin Simmons

Does anyone know the what actually happened with Edwin Simmons?

That guy looked like a beast on the field, and flashed some spectacular stuff, out-performing Marcus Dupree in Dallas. If I recall, then his knees imploded and it all sort of unraveled from there. To me, he seemed like one of the real "what could have been" stories at Texas.

 

If I recall correctly, didn't he have one leg an inch shorter than the other? It seems he also had the little problem with wandering around a neighborhood in west Austin (Cat Mountain maybe) while forgetting his clothes (knew he was number 33 when asked his name).

 

Yeah, he was caught doing a naked reverse. I think it was significantly more than an inch.

 

It's been a while since I talked to him, but last time I did he was living up around Hawkins and attending that Assembly of God church that also gave us Stanley Richards and a 2 or 3 time NCAA triple jump champion.

Oklahoma and Fred credited my "Eric Dickerson letter" with getting him to sign with us.

He was a great kid. Only a few know the truth about his "adventure", and I'd appreciate not discussing it on HornFans.

 

Sabre:
My ex had a class with him and said he was a really nice guy. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise with my above post, because back then I and most of my friends did really stupid things and looking back most of us are lucky to be alive.

 

Simmons exploded on the scene vs. ou in the 1983 game. I was at that game with a fellow Horn buddy. Lots of high fives that day - Simmons, Dupree fall from grace due to Peavy massive hit and stifling Horns DEFENSE!!

We all then developed HIGH expectations for ES. Sad how it worked out.

 

WB,

No problem. I am in the screwup HOF for my college antics. On multiple occasions my dad would say to me, "I'm surprised somebody hasn't killed y'all yet", referring to me and my friends.

 

Really glad there were no smart phones with cameras back then or social media. Just good ole fashion word of mouth gossip and no pictures other than phototech at parties.

 

WB,

I'm old enough to remember Jack's Party Pictures being posted on Monday

 

That's one athletic-looking pulling guard.

 

Isn't that Doug Dawson?

 

I just remember that ES was a big guy, but seemed really fast at the same time. He looked the part of a stud running back at the time.

I very much wish him the best of fortune in whatever he is doing now.

 

I'm pretty sure you are right. Not only was Dawson a badass on the football field (think he played in the pros for St. Louis), he majored in Petroleum Engineering on the side.

 

Ross was one of the best geologist I ever met, and great source of information on the oil patch. Makes sense that Doug would have gone that direction.

 

From January social media, with wife of about 30 years—also from Hawkins, and mother of their 3 girls —at Mavs game.

 

VY,

If you would, please ask her the name of the track All American from Hawkins. Went by a nickname like Skeeter or something like that. Lived off back stairwell in Moore Hill, was close friends with Stanley Richards, and cooked some really mean pork chops in his electric skillet. Open stairwell door and start salivating from smell of his cooking.

 

Maybe Skeeter Grady?

 

Thank you

 

Myself has done so many really dumb things I could never judge.
I thought he had some bad wheels around the knee area.

 

Simmons UT star burned VERY bright, but sadly for too short a time!

 

The argument/thought has always been that if he had had competent doctors when he was younger the problem with his leg could have been corrected. Don't know if that is true or not, but I respected the man that told me that.

 

And techniques have improved over the years. It’s similar to guys having Tommy John surgery in baseball. It used to be that your career was basically over or you had to become Tim Wakefield. Now the chances of full recovery are so much higher.

just really bad luck for an enormously talented football player.