Billy Ray Sims (born September 18, 1955) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the 1980s. Sims played college football for the University of Oklahoma, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and won the Heisman Trophy in 1978. He was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the NFL's Detroit Lions.
Early years [edit]
Sims was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but in the eighth grade he moved to Hooks, Texas, to live with his grandmother. In three years of varsity football at Hooks High School, he rushed 1,128 times (a state record at the time, currently second behind Robert Strait) for 7,738 yards, including 441 carries in 1973 (another state record at the time, currently tied for second behind Ketric Sanford). He continues to hold the state record for most consecutive games with 100 yards or more, 38 (1972–1974).
College career [edit]
Sims attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played for coach Barry Switzer's Oklahoma Sooners football team from 1976 to 1979. After injuries kept him out of the lineup for most of his freshman and half of his sophomore seasons (rushing for only 545 yards in two seasons plus one game of 1976), he rushed for 1,762 yards on 231 carries as a junior, an excellent average of 7.6 yards per carry. Per game, he averaged 160.1 yards and 10.9 points during the regular season. Including the postseason, Sims had 1,896 yards, a total yardage school record that stood until 2004 when freshman Adrian Peterson ran for 1,925. In 1978 Sims was awarded the Heisman Trophy, becoming only the sixth junior to do so. He was runner up the following season in 1979.
In 1979 against then-unbeaten Nebraska, who had the No. 1 rushing defense in the country at the time, Sims ran for 247 yards and helped the Sooners to a 17–14 win. He led the nation in rushing with 1,896 yards and had 22 touchdowns. He also became the first running back in Big 8 Conference (now merged to form the Big 12 Conference) history to rush for 200-yards in three consecutive games, and had four 200-yard games in a single season.
After losing to the Arkansas Razorbacks 31–6 in 1978, Sims led the Sooners to two consecutive Orange Bowl titles in three straight appearances. In the Orange Bowl following the 1978 season, he scored two touchdowns in a 31–24 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In his final game, he ran for 164 yards as Oklahoma defeated the Florida State Seminoles 24–7. Sims ended his career at OU with 3,813 yards; most of those yards came in his final two seasons.
Statistics [edit]
|
Rushing |
Receiving |
| YEAR |
ATT |
YDS |
AVG |
LP |
TD |
NO. |
YDS |
AVG |
LP |
TD |
| 1976 |
3 |
44 |
14.7 |
18 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1977 |
71 |
413 |
5.9 |
43 |
6 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1978 |
256 |
1,896 |
7.4 |
63 |
22 |
1 |
35 |
35.0 |
25 |
0 |
| 1979 |
248 |
1,670 |
6.7 |
71 |
23 |
1 |
42 |
42.0 |
42 |
0 |
| Totals |
578 |
4,023 |
7.0 |
71 |
51 |
2 |
77 |
38.5 |
42 |
0 |
Professional career [edit]
Sims was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. He spent his career with the Detroit Lions, making the Pro Bowl in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Sims led Detroit to the playoffs in 1982 and 1983, but they would go on to lose in the first round in both appearances. In the 1983 wild card game at Candlestick Park against the San Francisco 49ers, Sims ran for 114 yards on 20 carries, but Joe Montana would lead the 49ers to a comeback victory, as Detroit kicker Eddie Murray missed a field goal in the waning moments.
Sims' career would ultimately end midway through the 1984 season when he suffered a catastrophic knee injury in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. Sims finished his career with 1131 carries for 5106 yards (4.5 yards per carry), and 186 receptions for 2072 yards (11.1 yards per catch). Sims remains a beloved former sports figure in Detroit[citation needed]. His number "20" would go on to be worn five years after his retirement by Barry Sanders, and is currently retired as an unofficial "Triumvirate" of the greatest Lions in the modern era to ever wear the number, which also includes Hall of Fame defensive back Lem Barney.
He was given the nickname "Kung Fu Billy Sims" by ESPN's Chris Berman, after a game where the Detroit Lions played the Houston Oilers. In the NFL Films highlight, rather than be tackled during a rushing attempt, Sims ran at, jumped, and, while fully airborne, kicked the Oiler's tackler in the head.
Statistics [edit]
|
Rushing |
Receiving |
| YEAR |
TEAM |
ATT |
YDS |
AVG |
LP |
TD |
NO. |
YDS |
AVG |
LP |
TD |
| 1980 |
DET |
313 |
1,303 |
4.2 |
52 |
13 |
51 |
621 |
12.2 |
87 |
3 |
| 1981 |
DET |
296 |
1,437 |
4.9 |
51 |
13 |
28 |
451 |
16.1 |
81 |
2 |
| 1982 |
DET |
172 |
639 |
3.7 |
29 |
4 |
34 |
342 |
10.1 |
52 |
0 |
| 1983 |
DET |
220 |
1,040 |
4.7 |
41 |
7 |
42 |
419 |
10.0 |
54 |
0 |
| 1984 |
DET |
130 |
687 |
5.3 |
81 |
5 |
31 |
239 |
7.7 |
20 |
0 |
| Totals |
— |
1,131 |
5,106 |
4.5 |
81 |
42 |
186 |
2,072 |
11.1 |
87 |
5 |
[1]
After his NFL retirement, he lost millions through numerous bad business deals and risky investments. There was a dinette manufacturer, a mini-supermarket, a nightclub, a chain of eyeglass stores, a pipe-fitting company, an apartment complex, a brass company, a car parts manufacturer, a company that made adhesive sealer for car paint and a small chain of catfish restaurants. He also invested in a radio station, a dry cleaner, and a water purifying business. He filed for bankruptcy in 1990. He divorced his wife Brenda, a junior high school teacher, who remained in Hooks, where she raised their four children. Following his divorce, he moved back to Norman, Oklahoma, where he worked for a short period in the University of Oklahoma athletic department.
He now serves as a vice president with AmericaCan, a non-profit organization, and licenses the use of his name to Billy Sims Barbecue. Sims also makes appearances for sports marketing firms.
In 2007, a bronze statue of Sims was dedicated on the University of Oklahoma campus in Heisman Park, commemorating his 1978 award. The life and one half size statue was created by Sculptor Jim Franklin in his Studio in Perry, Oklahoma. The bronze was cast by the Bronze Horse Foundry in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
He has enthusiastically tried to start the "Boomer! Sooner!" Oklahoma cheer immediately following the naming of the winner at the Heisman Trophy induction ceremonies of the two most recent Oklahoma Sooner winners, Jason White and Sam Bradford, and held up a sign reading "Boomer" during the 2009 Heisman ceremony. Many in the media have criticized his antics as upstaging the winner. On December 16, 2008 he apologized to those upset by his behavior and said that he hoped his actions had not reflected poorly on the University of Oklahoma.[2][3] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. A hero in his hometown of Hooks, Texas, there is a city road named Billy Sims Road and the local library wall is adorned with his photos.
Career statistics [edit]
- High School (Hooks High School 1972–74, High School Coach: Jack Coleman)
-
- Consecutive 100-yard games: 38 (state record)
- Total 100-yard games: 38
- Total points: 516
- Carries-season: 441 (1973; 378 in 1974)
- Rushing yards in a seasons: 3,080 (1973; 2,885 in 1974)
- Career carries: 1,128
- Total yards: 7,738
- Collegiate
- NFL
- 3-Time Pro-Bowl selection
- 32nd – NFL All-Time Rushing Yards Per-Carry (4.515)
- 75th, along with Calvin Hill & Don Perkins, – NFL All-Time Rushing Touchdowns (42)
- 92nd – NFL All-Time Rushing Yardage (5,106)
See also [edit]
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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*Note: The 2005 Heisman Trophy was originally awarded to Reggie Bush, but Bush forfeited the award in 2010. The Heisman Trust subsequently decided to leave the 2005 award vacated.
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Sims, Billy |
| Alternative names |
Sims, Billy Ray; Sims, Billy R. |
| Short description |
All-American college football player, professional football player, running back, Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Fame member |
| Date of birth |
September 18, 1955 |
| Place of birth |
St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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