Texas football star Colin Simmons pleaded for forgiveness after apologizing for a “vulgar” sack celebration performed in front of President Donald Trump.
The 20-year-old junior pass rusher dominated Tennessee in a hard-fought 20-17 victory, recording five sacks of Volunteers quarterback Faizon Brandon in a game-changing defensive display.
Yet while Simmons’ performance helped the Longhorns improve to 4-0 this season, his reaction to one of those sacks quickly became the center of attention.
After bursting into the backfield on third down and forcing what should have resulted in fourth-and-29, Simmons stood over the quarterback and mimicked urinating on the field. Officials immediately threw a yellow flag.
The referee announced an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for “simulating using the restroom” over the stadium microphone. ABC broadcasters Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler then strongly criticized the Texas defensive star.
Herbstreit described the celebration as an “absolutely idiotic move,” while Fowler agreed, adding: “It doesn’t get much more vulgar, either.”
Texas star Colin Simmons pulled off a “peeing” celebration during their SEC game at Tennessee
Simmons was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for “simulating using the restroom”
Speaking to reporters afterward, Simmons acknowledged that he had made a mistake in the emotion of the moment.
“I also do want to say I apologize for the celebration,” he said. “I was definitely in that mode, feeling myself. But, you know, it happens. Charge it to the game.”
Simmons later turned to social media to ask for forgiveness. “All Glory To God,” he wrote on X. “Thank you for listening to my prayers and forgive me for my actions.”
The controversial celebration took place with President Trump watching from the stands at Neyland Stadium. Before the game, Trump made a dramatic flyover in Air Force One and was greeted by loud cheers from the crowd.
Wearing a dark suit and red tie, the president acknowledged the ovation when he appeared on the stadium’s massive jumbotron. From inside a luxury suite, he smiled and repeatedly pumped his fist.
Trump sat alongside political ally and Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, who wore the Volunteers’ bright orange for the occasion.
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He watched a thrilling SEC matchup between two of the country’s top teams, with Simmons relieved that his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty did not ultimately cost Texas the game.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said afterward that he was “not going to give the guy the death penalty,” but made clear that he was unhappy with Simmons’ decision.
Simmons apologized and later asked for forgiveness after his sack celebration controversy
The shocking incident came with President Donald Trump watching on at Neyland Stadium
Simmons sacked Faizon Brandon five times during a big performance on the Texas defense
“Can’t happen. That’s a bad football play,” Sarkisian said. “We had harped and talked about this game about not getting emotional with the crowd and that was an emotional play.
‘A couple others that were close too. We had a real talk about it at halftime about how we needed to play in the second half, we needed to celebrate with one another.
‘We took him out, we addressed it, and put him back in,’ Sarkisian continued. ‘I mean, at that point, I’m not going to give the guy the death penalty over an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, we got to fix it though.
‘That can’t continue as we move forward. As I touched on with the team in the locker room, we’ll address that on Monday and what that looks like and how to control our emotions in the best way.
‘I know guys are excited when they’re making plays. The best thing you can do is go celebrate with a teammate…. It’s about the team and focus on the team, and not so much look at me.
‘And so we’ll try to improve upon that. But five sacks was pretty cool today, too.’
Simmons’ teammate, linebacker Justin Cryer, saw the incident unfold having also been right on the scene.
‘I tried to run over there and grab him,’ Cryer said. ‘I seen where it was going, and I tried to go grab him before we got a penalty, but it was too late.
‘After the play, I just told him, ‘Look, man, we got to just keep our head.’ I know he’s having fun, he’s excited, but at the end of the day, we don’t want to let those plays, those penalties, dictate how the game’s going to go.’
