'Absolute idiotic move': Texas star Colin Simmons flagged for 'simulating using the restroom' after huge sack
Simmons dominated Tennessee’s offense but was flagged after an ill-timed celebration following a sack
Colin Simmons delivered a historic defensive performance against Tennessee on Saturday, but one bizarre celebration quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the game.
The Texas defensive standout was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after appearing to imitate urinating on the field following a sack of Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon.
The incident occurred during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium, with top-ranked Texas visiting No. 14 Tennessee in a highly anticipated SEC matchup.
Simmons had just brought Brandon down for a 16-yard loss when he performed the gesture. The officials immediately threw a flag, and the referee announced the infraction as “simulating using the restroom.”
The penalty completely changed the value of the defensive play. Instead of leaving Tennessee facing a long-distance situation after losing 16 yards, the Volunteers were awarded 15 yards and an automatic first down.
Tennessee took advantage of the extended possession by moving beyond midfield, although Texas ultimately prevented the drive from producing points. The Longhorns forced an incomplete pass on fourth down and regained possession.
The unusual celebration also caught the attention of the ABC broadcast team. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit strongly criticized the decision, calling it an “absolute idiotic move,” while play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler described the gesture as especially vulgar.
“It’s idiotic, and it doesn’t get much more vulgar, either,” said Fowler .
Despite the costly penalty, Simmons ' afternoon was about far more than one questionable celebration.
Simmons puts together record-setting performance
The Texas star continued to dominate Tennessee's offensive line and finished the contest with five sacks, tying the program's single-game record. His performance helped Texas produce 10 sacks overall and withstand a late Tennessee rally to secure a 20-17 victory.
Simmons already had two sacks before halftime, giving Texas a major advantage against Brandon , who was making his SEC debut. He then added three more sacks during the second half. Interestingly, Simmons didn't celebrate after either of his back-to-back sacks in the third quarter.
Texas needed its defense to remain aggressive because the offense struggled to consistently pull away. Arch Manning finished with 201 passing yards and was sacked six times, while Tennessee eventually erased a 10-3 deficit after Qua Moss returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown.
The Volunteers then pushed the game into a tense finish. Brandon led an 80-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 30-yard scoring pass to Mike Matthews with only 1:22 remaining. Tennessee recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Texas' defense made the final play, batting away Brandon's pass in the end zone.
The victory moved Texas to 4-0, while Tennessee fell to 3-1. The Longhorns did have plenty to clean up, committing 11 penalties for 115 yards.
