Empty corral Longhorns' Simms, Redding fail to round up titles

AUSTIN -- No two players ever came to Texas with greater expectations than Chris Simms and Cory Redding.

They were proclaimed the two best high school football players in America. And together they headlined the Longhorns' 1999 freshman class that was hailed as the best in the nation.

Coach Mack Brown said the group would "jump-start us back to where we want to be -- the elite of college football."

Individually, Simms will leave as one of Texas' greatest passers and Redding one of its best defensive ends. But that wasn't enough to get the Longhorns back on top.

"I believed for sure we'd get one (national title) and thought maybe we could steal two," Simms said. "I came in here thinking that with all the talent we have and the classes that have continued to come in after I signed ... I expected a lot out of us."

Simms, Redding and the rest of the Longhorns instead will leave with no Big 12 or national titles. Texas is still without an undisputed national championship since 1969 or a conference title since 1996.

In their four seasons, Simms and Redding led Texas to two Big 12 South Division titles, two conference title games losses, one bowl victory and a reputation for not being able to win the big game.

"Its real disappointing, yes," Redding said. "We were close to our goals and our dreams, but, hey, you shoot for the moon and if you miss, you'll be among the stars."

The latest misfire came last week when No. 11 Texas (9-2, 5-2 Big 12) gave up six touchdown passes in a 42-38 loss to Texas Tech. Redding and the defense gave up 606 yards and Simms threw a key late interception.

The loss knocked Texas out of the race for the Big 12 title and dashed its hopes of squeezing into the national championship game in the Fiesta Bowl.

Two games remaining

A regular season-ending matchup with Texas A&M on Friday and a bowl game are all that's left for Simms and Redding.

"I don't want to go out like a chump," Simms said of playing his last game before a home crowd that has alternately cheered his touchdowns and booed his interceptions. "I want to go out like a champ."

Simms has been a lightning rod for controversy since the day he arrived on campus. At first, fans wondered how long it would take him to replace the slow-footed yet efficient Major Applewhite. Then they howled "Unfair!" when he did.

Last year, he guided Texas to its first 10-win season since 1995 but had four turnovers in the Big 12 title game. He sat on the bench while Applewhite won the Holiday Bowl.

This season, his 2,669 yards passing and 21 touchdowns rank second in school history. The same goes for his 53 career TD passes. His 6,669 career yards rank fourth.

Simms set a school record by throwing for 419 yards in this season's 27-24 win over Nebraska. He put together probably his best stretch as Texas clawed its way into the national title picture with four straight victories after a loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 12.

As for Redding, he made an immediate impact with regular playing time as a freshman and was a full-time starter after his first game as sophomore. He has 20 sacks, with 6 1/2 this season, and ranks No. 6 in school history with 50 career tackles for losses.

Redding was a second-team All-American in 2001 and is a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy, given to the best lineman or linebacker in college football.

"I had goals of getting first-team All-American. I have goals of winning the Lombardi. I have goals of being the best defensive end in the country," Redding said. "Everything I do, I want to be the best at. I felt like I accomplished some of those goals, if not all."

But is it enough?

Not at a school that hasn't won a national title in 33 years yet pays its head coach an annual salary of $1.7 million. Not while conference rival Oklahoma has won four national championships since Texas' last title, including one in 2000 that included a humiliating 63-14 win over the Longhorns.