Texas football star Colin Simmons begged for forgiveness after he issued a groveling apology for his ‘vulgar’ celebration in front of President Donald Trump.
The junior pass rusher, 20, delivered a game-wrecking performance against Tennessee as he sacked Volunteers quarterback Faizon Brandon five times during a hard-fought 20-17 victory.
But despite his incredible performance helping the Longhorns move to 4-0 this season, he received heat for his reaction to one of his five sacks.
After breaking into the backfield on third down and forcing what should have been a fourth-and-29, Simmons stood over the quarterback and pretended to urinate on the field, immediately drawing a yellow penalty flag from officials.
The referee announced an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for ‘simulating using the restroom’ on the stadium microphone as ABC broadcasters Kirk Herbstreit immediately ripped into the Longhorns star.
Herbstreit called it an ‘absolutely idiotic move’, while Fowler agreed and added: ‘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’
But speaking to reporters after the game, Simmons admitted he made a mistake in the heat 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.’
He later took to social media asking for forgiveness. ‘All Glory To God,’ he wrote on X. ‘Thank you for listening to my prayers and forgive me for my actions.’
The shocking incident unfolded in front of President Trump, who was in attendance at Neyland Stadium. He performed a dramatic flyover in Air Force One and was met with roaring cheers.
Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, the president acknowledged the thunderous ovation when he appeared on the stadium’s colossal jumbotron by smiling and repeatedly pumping his fist from inside a luxury suite.
He was seated alongside prominent political ally and Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, who was sporting bright Volunteer orange for the occasion.
He witnessed a thrilling SEC contest between two of the nation’s top teams, in which Simmons left relieved his penalty did not cost his team.
His head coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game he was ‘not going to give the guy the death penalty’ but voiced his displeasure at Simmons’ actions.
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.’
