Simmons Brothers Feature
6/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
By ROBBIE SINCLAIR Reporter
Joe Simmons didn't come to Baylor because he liked the football program so much. He doesn't bleed green or see the world in shades of gold. More important to him is being close to his family and especially his big brother, Derrel.
"We haven't really been apart, we've been together our whole life," Joe said. "When he left, it was kind of hard being around by myself because my brother has always been there for me."
The older Simmons brother joined the Baylor family last year, while Joe just became a Bear this season. Derrel said that Baylor was not his first choice of schools, but like his younger brother, he wanted to stay close to his loved ones.
"At first, I didn't want to come to Baylor," he said. "Then my mom talked to me and my brother and said that a long time ago my dad used to come down here and visit his family. And [he] told her that he wished both of his sons could go to Baylor University and graduate. When she told me that, it really made my decision."
The Simmons brothers began their football careers in Fort Worth as they advanced from the pee-wee leagues to Wyatt High School and now to Baylor football. Their first coach was their father, Houston Simmons Jr.
"[It was] me and my brother and my father, just us three most of the time," Joe said. "My pops used to teach us everything about football. He thought he was the real-deal football player. He'd take us in the backyard, teaching us how to tackle and stiff-arm and everything."
That practice paid off as the two continue to improve. Not only have they been teammates for most of their lives, they've also been defensive teammates as well. Derrel plays defensive end and Joe is on the line.
"We played on the same little league football team growing up, but he was a lot smaller than me, so he was a cornerback, and I was a defensive end," Derrel said. "Then as he started catching up to me in height, we both played the same position from junior high until our senior year of high school when I moved to outside linebacker. So just like pee-wee, we both played on the same side."
Now that they are back together again, just a few family members get to see them play regularly. While having the whole Simmons clan down for tomorrow's game against the University of North Texas would be great, Derrel realizes it probably won't happen.
"I can't get enough tickets," he said with a laugh. "I think my mom is going to bring her sister down and I have a younger cousin in Fort Worth who's going to come to Baylor next year. So she's going to come down with the family and go to the game and check it out."
As for the game itself, neither brother predicted the final score, but both said they were optimistic.
"I think we ought to get the job done," Joe said. "Coach [Steele] has been preparing us real hard this week, so I think we ought to get the job done."
Derrel mirrored his brother's opinion.
"We've had some ups and downs, and we're learning from our mistakes," he said. "Eventually, we're going to become a great team, and it will probably start this week."
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