Men's Hoops Adds Football's Simmons to Roster
12/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2003
WACO, Texas - Joe Simmons, a four-year football letterwinner, has been added to the Baylor men's basketball roster and is available to play tonight as the Bears host SMU.
"Joe will provide the team some size and strength inside and help out with the rebounding department," head coach Scott Drew said. "It will also take Joe a little time to get into basketball shape and learn the offenses and defenses, and the coaching staff is excited about working with him."
Simmons, a fifth-year senior from Fort Worth, Texas, appeared in all 12 games this fall for the Bears, making four starts at defensive end. He registered 22 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks, and he had three quarterback hurries. Simmons finished his football career with 110 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
The 6-5, 250-pound forward walked on to the basketball team last week after wrapping up the football season. Simmons lettered three years in basketball at Wyatt High School, averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior in 1998-99.
Simmons is the first football/basketball dual-sport athlete at Baylor since Rodney Smith, who lettered in basketball in 1996 and in football from 1996-1999. Smith averaged 26 minutes a game, with averages of 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest.
Before Smith, James Francis played two years of basketball (1987-1988) and four years of football, earning all-America honors on the gridiron as a senior in 1989. Francis averaged 3.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 43 career games. Francis was the first Baylor football/basketball crossover since Del Shofner in 1954.
The Bears host SMU tonight at 7 p.m. in the Ferrell Center.
