Billy Sims

Billy Sims (September 18, 1955) is a former American NFL Pro Bowl, and college, football running back.

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Billy Sims grew up in St. Louis, but in the eighth grade he moved to Hooks, Texas to live with his grandmother. In Hooks he truly blossomed into a star. In 1975, he was recruited to the University of Oklahoma by Barry Switzer. After injuries kept him out of the line-up for most of his freshman and half of his sophomore seasons (rushing for only 545 yards in two seasons plus one game of 1976), in his junior season he cut lose, picking up 1,762 yards on 231 carries for an amazing average of 7.6 yards per carry (160.1 yards and 10.9 points per-game) for the regular season. Including the post-season Sims had 1,896 yards, a total yardage school record that stood until 2004 when freshman Adrian Peterson tallied up 1,925. In 1978 Sims was awarded the Heisman Trophy, only the 6th junior to do so, and was the runner up the following season, in 1979. He also became the first running back in Big 8 Conference (now merged to form the Big Twelve Conference) history to rush for 300-yards in three consecutive games, and had four 200-yard games in a single season.

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Billy led the Sooners to two consecutive Orange Bowl titles in three straight appearances, after losing to the University of Arkansas 31-6 in 1978, in 1979 he scored two touchdowns in 31-24 win over the University of Nebraska, and in his final game as a Sooner, helped beat Florida State University, 24-7, while rushing for 164 yards. He finished at OU with 3,813 yards, most of that coming in his final two seasons.

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As expected Sims was the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. He spent five years with the Detroit Lions, making the Pro Bowl in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Sims finished his career with 1131 carries for 5106 yards (4.5 yards per carry), and 186 receptions for 2072 yards (11.1 yards per catch). His career ended abruptly midway through the 1984 season when he suffered a serious knee injury in a game against the Minnesota Vikings.

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After his retirement, Sims went into a downward spiral, filing for bankruptcy, a divorce from his first wife, and a 1999 conviction for assaulting his second wife. Sims moved back to Norman, Oklahoma after his first divorce, where for a short period of time, he worked in the Oklahoma athletic department. But troubles there forced him to quit.

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September 18: September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). There are 104 days remaining....

1955: 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar....

American: :This page disambiguates the many uses of American. For an article about those various uses, please see Use of the word American....

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