Catching up with Billy Sims
One of the highlights of Heisman weekend is the extent to which so many former winners participate in the events surrounding the awarding of the prestigious trophy. When Marcus Mariota received the 80th Heisman last December, almost 20 legendary players were on hand to welcome him into one of the most elite fraternities in sports.
We caught up with several of them that weekend, including 1978 Heisman winner Billy Sims of Oklahoma. Here’s what Sims had to say about his Heisman experience and his thriving post-football career:
What’s it like coming back to New York as a Heisman winner compared to the first time you came here?
“The difference is that people recognize you more now. It’s a great fraternity to be a part of and it changes the rest of your life. No matter where you go, people always remember you for being a Heisman winner. It’s a great honor.”
Who were some of the former winners who welcomed you into this fraternity back in 1978?
“Tony Dorsett and Earl Campbell, who I played against in my high school days. Steve Owens, who won it for Oklahoma before me and also played for the Detroit Lions. He’s a great guy who helped me out and now we have some business interests together. These guys taught me the proper way to behave as a Heisman winner.”
Was winning that second Heisman something that weighed on you heading into your senior year?
“Not really. I didn’t even know I’d won it the first time as a junior because I had no preseason buildup. They were kind of pushing other guys and I had been hurt. But I was finally healthy and had a great supporting cast of guys. My roommate won the Outland Trophy! We had All-Americans on defense that enabled me to win it. And of course my senior year, nobody thought about going out early in those days. I was having too much fun in college.”
There’s a famous Sports Illustrated cover from 1979 with you and Charles White playing tug of war with a Heisman. What was that experience like?
“We shot it out in California. That was the first time I met Charles. I was just an old country boy from Texas and I go out and meet Charles and he was all LA with the bright lights and all. He had so much energy and he’d never go to bed! We’re friends to this day.”
What have you been up to in your post-football career?
“I have about 50 barbecue restaurants based out of Tulsa. We started 10 years ago. We’re in Michigan and a bunch of other states. I have one in the Lions’ stadium in Detroit, two in OU’s stadium. We even have one in Barry Sanders‘ hometown of Wichita. We’re still expanding.
“I always was involved in stuff during the offseason. I looked at professional football as my part-time job. I was always dipping and dabbing in other things, though I never thought I’d end up with a barbecue restaurant. I have a great team behind the scenes to make things happen. I’m also working on a project with the state of Michigan to export powdered milk to China.
“I also have a charity, the Billy Sims Foundation, that helps hard-working Oklahoma student-athletes–male or female–attend university in the state. We started that about a year ago.”
What do you think of your fellow Sooner running back, Samaje Perine, who set the NCAA single-game rushing record with 427 yards last fall?
“He should’ve been running the ball all year, really! He’s a great back. As I’ve always said, I’ve never seen a Rolls Royce without a spare tire, and when the guy in front of him got hurt he stepped up when they asked “Who’s next?”
