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Honors & Awards
First-Team All-Big Eight (Omaha World-Herald, 1981)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (AP, 1981)
1981 (Senior)
Sammy Sims earned first-team All-Big Eight honors from the Omaha World-Herald after producing 29 total tackles, including 16 solos for the Blackshirts as a senior in 1981. The monster back from Lubbock, Texas, added an interception and a fumble recovery to go along with a pair of pass breakups. He also recorded one tackle for loss (one yard) to help Nebraska capture the Big Eight title with a 7-0 mark. The Huskers closed the season with a 9-3 record after a narrow loss to Clemson in the 1982 Orange Bowl. Sims helped the Huskers rank fourth nationally in scoring defense (9.4 ppg) and sixth in total defense (240.5 ypg).
A two-year starter at monster (safety), Sims was a three-year letterwinner in the Husker secondary. He totaled 83 tackles, including 53 unassisted and 30 assisted, in his career. He also finished with four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and six pass breakups to go along with five TFLs (31 yards) in his career. He participated in the Olympia Gold Bowl in San Diego following the 1981 season.
1980 (Junior)
Sims totaled 41 tackles, including 26 solos, while contributing four TFLs (30 yards) for the Blackshirts. He also hauled in two interceptions and broke up three passes. Both of his interceptions came in Nebraska’s 21-7 win at Penn State. He also had nine tackles, including five solos, against the Nittany Lions. He added three more tackles (two solos) and a pass breakup in Nebraska’s Sun Bowl win over Mississippi State.
1979 (Sophomore)
Sims earned his first varsity letter as an alternate at monster, registering two unassisted tackles on the season.
1978 (Redshirt)
Sims redshirted in his second year at Nebraska, while making the move from cornerback to monster.
1977 (Freshman)
Sims was a starter at corner for Nebraska’s freshman team while also spending time with the varsity during the 1977 season.
Estacado High School
Sims was a standout football player and a star on the track at Estacado High School in Lubbock, Texas. He won the Texas state 440-yard dash championship as a senior in 1977.
Personal
The son of Charles and May West, Sammy was a business major at Nebraska. Born March 22, 1958 in Lubbock, Sammy passed away at the age of 61 on Nov. 15, 2019 in Plano, Texas.