Matt Simms leaving U of L

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 7, 2009 1:44 PM EST in Football Comment 27 comments

This according to a Rick Bozich blog on the C-J website.

Quarterback Matt Simms is leaving the University of Louisville football program. Simms, a redshirt sophomore quarterback, informed U of L coach Steve Kragthorpe of his decision this morning, U of L football sports information director Rocco Gasparro said.

No word on where Simms is headed. His mother arrived from New Jersey to help him pack his belongings and head home today.

Some expected Simms to replace Hunter Cantwell as the Cards' starting quarterback next season. After red-shirting last season, Simms played in only one game last season, completing 4 of 10 passes for 39 yards and one interception against Pittsburgh.

It's hard to call any news coming out of the football program surprising at this point, but Simms leaving does seem a bit odd after all of the "Matt has the advantage" and "Matt loves competition" remarks Kragthorpe made during his end of the season press conference. I thought from the beginning that passing on Mitch Mustain in order to keep Simms happy and committed was the first mistake Kragthorpe made here, and nothing that has happened since then has made me waver the least bit from that opinion.

I give this news a big, heartfelt "meh."

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Simms

Not sure if anybody caught this, but during the Baltimore/Miami telecast, Jim Nantz was giving a lead-in for the UofL/UK game. Nantz asked Simms as a Louisville native (not as a UofL parent) if he had a view on the game…

It was pure silence as if to say, move-on-to-the-next-topic-Jim.

by Quinn1979 on Jan 7, 2009 2:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i noticed

the eaxct same thing. I think his only response was “Yeah I did grow up in Louisville.”

No loss though, the kid’s terrible throwing motion won’t take him anywhere that we need to worry about

by drhustle on Jan 7, 2009 9:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At this point

I don’t really care…we’re doomed next year, doesn’t matter who Captain Krackpipe has at the wheel of his rickity-ass boat.

Go Cards!

by Red Rage on Jan 7, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

First Simms, then.....

The rats are fleeing the ship. Rumors are also flying that Latarious Thomas may transfer. The HMS Kragtanic still hasn’t sunk yet. We’re up to the point where Rose rescues Jack from the handcuffs. It may be a while before the ship splits in two and finally goes under. Let the good times roll, baby!

by Whacker77 on Jan 7, 2009 2:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good Riddance

We’re used to classy, competitive quarterbacks around here and Matt Simms was not one of them. Here’s hoping that Justin Burke, Adam Froman, or Zach Stoudt, however, is the next successful QB for the Cards.

by Hari Seldon on Jan 7, 2009 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sick

I’d be sick of sitting on the sidelines watching us lose all the time too.

If he was really going to be the QB the upcoming year we would have probably seen him get a bit more playing time. Especially in the last game. The writing was on the wall then. Remember Krag after the game talking about how Hunter deserved to play it out…

by Pitino's Pal on Jan 7, 2009 2:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good riddance, indeed

This was a rich kid with a bad attitude and a poor throwing motion. There was lots of speculation that he’d stay simply because he had nowhere else to go. It’ll be interesting to see where he lands.

As for the state of the program he leaves behind, we remain truly and thoroughly screwed.

theoldman

by theoldman on Jan 7, 2009 2:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

no surprise...

by frankpos on Jan 7, 2009 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is Jurich surprised

Frank, you’ve got to wonder what’s going through the minds of Jurich and the boosters who stand behind him. The assistant staff is in total flux, players are transferring, and recruiting is a big crap sandwich. I know Dan Henning told Jurich Krags was great, but at some point enough has to be enough. It will be interesting to see if a 2-10 or 3-9 season sways any of the boosters,

by Whacker77 on Jan 7, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The sky is falling, the sky is falling.

If we lose another overrated sidearm quaterback that can’t put the weed down I’m going to flip out. When will the boosters fire everyone and start over?

by dlpfis79 on Jan 8, 2009 7:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and to think...

all this time I thought he was hangin around here for the weed..

but yeah…BFD is what I really think about him leaving. Probably a prima donna anyways.

by twistedwedge on Jan 7, 2009 3:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not Matty!

I thought he was Krag’s boy! Wasn’t he always referred to by Krags as “Matty”. As if they were great friends are something.

If Latarius Thomas transfers I’ll be sick.

by Card33 on Jan 7, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Can't blame him

I wouldn’t wanna go down with this shitty ship.

Am I a very bad fan for almost hoping the ship sinks while on fire, so that we may get rid of Koach?

by sam34gtr on Jan 7, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Simms sure was hip - as in he threw the ball from there

I don’t care that he’s rich. I just care that his throwing motion was absolutely abysmal. Although his leaving probably won’t hurt us, this points to the larger issue that Krag can’t even keep a player around that he bows down to for two years. With our recruiting worsening and players leaving, it’s time for a change at the top. This coaching staff has had an entire month to turn around recruiting and apparently it’s not happening.

by centrecard on Jan 7, 2009 3:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"He worked out with teammates at the Trager Center for several days before making his decision to leave. "

So maybe he came back to Louisville, worked out and saw we had a lot of talent at QB and decided he’d never play… THIS IS THE BEST NEWS TO COME FROM OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM IN A LOOOOOOOONG TIME!!!

by mapaul04 on Jan 7, 2009 3:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

matt simms is fugly

can I get away with calling him fugly without my post being taken down now?

by Web on Jan 7, 2009 3:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Can't we look to the prison system for some recruits?

I’m starting to think they’re going to write a movie about us later based on the same plot at “Necessary Roughness.” All we need to do is lure a 34-year-old farmboy to UofL to be QB. Or better yet, get the real Scott Bakula. And Sinbad. And definitely Kathy Ireland to put some fans in the seats.

Taglines stolen from the movie that will apply for next season:
1) They just might be the biggest bunch of losers that ever became winners.
2) This gang of loners, loonies and losers are about to become something they’ve never been before. A team

DocCardsFan
The 'Ville, KY

by DocCardsFan on Jan 7, 2009 3:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i still

have 4 years of eligibility!

Clifford

by JimmyClifford on Jan 8, 2009 7:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hey Mellon

we need ya

"You win some, You lose some but you never stop trying to do your best" Denny Crum

by DANCARD on Jan 8, 2009 7:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So when guys leave this time

Does it mean that they’re bad apples too? Matt Simms must be part of the mess that Petrino left behind right? I’m waiting to hear what the excuse is this time.

by Chris Redman is my hero on Jan 7, 2009 3:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

it's sad

but my guess is that jurich will still pin this on petrino, as petrino initially recruited the kid and kragthorpe only maintained the committment.

by davidson07 on Jan 8, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have read about Simms pre-season problems.

UL football program has not lost a guy of character or talent IMO. Most likely a good thing he is gone as not a detriment to present players or future recruits.

Just because he had genetic qualities as a great QB…his personality and work ethic was questionable to say the least. You are better off w/o Simms.

by kykat51 on Jan 7, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't we have

like 11 QB’s anyway. Seriously, I went to the football kickoff lunchen last year and we had a bunch of QB’s. Maybe one of them can play.

"You win some, You lose some but you never stop trying to do your best" Denny Crum

by DANCARD on Jan 7, 2009 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

unless theyre hanging out in

the same stable as our herd of inept kickers…?

by twistedwedge on Jan 7, 2009 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

absolutely shocking...

by quiet cardinal on Jan 7, 2009 5:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Opens Door

for Zach Stoudt to walk right in. Stoudt has a big arm with a much better delivery than Simms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgNRaEo1tdc

Froman and Burke are both Juniors and could be solid starters. But I think with Chichester and Vic Anderson being sophomores, and Beaumont a Jr., I think it would be beneficial to have Stoudt start and play with these guys for 2-3 years, and be a 4 year starter to get some chemistry on offense.

by CardinalSin2 on Jan 7, 2009 6:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wish Matt the best

I wish Matt Sims nothing but the best and hope he chooses a Big East School so he can come back to Papa John’s Cardinal stadium and throw for like 500 yards and 6 Touchdowns and totally expose what a Idiot Coach Krap is. Adam Froman will be the Starting Quarterback, Think about it, Why would a Junior College Quarterback with 2 years of eligibility come to a program unless he is pretty sure he is going to start. Why would Coach Krap waste his time recruiting a Junior College Quarterback if he wasn’t going to start him.Matt is not a idiot he saw the writing on the wall. It is a shame because coming out of High School Matt threw for like 6,000 yards and led his team to a 12-0 record and state Championship he was rated as a 3 stars at his position and was very highly recruited,not to shabby for a Quaterback that has terrible throwing motion that could be easily corrected if a good quaterback Coach and his Dad worked with him. Unfortunatly we won’t have the oppourtunity to see him play in a Cardinal Uniform. Good Luck Matt wherever you go.

by cardsfanatic63 on Jan 8, 2009 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs