There are probably few in the locker rooms of No. 13 Missouri and ninth-ranked Mississippi who are familiar with Wally Pipp, the New York Yankees slugger who famously lost his starting job to Lou Gehrig because of a headache, ultimately starting the Hall of Fame first baseman’s streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.
asserted
who → be → games
Simmons outdueled then-Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss for the starting quarterback job at Ole Miss before last season, only to lose it when he got hurt in Week 2 against Kentucky.
asserted
he → outduele → Kentucky
Chambliss took advantage of the opportunity and became a star, and Simmons was left backing him up — and, ultimately, looking for a new place to play this season.
asserted
Simmons → take → place
That turned out to be Missouri, which was looking for a new starting QB.
asserted
which → turn → QB
And while Chambliss has continued to lead the Rebels under new coach Pete Golding, Simmons has become a star in his own right for Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz.
asserted
Simmons → continue → Drinkwitz
On Saturday, the two will face off in Oxford, Mississippi, in one of college football’s marquee matchups.
asserted
two → face → matchups
“I think the biggest thing is he’s a tremendous teammate.
asserted
he → think → ?
He shows great leadership,” Drinkwitz said of Simmons, who has thrown for exactly 1 yard less than Chambliss this season, but with more touchdowns and fewer interceptions.
asserted
who → show → touchdowns
“You go from being the starting quarterback to being Wally Pipped — you have to be a great encourager,” Drinkwitz continued.
asserted
Drinkwitz → go → ?
“He prepared like he was a starter if he ever got his moment.
asserted
he → prepare → moment
I think that says a lot about who Austin is as a person, that he can find the emotional maturity to believe in himself, and also be a good leader and not make it about him.
asserted
it → think → him
Shortly after Simmons transferred, wide receiver Cayden Lee followed him from Ole Miss to Missouri, in part because he wasn’t sure who would be his QB there this season; only later did Chambliss win an injunction against the NCAA to play one more season.
asserted
Chambliss → transfer → season
Seeing Cayden and Austin over there — seeing the success they have is cool,” Chambliss said following last week’s win over Vanderbilt.
asserted
Chambliss → see → Vanderbilt
“But yeah, it’s going to be fun to play them and it’s going to be weird to see them in different colors.”
That’s just a part of college football these days, though.
asserted
That → go → football
Players transfer so often that a teammate one day could be a rival the next.
uncertain
teammate → transfer → ?
Just in this matchup — along with Simmons and Lee — there’s Tigers defensive back Chris Graves Jr., who spent three seasons at Ole Miss, and Rebels running back Kewan Lacy, who appeared in six games as a freshman at Missouri a couple of years ago.
asserted
who → ’ → years
You have to have emotional consistency, and that’s something we talk about,” Drinkwitz said.
asserted
Drinkwitz → have → consistency
“It is going to be new for them.
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It → go → them
I think they’re going to have to rely on their teammate who have gone through this before.
asserted
who → think → this
“I think it’s really going to be more about this team, the brotherhood, going on the road and playing a top-10 opponent.”
asserted
team → think → opponent
Indeed, the game is crucial for each team’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff.
asserted
game → make → Playoff
The Tigers (5-1, 2-1 SEC) would be undefeated had they not blown a late lead at Mississippi State a couple of weeks ago, but they’ve bounced back to run roughshod over Florida and Texas A&M.
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they → blow → Florida
Meanwhile, the Rebels (4-1, 2-1) have looked strong against just about everyone but the Gators, who beat them in the Swamp a couple of weeks ago.
asserted
who → look → weeks
Yet despite the heavy stakes, or even the way Simmons lost his starting job in Oxford, coaches and players on both sides of Saturday’s showdown at Vaught Hemingway Stadium insist there is no lingering animosity, like there could be in such situations.
uncertain
coaches → lose → situations
“They were unbelievable throughout the (transfer to Missouri) process,” Golding insisted.
asserted
Golding → insist → process
“The biggest thing is to not make it bigger than it is.
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it → make → ?
I think that’s the most important thing,” Drinkwitz said.
asserted
Drinkwitz → think → ?
“You have great memories there.
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You → have → memories
There were great things that happened there.
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that → be → ?
For all intents and purposes, I think everybody left in a positive light on both sides.
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everybody → think → sides
We talk about, ‘Enjoy the journey.’
asserted
We → talk → journey
That was part of the journey that made them who they are right now.
asserted
they → make → journey
I don’t think there has to be more to it than that.”
asserted
I → think → that
___
AP freelance writer Chris Burrows in Oxford, Mississippi, contributed to this report.
asserted
Burrows → contribute → report
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