DALLAS -- As Texas quarterback Chris Simms lay on the ground at the game's final horn, a sea of crimson engulfed him.

Muskets fired into the air, maroon-clad girls embraced their corn-fed boyfriends and the south side of the Cotton Bowl reveled in Oklahoma's 35-24 Red River win.

Simms sat on the 31-yard line, sacked by Oklahoma defensive end Tommie Harris, his reputation of futility in this grand Southwestern rivalry sealed in the most fitting fashion. Whether it's fair or unfair will be history's debate, but the Texas faithful will forever link Simms to three consecutive losses to OU, a Crimson streak that will define his career like a scarlet letter.

	Chris Simms' legacy is tainted by his struggles against OU.

"It's going to suck to be Chris Simms this week," Texas wide receiver Roy Williams said. "Everyone is going to try to blame the game on him."

Simms, the kid with a baby face still dotted with acne, the aristocratic background and thoroughbred genes, didn't deny Williams' contention. Nor did he duck away from his tortured history against the Sooners.

Simms accepts that his three interceptions on Saturday, coupled with his four last season, will be the numbers that haunt his Red River history. Couple those with 14 interceptions (15 turnovers) vs. zero touchdown passes in his career against Top 10 teams, and the numbers present a pretty powerful case.

Simms admitted after the game that when he arrived at Texas in 1999 as the country's most ballyhooed recruit, he never imagined not beating OU as a starter. Simms, though, didn't wax philosophical about it.

"I don't give a damn about my legacy," he said.

And Simms knows all too well the fickle place that history can hold for those who end up on the losing end of the scoreboard. After all, he majors in history at UT and has spent four years being batted around in Austin's fishbowl.

Simms, pragmatic and articulate even in his darkest moments, concedes that history will forget that two of his three interceptions on Saturday were not his fault. On Teddy Lehman's interception of Simms, the game's turning point with one minute remaining in the third quarter, the ball bounced off the hands of wide receiver B.J. Johnson after a stiff hit by Brandon Everage.

On Derrick Strait's second-quarter interception of Simms, UT coach Mack Brown quickly pointed out that the blame should go to receiver Kyle Shanahan, who stopped running his route.

On his other interception, Simms complimented OU cornerback Andre Woolfolk, who made an NFL-caliber diving interception on a deep ball that Simms under threw.

"People aren't going to remember those things," Simms said. "They're going to see three interceptions and that's it."

	“	It's going to suck to be Chris Simms this week. Everyone is going to try to blame the game on him." ”
		— Texas WR Roy Williams

People also will remember Texas' inability to get the ball to all-world receiver Williams for the second consecutive year. That includes Williams, who criticized the UT coaching staff after the game for being too conservative.

"I thought we could have hit the ball downfield a lot more than we did," Williams said. "They were sitting in a two-deep zone, and they were very vulnerable downfield."

Instead, Williams ended the day with two catches, only one of which was meaningful. He darted past OU's zone in the first quarter, hauling in a 44-yard pass to the 2 yard line. That set up a diving touchdown by Simms and UT's early 7-0 lead. As for why they didn't hook up again until 31 seconds remained, Williams just shook his head and held a blank stare.

"I really can't tell you, man," Williams said. "I really can't tell you."

The first pass to Williams and subsequent dive for a touchdown ended up as the highlight of Simms' afternoon. He looked defiant after scoring the touchdown, pointing in celebration to the orange-clad denizens and stalking confidently to the sideline like a Reservoir Dog -- Mr. Orange, if you will -- waiting for his next heist.

But handcuffed by conservative play calling and Cedric Benson's utter inability to run the ball (22 carries for 60 yards), Simms and the offense never really got back in sync the rest of the day. Sure, he missed a few receivers as he went 12-for-26 for 156 yards on the day. Just the same, a few receivers didn't exactly help him, including a big third down drop by tight end Brock Edwards the drive after OU took a 21-17 lead.

As for Brown, he threw blame to the wind -- literally. He pointed to the afternoon breeze, which was announced at 10 mph, as an excuse for Texas' inability to move the ball.

He also blamed the bounce of the ball, as OU pinned the 'Horns on the 1-yard line in the third quarter on a behind-the-back, off-the pylon save by Will Peoples after an OU punt.

As for Oklahoma, they ate the clock to protect the lead and feasted on Texas' alarming inability to adjust to the bevy of draw plays run by Quentin Griffin (32 carries, 248 yards).

Brown did everything but blame his quarterback. In fact, he went out of his way to protect Simms, deflecting media questions after the game.

"He's one of the best quarterbacks in the country," Brown said. "He's playing as well as anyone in the country and he'll continue to do so. You ought to look at the Colorado game last year."

For as much criticism as Simms will endure this week, Brown will get his share for his chronic inability to win big games. He's 2-8 against Top 10 teams, and lost to an underdog Oklahoma team for the third consecutive year.

Around these parts, folks don't look at wins over Colorado for solace. Reputations are forged, branded and defined by one's performance against Oklahoma.

And, fair or not, as Simms peeled himself off the ground amid Sooner euphoria Saturday evening, he secured a legacy tainted by a crimson streak.