In this week's interview episode of The Flagship Podcast, we talk to Texas' first Lombardi Award winner and member of the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame induction class - the one and only Kenneth Sims.

Sims, who still holds the Texas career record for forced fumbles with 15, was a terror on the UT defensive line from 1978-81, winning the 1981 Lombardi Award, as the nation's top college down lineman, before going on to become the No. 1 overall selection in the 1982 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. 

Sims was also the recipient of the NCAA's prestigious Top V Award (now the Top 10 Award), given to the top scholar-athletes in college athletics in all sports (along with Oliver Luck) in 1982.

We talk to Sims about growing up in Kosse, Texas, and his high school football days playing for the Groesbeck Goats (which included the 6-foot-5, 271-pound Sims kicking field goals).

Sims recounts the fascinating twist during the recruiting process that led to Sims landing at Texas instead of Rice.

Sims served as the backup defensive tackle to Steve McMichael at Texas in 1978 and 1979 before dominating in 1980 and 1981. Sims discusses his friendship with McMichael, whom he faced in the Super Bowl in the 1985 season, when Sims' Patriots went up against McMichael's Chicago Bears.

Sims talks about his former Texas coach Fred Akers, who passed away Dec. 7, 2020, just before Sims learned of his selection for the College Football Hall of Fame (along with 2021 inductees who include former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo).

With Texas preparing to go to Arkansas on Sept. 14, Sims recounts his battles with then-perennial power Arkansas, including his first-ever start, which came in UT's season opener in 1980 against the Razorbacks. 

Sims also shares his thoughts on what it will take to return Texas to national prominence as well as the hire of new coach Steve Sarkisian.

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