When a boss that bleeds burnt orange weighs in on the on-field conduct of the Texas football players, there must be a serious issue inside the program.
Days after defensive end Colin Simmons drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag and running back Raleek Brown drew criticism for an end-zone celebration in a 20-17 win at then-No. 14 Tennessee, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte wrote that each antic “was embarrassing to our proud and widely respected football team, athletics program and university.”
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“We can all agree it was a heck of a game and an incredible performance on the field, but I also know we had some major issues to address with inappropriate celebrations from our players,” Del Conte wrote in this week’s newsletter Forty Acres Insider, which he releases each Tuesday. “I’m not happy about that. I know none of us are. … It certainly raised very warranted concerns that many of you shared with me, drew a lot of attention, and I understand why.”
Simmons, a preseason All-American edge rusher and potential first-round NFL draft pick this spring, went off for a single-game school-record 5½ sacks against the Vols. After his second quarterback takedown, Simmons appeared to mime himself urinating on the field as teammates tried to stop him. He was flagged for the gesture and instead of a third-down sack forcing a fourth-and-29 and a punt from the Tennessee 12-yard line, the Volunteers were awarded a new set of downs.
Texas running back Raleek Brown celebrates after a play during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Longhorns at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 26, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
What celebration did Raleek Brown do?
Brown celebrated his second touchdown run of the game in the fourth quarter by putting his hand between his legs and wafting the air up toward his nose before purposefully falling backwards as if he had passed out.
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After the game, Simmons addressed the play, saying: “I also do want to say I apologize for the celebration. I was definitely in that mode, feeling myself. But you know, it happens, charge it to the game.”
Brown told reporters after the game that he drew his celebration from social media.
“I don’t know what it’s called,” he said. “Some TikTok dance.”
Chris Del Conte: ‘Good people who made poor choices’
Regardless of what the players called the celebrations, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t like them. He told reporters Monday that he met with Simmons and Brown over the weekend and said he’s handling the matter internally.
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“We have got to do a better job of celebrating with one another,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t want to take away our stinger. I don’t want to take away the excitement of the game. But the moment you start to demean an opponent, the flags are going to come out and that’s when you can call it a fine line, but it’s not really a fine line.”
In his newsletter, Del Conte said he supports any disciplinary measures Sarkisian imposed on Simmons and Brown.
“Rest assured, Coach Sark (Sarkisian) has addressed both situations with the players individually and with the team, and he discussed them after the game and again in Monday’s press conference. As he said, it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The message is clear – the players conduct did not reflect the values of Texas athletics or our university and cannot happen again.
“I also want to add my apology to our Longhorn community and everyone who expects better from Texas. We should represent this university with class, dignity and respect at all times, and in those moments, we fell short.
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“I do recognize that these are young men who made mistakes, and this is a meaningful learning experience. They have owned their mistakes, and those actions are not reflective of who they are. They are good people who made poor choices – they know it, we know it, and they, along with our entire team, will grow from this.
“What matters now is that they do just that and that our entire team understands the responsibility that comes with representing The University of Texas. We are proud of the team and what it accomplished Saturday and thus far this season, and we will continue to hold ourselves to the standard that all of you rightly expect from Texas.”
This article originally published at After inappropriate Colin Simmons, Raleek Brown celebrations, Texas AD apologizes to fans.
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