1,000 yards could be consolation prize for Sims

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — His “Senior Day” at West Virginia could be one rife with regret. After all, Charles Sims left a Houston program that currently owns an 8-4 record for a Mountaineers team that is 4-7.

But Sims, much like his running style, keeps moving forward. He reiterated this week that transferring to WVU for his fifth and final college season was the right move.

“I feel good with the decision I made. I think I made the right decision,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time here.

“I’m just thankful to be here with these guys. It’s the last time I’m going to be out there with them.”

Sims has established a single-season career-best rushing total this year and now needs just 54 yards Saturday against Iowa State to reach 1,000.

“He’s never had it,” said West Virginia running backs coach JaJuan Seider. “He wants it. It means a lot to him.”

Sims currently is tied for the team lead with 43 catches, a mark that tops all Big 12 running backs. His versatility has attracted NFL scouts even though it cost Sims a shot at the conference rushing crown. His 946 rushing yards trail only James Sims’ 1,028 at Kansas.

“You think about his career (at Houston)—he’s had 800 yards receiving and it’s the same thing here,” Seider said. “We spread them out so much that you don’t always take advantage of him enough in the backfield.”

The soft-spoken Sims admitted reaching the 1,000-yard mark “would mean a lot.” And particularly in a Dana Holgorsen offense, the running back said “that would be a great accomplishment.”

But coaxing much more self-lauding out of Sims is impossible. His primary aim for the season finale is beating Iowa State (2-9, 1-7) and sending the rest of the WVU seniors out on a winning note. The Mountaineers are 7.5-point favorites and need a victory (or a Kansas loss to K-State) to avoid a last-place finish in the league.

“I love these guys like my brothers,” Sims said. “We had ups-and-downs, but I enjoyed myself.”

The guess here is he’ll have another day to enjoy in a narrow win against the gritty Cyclones.

PICK: West Virginia 27-21

Ranking the weekend’s other Big 12 games:

1. TCU 30, Baylor 28: (Bears -13.5) The vitriol involved in this private-school rivalry doesn’t generate much publicity outside of Texas, but harsh feelings became harsher when Baylor was selected over TCU for the Big 12’s inception in 1994. The Bears’ national title hopes were dashed at Oklahoma State last week and they host Texas in the final game at Floyd Casey Stadium next week. That sounds like the perfect trap-game sandwich in Fort Worth, where Gary Patterson’s club is a mere eight points away from being 7-4 instead of 4-7.

2. Kansas State 27, Kansas 17: (Wildcats -17.5) Jayhawks administrators have been busy trying to find new a goal post on eBay ever since KU students tore one down after the win over West Virginia. That monumental victory ended a 27-game Big 12 losing slide, though Kansas promptly started another streak with last week’s 34-0 no-show at Iowa State.