Simmons to Resign at Oklahoma State

Bob Simmons, whose team has lost six consecutive games, will resign as Oklahoma State’s football coach after the season, ending his six-year stay at the school.

His last game for Cowboys will be the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State showdown Nov. 25.

“I do this so the university can go about rebuilding the program,” Simmons said Monday. “Any time a coach leaves a program, it comes down to the ‘W’--the wins and losses.”

Oklahoma State (2-6, 0-5 Big 12) is assured its third consecutive losing season and fifth under Simmons.

He told his players of the decision just before an afternoon news conference.

“That was tough,” he said in a halting voice. “I asked them to go forward and very much be a part of the future of this program, the successes that they are going to have. I encouraged them to stick around. I encouraged them to recruit and to build.”

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Miami may be ranked No. 2 in the media and coaches polls, but Florida State is second in the ratings that count most--the BCS standings.

The Seminoles, despite a 27-24 loss to the Hurricanes last month, were in second place behind Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series released Monday, a scant .39 points ahead of Miami.

The teams that finish 1-2 in the final BCS standings released Dec. 3 will play in the national title game in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3. The standings are based on a formula that incorporates the AP poll plus the coaches’ poll, eight computer rankings, schedule strength and number of losses.

Florida State (9-1) came out ahead of Miami (7-1) this week based on a stronger computer rating.

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Major Applewhite, who took over the starting duties when No. 19 Texas scrapped its system of rotating quarterbacks four games ago, sprained his right knee in a 29-17 win at Texas Tech and will not play Saturday at Kansas. Applewhite will be replaced by Chris Simms.

Coach Mack Brown said the injury does not require surgery but could be bad enough to also keep Applewhite out of the regular-season finale Nov. 24 against No. 23 Texas A&M.;

“We feel like he’s got a chance to return,” Brown said.

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North Carolina State freshman Philip Rivers, who has thrown for 2,236 yards and 21 touchdowns, has a separated right shoulder and may not play this weekend against Duke, Wolfpack Coach Chuck Amato said Monday. Amato said X-rays on Rivers’ throwing shoulder Sunday revealed a grade one separation, which is the least serious of such injuries. If Rivers doesn’t play, Olin Hannum will start. . . . Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said quarterback Michael Vick is questionable for the Hokies’ game at Central Florida on Saturday because of a sprained right ankle, and wide receiver Andre Davis, who is suffering from bursitis in his left heel, probably is out.