{"id":86747,"date":"2025-05-05T15:21:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T20:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=86747"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:22:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T20:22:06","slug":"heisman-trophy-winner-visits-hays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=86747","title":{"rendered":"Heisman Trophy winner visits Hays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By RORY MOORE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Former professional football player Billy Sims arrived at Billy Sims Barbecue in Hays on Saturday for a meet-and-greet with fans. The 1978 Heisman Trophy winner spent the first two business hours of the restaurant signing autographs and posing with fans for photographs while visiting the restaurant chain he co-founded in 2004.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"484\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-86748\" data-id=\"86748\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2.jpg?resize=790%2C484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C627&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=370%2C227&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C92&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C470&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C941&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1254&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Fans come out to meet Sims and grab autographs from him. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"611\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-86750\" data-id=\"86750\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2.jpg?resize=790%2C611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C792&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=336%2C260&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C116&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C594&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1187&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1583&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/3-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Sims poses with a Chiefs fan for pictures.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"442\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-86753\" data-id=\"86753\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Billy-Sims-004.jpg?resize=790%2C442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Billy-Sims-004.jpg?resize=1024%2C573&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Billy-Sims-004.jpg?resize=370%2C207&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Billy-Sims-004.jpg?resize=150%2C84&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Billy-Sims-004.jpg?resize=768%2C430&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Billy-Sims-004.jpg?w=1384&amp;ssl=1 1384w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Sims played Football for the Oklahoma Sooners and Detroit Lions before he retired in 1984 due to a knee injury. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"639\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-86751\" data-id=\"86751\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2.jpg?resize=639%2C1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=639%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 639w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=162%2C260&amp;ssl=1 162w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=94%2C150&amp;ssl=1 94w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1231&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=958%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 958w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1278%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1278w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2-of-5-2-scaled.jpg?w=1597&amp;ssl=1 1597w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Sims was the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner and 1980 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"415\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-86752\" data-id=\"86752\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759-1024x538.jpg?resize=790%2C415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?resize=1024%2C538&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?resize=370%2C194&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?resize=150%2C79&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?resize=768%2C403&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?resize=1536%2C806&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?resize=2048%2C1075&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Billy Sims great OU fans at Billy Sims Barbecue in Hays. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Sims played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners before he was selected as the first overall pick of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, where he played as a running back until a knee injury forced him to retire in 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBesides having a barbecue place in my name, there\u2019s good enough reason to come up here and see some of those fans who like barbecue,\u201d Sims said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been treating me like I\u2019ve been here all the time.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coming to Hays provided a source of familiarity for the three-time Pro Bowler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t had the chance to venture out and see it,\u201d he said. \u201cI grew up in a small town of 2,000 people, so I\u2019m used to small towns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many fans who came to meet him were admirers who watched him play for the Sooners and the Lions, and others came from areas outside of his former career homes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re from Nebraska,\u201d Eric Lorenz said. \u201cIt was a little different meeting him but, he\u2019s a cool guy. We\u2019ve seen a few football players, and he\u2019s a legend. So, it was great to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Billy Sims Barbecue in Hays opens at 11:00 a.m. daily. It closes at 8:00 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 9:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By RORY MOORE Tiger Media Network Former professional football player Billy Sims arrived at Billy Sims Barbecue in Hays on Saturday for a meet-and-greet with&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":86752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3397,11],"tags":[16248,16247,15700],"class_list":["post-86747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-area-news","category-news","tag-billy-sims","tag-billy-sims-barbeque","tag-rory-moore"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1-of-5-2-scaled-e1746476448759.jpg?fit=2560%2C1344&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=86747"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86754,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86747\/revisions\/86754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/86752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=86747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=86747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=86747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}