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Simas made his long-awaited debut Saturday against Wyoming after a redshirt season in 2007, missing 2008 academically ineligible and being suspended from this season`s first two games.
He made his first career start and played Saturday despite a sprained knee, which prevented him from practicing earlier this month and is slowly healing. The knee began to bother him in the first half and he played sparingly the rest of the way.
Quarterback Cody Hawkins targeted Simas on one play early in the game, but the pass was incomplete. Simas said he didn`t feel as mobile as he needs to be to be effective.
"I didn`t get as many reps as I wanted. My knee was kind of bothering me, but I`m happy with a win," Simas said. "I`m not going to complain. I`ll do whatever it takes. If that means sitting the bench and let my team go out there and handle it, I`m going to do it.
A bye week arrives at a good time for Simas who said he believes he will be much closer to 100 percent healthy when the Buffs play next on Thursday night, Oct. 1, at West Virginia.
"I`ll be all right after this bye week," he said.
True freshman wide receiver Will Jefferson had played in the Buffs` first two games this season, but he didn`t get his first career catch until the second half of Saturday`s game.
Record book
Wide receiver Scotty McKnight is likely to be among the most decorated receivers in Colorado history when he leaves the program following next season.
McKnight tied a school record Saturday by catching a pass in his 27th consecutive game. McKnight tied former receiver Charles E. Johnson, who caught balls in 27 games between the 1991 and 1993 seasons.
Johnson actually caught passes in 29 consecutive games if bowl games are factored in. McKnight has caught passes in 28 games, including the 2007 Independence Bowl. He also moved into eighth place on the school`s career receptions list with 109 catches and into 11th place on the receiving yards list with 1,234.
The commish
Big 12 Conference commissioner Dan Beebe watched the game from the athletic director`s suite and spoke briefly with reporters after visiting the Buffs in the locker room.
Beebe said the conference is a few weeks away from announcing its future bowl lineup, which will begin in 2010. He said a new bowl to be played at Yankee Stadium in New York is the only new game being added to the list of the league`s bowl partners. It will likely replace the relationship the Big 12 has with the Gator and Sun Bowls, which share a Big 12 bowl slot.
Beebe said the pecking order will likely change because of changes in the size of payouts different bowl partners have agreed to.
Beebe wore a Buff polo shirt. He said he is allowed to wear specific school colors during nonconference play.
Red zone success
The Buffs are perfect so far this season when driving inside the opponent`s 20-yard line. CU has scored all 12 times it has penetrated the red zone, including 10 touchdowns.
Red zone success was one of several focal points for the offense during both spring ball and fall camp.
Old friends
CU place-kicker Aric Goodman reunited with former Wyoming teammates Saturday. Goodman began his career in Laramie but transferred to CU in 2007.
Goodman made his only field goal attempt and three extra points against his former team on a day when Wyoming looked like it missed him. Cowboys` place-kicker Austin McCoy missed two field goal attempts that could have prevented the shutout. He missed a 35-yard try in the first quarter and a 37-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
"I`m happy we went out there and played up to our potential in all three phases of the game," Goodman said.
Get your throwbacks
Fans can purchase silver helmets and gold throwback jerseys worn by the Buffs in Saturday`s game for $600 when purchased together at CUBuffs.com. Game-worn items from the contest are also being sold separately on the athletic department`s Web site.
Notable
The CU defense has given up some big plays on third downs this season, but is doing a good job in those situations for the most part. Opponents are just 14 of 47 (29.8 percent) on third down conversions against the Buffs. ... Senior punter Matt DiLallo averaged 47.7 yards per punt Saturday and helped change field position three times when punting from deep in his own territory. ... Linebacker Guy Sergent and offensive lineman David Clark saw the first action of their careers. ... Senior linebacker Shaun Mohler returned from a bad concussion suffered against Colorado State and recorded three tackles.
