SAN DIEGO -- If Major Applewhite was bitter or angry or disillusioned about the way the Texas quarterback controversy played out the last two seasons, he never let on.

	In his final game with the Longhorns, Major Applewhite (11) will start at quarterback with Chris Simms (1) his backup.

He kept his frustrations to himself, even when he felt he could have gone in and gotten the Longhorns rolling. Like, say, after Chris Simms threw four interceptions in a 14-3 defeat against Oklahoma back in October.

The one thing he did do while watching his senior season tick away Saturday after Saturday was keep himself ready. That's why Applewhite, the leading passer in Longhorns' history, gets to start his final game for No. 9 Texas, in the Culligan Holiday Bowl against Washington (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today; No. 21 Associated Press) on Friday night.

"I'm just gracious that this opportunity has presented itself," said Applewhite, ever the diplomat. "There's no bitterness. I don't have time for that now. I just want to go out and play football."

Applewhite, who holds 44 Texas records, had seen only mop-up duty this season. After throwing for a school-record 7,974 yards the previous three seasons, he threw for just 379 this year. But he was pretty sure his career wouldn't end with him holding a clipboard on the sideline.

After Texas blew a shot at the national championship game by losing 39-37 to Colorado in the Big 12 title game Dec. 1, coach Mack Brown didn't waste any time in naming Applewhite the Holiday Bowl starter over Simms, a junior.

Simms committed four turnovers that led to 26 Colorado points and was replaced by Applewhite, who passed for 240 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a desperate rally that fell just short.

Applewhite was surprised and happy to be named the starter.

"Surprised, because as a bowl game, you're thinking maybe they want to give Chris confidence going into spring and next season. At the same time, you're thinking, `I did play well against Colorado,' so it's like I made a case for starting."

Applewhite's performance against Colorado rekindled a two-year debate among Texas fans -- whether to start Applewhite, a proven winner, or the 6-foot-5 Simms, whose strong left arm make him a solid NFL prospect.

"Just being a quarterback at Texas, regardless of whether you're first or second team, you're going to have pressure," Applewhite said. "That's why you go there. That's the fun part of it. You live for those situations."

Applewhite was the Big 12 offensive most valuable player in 1999 when he was the first Texas quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards in a season. Brown rotated the two quarterbacks in 2000 before Applewhite was sidelined by a knee injury.

Simms became the permanent starter late last season, including in a 35-30 loss to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl in which he threw four interceptions.

Until the disaster against Colorado, Simms had quieted most of his critics by leading Texas to its first 10-victory season since 1995 and its highest national ranking since 1983. He set a school record with 22 touchdown passes, breaking Applewhite's mark of 21 set in 1999.

Applewhite said he's been able to handle the controversy because he saw it coming when the Longhorns recruited Simms, the son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.

"You just know that with a high-profile quarterback coming in, that there's going to be a lot of hype, that there's going to be some decisions, and you know it's not going to be as smooth sailing as it was in '98 when there was no other quarterback," he said.

"Also, it would be foolish to not try to recruit anybody that's as good as Chris. You need somebody great in case somebody goes down."

That's what helped contribute to the controversy.

"I do think the reason this one is so unique is Chris was so highly recruited and Major had done so well," Brown said. "People forget the fact that Major got hurt last year. And both of them have been tremendously successful."

Which is why having both of them has been a blessing, not a difficulty, Brown added.

"We wouldn't have won all the games we've won over the last three years without both of them," said Brown, whose Longhorns have been 9-5, 9-3 and 10-2 with Applewhite and Simms on the roster. "They're still the best two quarterbacks in the country."