With Texas now joining the SEC, the fate of the “Horns Down” gesture has become a topic of discussion. SEC coordinator of football officials John McDaid provided clarity on how this celebrated gesture, often used by opponents to taunt Texas, will be handled in the new conference.
Historically, the “Horns Down” has been a popular way for opponents to celebrate against Texas, though it has been loathed by Longhorns fans and even penalized as unsportsmanlike conduct in the Big 12. However, with Texas’s transition to the SEC, the enforcement of this gesture has evolved.
McDaid explained at SEC Media Days that the context of the “Horns Down” celebration will be crucial in determining whether it warrants a penalty. He suggested that if opposing players use the gesture simply as a form of celebration and not as a direct taunt towards Texas players, it would not be flagged as a foul.
McDaid emphasized that the act would need to be deemed offensive in order to be penalized, which in most scenarios, including in a football stadium, it is not. “If you took that act out of a football stadium and did it in a shopping mall or a grocery store, would it offend the senses of a majority of reasonable people?” McDaid questioned. “That signal would not, right? You might even find people who agree with you if you did it in a grocery store or shopping mall, depending on where you are.”
Horns Down will not be a penalty in the SEC.
"If you took that act out of a football stadium and did it in a shopping mall or a grocery store – would it offend the senses to a majority of the reasonable people in the area? That signal would not. You might have some people that… pic.twitter.com/JHCHM44D8U
— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) July 16, 2024
As Texas prepares to compete in the SEC, McDaid outlined a scenario where the Longhorns will need to accept the “Horns Down” gesture as a common occurrence, provided it’s not intended as a direct provocation. Opposing players are generally free to use the gesture at their discretion, as long as it is not directed explicitly at Texas players.
