Arr! The SEC be sayin' ye can't be keelhauled fer makin' the 'Horns Down' sign. No penalty, me hearties!
2023-07-19
Arrr, ye mateys! Avast ye! The scallywag SEC be claimin' that the "Horns Down" signal be no foul play, mateys! As Texas be gettin' ready to join us on the high seas in 2024, the coordinator of officials be sayin' this be no breach of honor, arrr!
With Texas set to join the SEC in 2024, the conference's coordinator of officials, John McDaid, has stated that the "Horns Down" gesture will not automatically result in a penalty. McDaid explained that the gesture will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and that it needs to fall under one of three categories: taunting an opponent, making a travesty of the game, or compromising the ability to manage the game. McDaid clarified that there is a distinction between a player directly taunting an opponent versus doing it with teammates celebrating or on the sideline. He emphasized that not every occurrence of the gesture is considered unsportsmanlike conduct.McDaid also mentioned that the same rules will apply to other team-specific gestures, such as the "Gator Chomp" and "Land Shark" signals. The "Horns Down" gesture has been a controversial topic in recent years, as the Big 12 has penalized opposing players for using it during games. Big 12 director of officiating Greg Burks previously addressed the issue, stating that it would be up to officials to make a judgment call based on when, to whom, and how the gesture is performed.
Last season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban expressed his disapproval of one of his players flashing the "Horns Down" sign after a victory over Texas. Saban emphasized the importance of respecting other teams' traditions and urged his players not to engage in such behavior. Texas and Alabama are scheduled to face off in Week 2 of the 2023 college football season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.