Texas fans are trying to make the most of the viral moment.
On Saturday night, with Texas leading Georgia 30-15 with just over three minutes left in the game, ESPN cameras showed Grant Walther staring glumly at the field, giving the Longhorns a sense of sadness. It became a meme.
Walther's disappointed expression and prominent hairstyle made her a popular figure to be teased on social media.
“Someone said he was wearing a guardian cap.” RedditCFB account wrote about X.
“A true aura of madness” Media personality Pete Blackburn wrote about X.
But Walther told the Daily Mail That he's embracing his newfound fame.
“I want to be a lawyer, that's my goal,” he told the website. “I never set out to achieve 'internet meme', but here I am…it was an out-of-this-world experience.”
And he said he wants to turn the experience into a charity event with the help of some of Texas' most famous fans.
“I know Matthew McConaughey used to cut players' hair,” Walther said. “Maybe he can reduce my work in the field and raise money for cancer awareness. My grandmother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and has since overcome it. It’s the perfect platform to advocate for the things you care about most.”
Walther said her friends quickly alerted her that she was spreading, and now strangers are stopping her on campus in Austin.
And what about that now famous hair?
“I just have naturally thick hair, so I use a 2-in-1 hair wash, and I don't do anything to my hair,” Walther says. “I wake up every morning, take a shower, wash my hair, and just think that it's going to be dry by noon and decide that's what's going to happen. There's nothing I can do about it.”
The setback against Georgia was Texas' first loss and called into question the validity of the No. 1-ranked Longhorns as a national title contender.
With Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers struggling, Georgia took control throughout and raced to a 23-0 lead at halftime.
The game took an ugly turn late in the third quarter when Texas cornerback Jahday Barron intercepted a pass from Georgia's Carson Beck and returned it inside the Bulldogs' 5-yard line.
However, Barron was given a questionable pass interference penalty, and eventually Texas fans showed their displeasure by showering bottles on the field.
In the end, the call was canceled.
Texas travels to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt on Saturday. They look to counter a surprising Commodores team that is ranked 25th in the country and upset Alabama earlier this season.
