SEC enforcement coordinator John McDade made the announcement officially this week.
The “Horns Down” taunt does not result in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for conference teams. The celebration is directed at players in all sports, particularly the Texas Longhorns football team.
When the school was in the Big 12 Conference, the taunting was penalized, but Coach McDade changed the policy.
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A Texas Longhorns helmet rests on the sideline during the Big 12 Championship game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“The act itself must offend,” he said. Austin American Statesman“If you did that from a football stadium to a shopping mall or grocery store, would it offend the sensibilities of the majority of reasonable people in that area? The signal would not.”
“If you did the same thing at a grocery store or a shopping mall, depending on where you are, there may be other people sharing that signal. We’re going to evaluate it on a case-by-case basis.”
In 2021, Big 12 Conference officials decided that any mockery of Texas players would be penalized.
Dante Stills, wearing number 55 of the West Virginia University Mountaineers, celebrates with the horns down signal after a game against the University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Werner/Getty Images)
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“If an opponent is a Texas player and they put the horns down, it’s probably going to be a foul,” Big 12 officiating coordinator Greg Burks said at the time. Via SI.com“… Folks, please note that I said ‘probably.’ You have to consider intent and circumstances. I’ll leave that to the authorities.”
Texas won’t be the only team joining the SEC, Oklahoma will also be joining the mix, and “Horns Down” will almost certainly be used when the two teams meet on Oct. 12.
The Longhorns will open the season at home against Colorado State on Aug. 31, before taking on Michigan State on Sept. 7.
Ian Marshall, No. 97 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, celebrates with a horns down sign after defeating the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Werner/Getty Images)
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Texas’ first SEC game will be on Sept. 28 against Mississippi State.
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