Longhorns Getting Soft with 'Horns Down' Gesture

When UCF knocked off Texas on Wednesday, it exposed how thin skinned the Longhorns are

Jacob Davis | Jan 18, 2024

Longhorns Getting Soft with 'Horns Down' Gesture /

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

(EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING: Texas Longhorn fans, players and coaches, this article may hurt your feelings. Arkansas fans, on the other hand, will thoroughly love how others enjoy one of their favorites.)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Wednesday night UCF sent shockwaves throughout the college basketball landscape, once again defeating Texas at the Moody Center, 77-71. Immediately following the game, Golden Knights players were displaying the Horns Down gesture to Longhorn players, coaches and fans. It was done with such boldness the 'Horns head coach had something to say about it during the handshake line.

In his postgame press, Texas coach Rodney Terry called out the UCF program.

"That's classless,” an annoyed Terry said following the upset. While repeatedly staying “don’t do that,” throughout his tirade.

Razorbacks receiver Warren Thompson celebrating Texas win with fans — Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Warren Thompson gives the "Horns Down" gesture after a 40-21 win over the Texas Longhorns at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark :: Craven Whitlow / allHOGS Images

"I'm a big believer in you win the right way, you lose the right way.... You carry yourself the right way," Terry said following the game. "You don't go through the handshake line, or prior to getting to the handshake line, and have about six or seven guys putting the horns down. We don't do that.

"When you do those kind of things it looks very classless and it also looks like you were just hoping to win. We never go into games trying to hope to win. We go into games expecting to win, so we don't act like that. We expect to win. We don't jump up and down, act like we won a national championship. We sure don't step on anyone's home court deal and act crazy and try to show them up in any way. We don't do that.

"That's what I was angry about. And I was letting those guys know you don't do that. You know, you guys won. Hey, we shake your hand, tip our hat to you, but we're not going to let you act that way in our building. You're not going to do that. You're not going to put your horns down and do all that nonsense."

When Kansas was upset by the Knights just a few days ago, Kansas coach Bill Self shared how he felt about Johnny Dawkins at UCF. There is no doubt Dawkins will take proper measures to ensure Texas' feelings aren't hurt again. He added his thoughts about the incident during his press conference after the monumental upset.

"We’ll review what happened, and if there's any action that needs to be taken on my end, you know, from our staff, I will do that,” Dawkins said.

Listen, if a simple signal that causes no harm triggers a coach, players or fan base then they need to step away from sports. Horns down does nothing but bring pride to a program when it defeats a historical power. There was a time when trash talk motivated coaches and players. That's far gone now, and teams are filled with softness.

Now, it’s ’aww, shucks. Sorry my team hurt your feelings.’ That’s exactly the statement Dawkins should've given following a huge win, but instead, led with class.

The forsaken Texas gesture has been considered unsportsmanlike in the Big 12 for nearly a decade now. Any player caught doing so would be issued a personal or technical foul at any point of a game. Now, with their new membership in the SEC beginning July 1, Commissioner Greg Sankey won’t bend over backward to protect the Longhorns. Other members won’t allow it.

Razorback fans giving 'Horns Down' gesture against Texas in 2021 — Arkansas Razorbacks fans giving the "Horns Down" gesture during a game with the Texas Longhorns in 2021 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark :: Craven Whitlow / allHOGS Images

Razorback fans sure wont' let the tradition die. It's a part of what makes college football so great is its rivalries, pure disdain for certain programs. The Hogs have become used to doing the Horns Down gesture following big wins. Between football and baseball the Razorbacks have won three games over Texas since the 2020 season. That includes a 40-21 slaughtering inside Razorback Stadium in a game where Arkansas' rushing attack rolled up 340 yards.

Texas A&M and Oklahoma are waiting in the wings to get their hands on Texas. Alabama poisoned Auburn's trees, Georgia fans bark, Tennessee throws golf balls and mustard on the field and Ole Miss pees in their end zone. Even Razorback fans went to the extent to FOIA its head coach nearly 20 years go. The Longhorns aren't mentally tough enough to handle the craziness that is the SEC.

Suck it up, butter cup. No one cares about your feelings. Adapt or get left behind because the new conference will feast on thin-skinned programs.