'Who Cares?!' Joel Klatt Rips 'Ridiculous' Horns Down Controversy

Joel Klatt is sick and tired of the Texas Longhorns and their fans complaining about 'horns down' gestures.

Apparently, if there is one way to get under the skin of a Texas Longhorns fan, it is to flash a 'horns down' sign.

At least, that is the narrative. 

The truth, in fact, is that most Texas fans don't care whether or not an opposing fan or player flashes the sign. They might find it cheap, corny, or insipid, but the reality is, that the quiet majority isn't bothered one way or the other by the idea of the gesture. 

Are there exceptions to that? Sure. But by and large, it is a 'problem' that was blown way out of proportion by the Big 12 instituting a ban on the gesture during games. 

More recently, it was brought back into the light after a postgame tirade from men's basketball coach Rodney Terry UCF upset Texas, and players flashed the sign.

Since then, the topic has come up more and more. And Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt has had enough. 

BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

“I’m so sick of people being offended by Horns Down. This is ridiculous,” Klatt said on his YouTube show.

“Like, why is this the only gesture in intercollegiate athletics that we’re so worried about? There are a lot of hand gestures that get made on the football field, on the basketball court that are a lot worse than horns down – a lot worse, don’t Google them if you know what I mean. And here we are always wasting time about Horns Down.”

In light of his tirade toward the UCF players, Klatt also we after Terry in particular, saying that the coach should take the jabs from opposing fans and players as a compliment.

He also believes that the majority of the 'horns down' gestures could stem from a form of jealousy.

“Stop being so externally focused. That’s what I would tell Rodney Terry,” Klatt said. “You should take it as a compliment. If someone goes out of their way to be focused on you rather than internally focused on themselves? You should take that as a compliment. That is a great compliment. That probably stems from some sort of jealousy on their part. Like, they want to be a part of that.”

Rodney Terry Confronts 'Classless' UCF Players: 'Don't Do That (Bleep)!'

One way or another, this isn't going to go away. Whether or not Texas is even taking place in an athletic event at the time, fans and players of other programs still go out of their way to flash the sign.

In other words, Texas better get used to it and move on. Especially now that they are heading to the SEC, where fans routinely go to extreme levels to get under the skin of their rivals. 

LSU fans ritualistically eat alligators every year. An Alabama fan poisoned Auburn’s trees. Georgia fans bark at children. Tennessee fans throw golf balls onto the field. Arkansas fans used the Freedom of Information Act on their own coach.

Are we sure Texas is ready for this? https://t.co/nld9uPand4

— ANTIFAldo (@ANTIFAldo) January 18, 2024

Klatt does believe there is one way for the Longhorns to make this all a moot point, however - win. 

“So someone flashes a Horns Down. Who cares?” Klatt said. "If you don’t like it, win. Okay? If you don’t like it, win.”