DALLAS, Tx. (KNWA/KFTA) – When it was announced that Texas would join the SEC, one of the main questions from fans was whether players doing the horns down gesture would receive an unsportsmanlike penalty.
At SEC Media Days on Tuesday, John McDaid, the SEC’s Coordinator of Officials, addressed this issue in detail.
“Doing this signal isn’t offensive to me,” McDaid said while demonstrating the horns down gesture. “On the field, if a player does it, we need to determine if it’s taunting an opponent or making a travesty of the game. If a Texas opponent scores a touchdown and, while celebrating with teammates on the sideline, gives the signal, it’s not a problem.”
“We already have similar gestures in the Southeastern Conference, like the Gator Chomp or the Shark Fin for defense. Over the years, we’ve evaluated these: is it taunting? Is it making a travesty of the game? Does it affect our ability to manage the game? If the answer is no, then it’s not a foul.”
Texas opens their season on August 31 and will travel to Fayetteville for a matchup with the Hogs on Nov. 16.At SEC Media Days on Tuesday, John McDaid, the SEC’s Coordinator of Officials, addressed this issue in detail.
