Riley nixes ‘Horns Down’ gesture by players
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
After streaking behind Texas’ defense for a 77-yard touchdown in the third quarter of Oklahoma’s loss to the Longhorns on Oct. 6, Sooners receiver Marquise Brown quickly tucked his middle and ring fingers under his left thumb, extending his other fingers downward.
The “Horns Down” hand gesture has long been the go-to celebration for Sooners players — and fans — before, during and after games against the Longhorns.
Recruits regularly flash the gesture while taking pictures during visits.
Some of that figures to continue, but there will be a whole lot less “Horns Down” on the field Saturday in the Big 12 Championship
NORMAN — Ryan Aber
game between the two rivals (11 a.m., ABC).
Sooners coach Lincoln Riley asked the league for clarification after West Virginia was flagged for using the gesture earlier this season when playing the Longhorns.
“They just told us we can’t do it,” Riley said Wednesday. “We could be subject to a flag. They said they’re not gonna overdo it. They’re not gonna be looking for it and looking to call it, but for us, we’re not gonna do it.”
Earlier in the day, the league put out a statement on Twitter saying “any action by game participants deemed an ‘unsportsmanlike act’ is subject to penalty in accordance with college football rules” and league sources indicated to that the gesture would not be completely eliminated by officiating.
The rule cited says “no player, substitute, coach or other person subject to the rules shall use abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures, or engage in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent, to game officials or to the image of the game.”
After the loss to West Virginia, Texas coach Tom Herman said Mountaineers’ quarterback Will Grier’s use of the gesture was taunting and should’ve negated a late two-point conversion.
Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger tweeted the gesture “disrespects the rich tradition of the University of Texas,” though he later deleted the tweet.
This wasn’t the first time Texas coaches and players have gotten upset with the gesture. In 2012, then-Longhorns coach Mack Brown said he wanted to discuss with the league the use of the gesture.
“The Horns down is disrespectful,” Brown said then. “We ought to talk about that as a league.”
Riley said he didn’t anticipate his players having a problem containing themselves Saturday.
“I think our guys are mature enough to handle it so we’ll handle it that way,” Riley said.