Horns Down may be permissible in the SEC

After the Big 12 made it a penalty to use the Horns Down hand signal, the SEC is allowing context to be their guide.

The Big 12 (and the Texas Longhorns) kept schools from displaying the Horns Down hand sign during games. But it’s game on in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

SEC’s coordinator of officials, John McDaid, discussed the factors that lead to unsportsmanlike conduct, and there are times when Horns Down can be displayed.

“The plain rule that would be applicable is unsportsmanlike conduct, said McDaid “You got to read the context in which it is done. I ask my officials to use judgment of is it taunting of an opponent, is it making the travesty of the game, or is it otherwise affecting our ability to manage the game.”

McDaid added, that making a travesty of the game is something that “offends the senses.” To McDaid, Horns Down doesn’t offend the senses.

He continued to clarify, “if an opponent of Texas were to score a touchdown and in celebration with their teammates and going back up the sideline their giving the signal, that’s not an issue. We have that already in the Southeastern Conference. We have teams that have things like the Gator Chomp or things like the Shark Fin (Land Shark) for the defense where that thing has been done. And over the years we’ve evaluated is it taunting, is making a travesty of the game, is it otherwise affecting our ability to manage the game? And if the answer’s no, then it’s not a foul. Now, if he tackles a player, stands right over them and gives it (Horns Down), now we’ve got taunting and that would be unsportsmanlike conduct.”

Hand signals, and the inverse use of them, has long been a part of college football. It’s representative of the passion of the greatest sport in America. The SEC is letting context be their guide when determining when a hand sign is permissible.

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