Who said horns down?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 06, 2026
Baker Mayfield is among many football fans who are criticizing the Big 12's decision to penalize "horns down."
Why is horns down offensive?
The horns down gesture is a popular way to taunt Texas football. Sooners fans and opponents of Texas everywhere in college football use the 'horns down' hand symbol to mock the Longhorns.
Where did horns down originate?
It's unclear when horns down became its own counter symbol, but, according to an ESPN article, one of the first horns down images showed a Baylor fan doing it on the front page of The Daily Texan in 1963.
What school says horns down?
If you've ever passed through Austin, Texas in your life, or been anywhere near a television when University of Texas Longhorns athletics is on the screen, you've seen it.
Why does WVU say horns down?
After scoring West Virginia's first touchdown in the first quarter of a 42-41 victory over Texas, Sills flashed a “horns down” hand signal, a spoof on the Longhorns' famous “horns up” gesture. Sills didn't get away with it, landing a 15-yard penalty — the first of two against WVU for making the gesture.
17 related questions foundWhat is horns down taunt?
The opposite, the “Horns Down,” involves pointing that hand signal downward. It's very straightforward. UT fans and athletes have been tossing “Hook 'em Horns” up in the air for quite some time now, but when Texas falls short, opposing fans and athletes celebrate accordingly.
Who are the horns football?
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate team representing the University of Texas at Austin (variously Texas or UT) in the sport of American football. The Longhorns compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
What do Longhorn fans say?
Hook 'em Horns is the chant and hand signal of The University of Texas at Austin. Students, alumni, and fans of the university employ a greeting consisting of the phrase "Hook 'em" or "Hook 'em Horns" and also use the phrase as a parting good-bye or as the closing line in a letter or story.
Who came up with Hook Em Horns?
The late Harley Clark, once a head cheerleader for the Longhorns, is credited by the university as being the first to flash the hook 'em Horns hand sign in 1955 when Texas played TCU. Clark is said to have unveiled it at a pep rally on Nov.
Whats horns down mean?
The “Horns Down” symbol is an apparent diss to the Longhorns' “Hook'em Horns” hand symbol. The 2021-22 college football season is 44 days away. Booooooo!!!!! We ain't no punks around here. Let em throw the Horns down if they wish and suffer the consequences!
What does the rock and roll hand symbol mean?
Dio many times explained to the media that he took the hand sign from his Italian grandmother. In 2001, he told Metal-rules.com, "It's not the devil's sign like we're here with the devil. ... It's to ward off the Evil Eye or to give the Evil Eye, depending on which way you do it." So it's a bit like "knocking on wood."
What is the Texas Longhorn symbol?
Large Mammal: Texas Longhorn
The Texas longhorn is a hybrid of Spanish and English cattle and is known for its extremely long horns, tough hooves, and general hardiness. It became a symbol of the Texas cattle drives in the 1860s and 1870s.
Why is University of Texas burnt orange?
It all began in 1885 because of someone by the name of Gussie Brown from Orange, Texas. Her and some other students were headed to the Longhorns' first baseball game when they decided they needed something to identify themselves! So, they ran to a store to get some hair ribbon and walked out with orange ribbons.
Why is UT Austin called 40 acres?
The Forty Acres is the nickname for the campus of The University of Texas at Austin because that was the size of the original tract set aside by the state. Those 40 acres formed a square with “College Hill” at its center.
What does horns up and horns down mean?
Imagine a bull with its horns pointed down instead of up. It's the same imagery as a fighter taking a knee or showing a sign of "meekness" or "giving up," and when a team playing opposite the Texas Longhorns brandishes the "horns down" symbol, it's perceived as a slight against the team.
Has Texas football ever lost 6 games in a row?
Losing streak
Texas has now lost six straight games, marking the longest such streak since 1956, when the Longhorns dropped eight in a row to end the season.
What is the state nickname of Texas?
Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State because in 1836, when the Republic of Texas declared itself an independent nation, it flew a flag with a single star on it.
Where did Bevo name come from?
According to the Texas Exes, the tale is this: Texas Aggie pranksters branded the longhorn with "13-0," the score of a football game between the teams. Then, Texas fans fixed the 13 to read "B," made the dash an "E" and added a "V," spelling out Bevo.
How many Ugas have there been?
To date, 10 dogs have carried the name "Uga". Each has been descended from the original Uga, and has frequently been the son of the predecessor.