Texas Tech coach on Horns Down: ‘I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings’

Good morning, Texas fans —

Let’s start our Tuesday talking about the one topic that gets everyone fired up — the Horns Down penalty.

It’s not October, so Oklahoma isn’t on the docket. And Texas isn't play Texas A&M again... yet.

Must be Texas Tech week.

First-year Tech coach Joey McGuire was busy answering questions about the North Carolina State loss on Monday but managed to smile when the topic turned to UT and the Horns Down.

“It really, truly makes me laugh that that's a rule,” McGuire told reporters in Lubbock, “but it is a rule and we’re going to play by it and I’ll make sure. I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings.”

Here’s a little secret for Tech, OU or any fan base that thinks Horns Down is an insult. Texas folks LOVE IT. In their view, it means the Longhorns are in your head. They’re living “rent free,” as they say.

Are you too busy throwing the upside-down “Hook ’em” hand gesture that you forget to promote your own team? Great. Do that all day. They won’t stop you.

By the way, did anyone catch what Alabama coach Nick Saban did earlier this month? A reporter first told him about the Horns Down unsportsmanlike penalty before the Tide faced the Longhorns. “I have not addressed it with the team, but I appreciate you letting me know that,” Saban said two days before kickoff.

Immediately after the game, as the players ran onto the field to shake hands, some of the Alabama players started flashing the Horns Down. Fox microphones caught Saban yelling at his players, “Don’t do that (expletive)!”

The next week on his radio show, Saban explained why he chastised his own guys.

“I told our players, ‘We’re not doing this,’” Saban said about the Horns Down. “Don’t do it. It’s not classy. We don’t need to degrade the other team’s traditions. Just go play.”

Just so we’re clear, Big 12 officials are only going to throw an unsportsmanlike conduct flag when someone is throwing the Horns Down in a UT player’s face in unsportsmanlike fashion. They don’t care if you’re doing it during pre-game warm-ups or while celebrating on the sideline.

This topic always wears me out, but it’s harmless goof-ball fun. And last I checked, college sports are supposed to be fun.

So, go ahead Tech fans, put the Horns Down. I can guarantee you that Texas fans will not have their Guns Down.

Saturday will be fun. Lubbock is always rocking.

— Brian Davis, Texas beat writer, American-Statesman

Contact Brian Davis by phone or text at 512-445-3957. Email bdavis@statesman.com or follow on Twitter via @BDavisAAS.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Tech coach on Horns Down: ‘I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings’