Razorback Fans Got a Little Good News from John McDaid

SEC coordinator of officials probably didn't make Texas Longhorns fans day, though

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Jul 21, 2023 2:08 PM EDT
Original:
Jul 18, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas fans probably didn't watch SEC coordinator of officials John McDaid a whole lot when he met with the media Tuesday morning. It was long with a lot of video plays. In a separate statement, McDaid addressed a gesture against the Texas Longhorns. Fans are used to it, but at least the Big 12 Conference had stronger rules against opponents using it.

The SEC isn't going to be nearly as strict on the whole "Horns Down" gesture opposing teams' fans like to give them. It's a penalty if the players did it, though. With the Longhorns announcing their departure to the SEC next season, how strictly it's enforced will be interesting to see. McDaid wasn't asked about it, either on the main stage or in an electronic media part.

He did issue a release about it, though, Tuesday. It was hilarious to see McDaid's statement about the practice, which Razorback fans love to do, but the players were careful not to be doing it when they bounced them out of Razorback Stadium in 2021 during a 40-21 win.

“Is [the 'Horns down' gesture] taunting an opponent? Is it making a travesty of the game? Is it otherwise compromising our ability to manage the game?” McDaid said, per Action Network’s Brett McMurphy .

In other words, the officials have pretty broad discretion to call it as they see it. Players probably can't throw it up in Texas' facemask (honestly, that should be a penalty), but celebrating a score or big play should fly along well.

“There’s a difference between a player giving a signal directly in face of an opponent, as opposed to doing it w/teammates celebrating after a touchdown or on the sideline,” McDaid said, per McMurphy. “To net all that out, every single occurrence is not an act of unsportsmanlike conduct.”

In reality, you have to wonder if the Longhorns' faithful get that worked up over the whole deal. They've probably seen it all numerous times. Hog fans are going to do it in 2024 when Texas comes to Fayetteville again. Now the players can celebrate doing it after a big play, but coach Sam Pittman probably doesn't have a fond opinion of the whole thing.