'Horns Down' won't be penalized unless prolonged, aimed at Texas player

It appears the signature Texas taunt will live on, depending on its usage.

If a player flashes the "Horns Down" - a signal used to mock the Longhorns' "Hook 'Em Horns" - while celebrating a touchdown, he likely won't be called for a penalty, Big 12 coordinator of football officials Greg Burks stated Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

However, prolonged displays of the taunt will be penalized, much like any other celebration, especially if it is directed toward an opposing player or to the Longhorns' bench.

"Like any play, there is a degree - who it's directed at," Burks said Tuesday. "If they do it in their bench area, we're not going to look at it. It would be like any other celebration foul, so it has to be like any other foul we have. Does it rise to the level we need to deal with that? It's a hot topic.

"I know people want us to be definitive on that, but it's like any touchdown celebration. Is it directed at an opponent or just celebration with your teammates?"

The controversy over "Horns Down" was ignited last year in a number of matchups. Notably, former West Virginia quarterback Will Grier was penalized in November 2018 for making the signal after scoring the game-winning 2-point conversion in the final seconds of the team's victory.

Burks said Tuesday that a display similar to Grier's would likely again be penalized.

"When we have discussed it, by rule, anything that's prolonged to bring attention to the individual rather than the team is a foul," Burks said. "My advice is, if you want to do that, do it back in your bench area. Do it back with teammates. Get away from where you are an individual drawing attention to yourself."