Oklahoma started it. Sooners fans have been doing “Horns Down” for years. But then there were complaints and special rules and it has basically come to mean someone doesn’t like the state. Texas fans now accept it almost as a compliment because it shows how “rent free” the Longhorns are in the minds of the general populace. But last night’s “Horns Down” might be the weirdest.
Thursday night in Dallas, the Stars were hosting the LA Kings. The two NHL teams skated to a 2-2 tie in regulation and the game went to overtime. In OT, Kings right wing Adrian Kempe beat Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger for the win. After the goal, Kempe turned to the crowd and flashed the “Horns Down” symbol as his celebration.
It’s an odd choice. Obviously, there are Longhorns fans that are Stars fans and there were assuredly UT fans in the building. But it wouldn’t be the majority of Stars fans. Does he think Texas is small enough that everyone roots for the same teams?
Has this Swedish native developed a liking for college football? Since he’s in LA, has he gained an affinity for the USC Trojans? Has he gone back and watched Vince Young crush the dreams of Southern Cal fans?
While and NHL player might be the oddest to flash “Horns Down,” he’s not the first from a non-collegiate sport. NASCAR’s Kenny Hamlin flashed “Horns Down” after his win at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year.
“I did say to them I’m gonna play off the crowd. After the race, if I win and the crowd is really booing hard, then I’m gonna do it just to get them.” – Denny Hamlin on his Actions Detrimental podcast
At least Hamlin is an ardent Ohio State Buckeyes fan, so it makes more sense than a hockey player from Sweeden.
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