← Kinesics — gestures

Hook 'em Horns (Texas)

Texan gesture: two fingers raised in V (index, middle), forming the 'horns' of UT Austin's Longhorn. Football team support, Texan university pride. Low risk of offense.

Category : Kinesics — gesturesSubcategory : emblemes-ethos-regionalConfidence level : 2/5 (sourced hypothesis)Identifier : e0121

Meaning

Target direction : Support for the University of Texas Longhorns soccer team. Signal of Texas regional allegiance, university pride. Two fingers (index and middle) raised, forming the "horns" of the beast (steer/bull).

Interpreted meaning : Possible confusion with horn gesture (satanic/despised) in other cultures. Non-Americans may misinterpret as satanic symbol or insult.

Geography of misunderstanding

1. The gesture and its expected meaning

Separate raised index and middle fingers forming a V, reminiscent of a bull's horns (steer/bull). Sign of support for the University of Texas Longhorns American soccer team. Context: Texas university culture, matches, pep rallies, parades. Means allegiance, regional pride, campus solidarity.

Also adopted by non-university generations as a marker of broad Texas identity.

2. Where it goes wrong: geography of misunderstanding

Main risk: confusion with horn gesture (Italy, Greece, Satanic contexts). Non-Americans misinformed about UT context may confuse with insult or satanic symbol. No documented incidents, but moderate theoretical risk.

Use outside Texas probably unrecognized (internationally unrecognized).

3. Historical background

1950s-1960s: progressive codification by UT Austin students. Adoption by cheerleaders, fan-bases. Spread from stadium to stadium. 1970s-1980s: strong roots in Texan identity. Little international distribution (unlike V-sign peace or thumbs-up).

4. famous documented incidents

No major international incidents. Local, regionalized UT usage. Possible confusion in multilingual contexts, undocumented.

5. Practical recommendations

• Do: free use in UT/Texas context, matches, regional events.
• Never do: outside regional context or to non-Americans without explanation.
• Alternatives: shout "Hook 'em!", UT orange T-shirt, applause.

Documented incidents

• 1955 — Le 11 novembre 1955, Harley Clark introduit officiellement le signe Hook 'em Horns lors d'un rassemblement de supporters dans Gregory Gym (UT Austin), la veille du match contre TCU, sur suggestion d'H.K. Pitts. Des le lendemain lors du match, le signe envahit les gradins -- etudiants puis alumni -- et se diffuse nationalement par retransmission televisee. (University of Texas at Austin News (2010); The Daily Texan (2025))
• 2005 — Lors de la parade inaugurale de George W. Bush (20 janvier 2005), sa fille Jenna brandit le signe Hook 'em Horns. Le quotidien norvegien Nettavisen publie la photo avec le titre 'Salutation choquante de la fille Bush' : en Norvege le geste est associe au satanisme. Des interpretes ASL y voient le signe de 'bull...'. Le secretaire de presse de la Premiere Dame repliqua que Jenna utilisait simplement le signe des Longhorns. (NBC News (janvier 2005) : https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6852171)

Practical recommendations

Neutral alternatives

• Shout "Hook 'em!".
• Wearing UT orange t-shirt.
• Applause.

Sources