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Baker Mayfield Sports ‘Horns Down’ Hat and ‘Baker Mayfield Back for the Hat’ Shirt, Fires Up Oklahoma Spirit with ‘GameDay’ Sooners Snapshot
Oct
Baker Mayfield, the former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers star, showed his loyalty and passion for his alma mater on Saturday, when he appeared as the guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay. Mayfield, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2017 and led the Sooners to three consecutive Big 12 titles, wore a ‘Horns Down’ hat and a ‘Baker Mayfield Back for the Hat’ shirt, as he made his prediction for the Red River Showdown between No. 3 Texas and No. 12 Oklahoma.
What is the ‘Horns Down’ hat?
The ‘Horns Down’ hat is a symbol of defiance and disrespect towards the Texas Longhorns, the archrivals of the Oklahoma Sooners. The hat features an inverted version of the ‘Hook ‘em Horns’ gesture, which is the trademark sign of the Longhorns. The gesture is meant to mimic the horns of a longhorn steer, the mascot of the University of Texas.
Back for the hat ☝️#OUDNA x @bakermayfield pic.twitter.com/T5mYroJssE
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 7, 2023
The ‘Horns Down’ gesture has been used by Oklahoma fans and players for decades, as a way to mock and taunt their opponents. However, the gesture has also been controversial, as it has been penalized by officials in some games, and deemed as unsportsmanlike conduct by some critics. The Big 12 conference has stated that the gesture will be judged on a case-by-case basis, depending on the context and intent of the user.
Mayfield, who is known for his fiery personality and competitive spirit, has been one of the most prominent users of the ‘Horns Down’ gesture in recent years. He famously planted an Oklahoma flag at midfield after beating Ohio State in 2017, and flashed the ‘Horns Down’ sign several times during his college career. He also wore a ‘Horns Down’ headband during a pregame warmup in 2018, when he was playing for the Cleveland Browns against the Houston Texans.
What is the ‘Baker Mayfield Back for the Hat’ shirt?
.@bakermayfield with the Horns Down hat 👀#CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/bWX0FfyBuC
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 7, 2023
The ‘Baker Mayfield Back for the Hat’ shirt is a reference to Mayfield’s return to Oklahoma in 2014, after he transferred from Texas Tech following his freshman season. Mayfield had walked on to both programs, and had to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. He also had to pay his own way to attend Oklahoma, as he was not offered a scholarship until 2015.
The shirt features a picture of Mayfield wearing a cowboy hat, which he received after winning the MVP award at the Sugar Bowl in 2017. The shirt also has the words ‘Back for the Hat’, which imply that Mayfield came back to Oklahoma to win more championships and accolades. The shirt is a clever play on words, as it rhymes with Mayfield’s last name.
You can buy this Baker Mayfield Back For The Hat Shirt at Eletees, an online store that sells custom-made apparel and accessories for sports fans. The shirt is available in various colors and sizes, and can be ordered online through their website.
How did Mayfield fire up Oklahoma spirit with his ‘GameDay’ snapshot?
Mayfield was joined by actor and Texas alum Matthew McConaughey on College GameDay, as they made their picks for the Red River Showdown. McConaughey picked Texas to win by three points, while Mayfield picked Oklahoma to win by seven points. He also added some trash talk, saying that Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was overrated, and that Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel was underrated.
Mayfield then posed for a snapshot with his ‘Horns Down’ hat and his ‘Baker Mayfield Back for the Hat’ shirt, while holding an Oklahoma rifle. He also shouted “Boomer Sooner”, the fight song of Oklahoma. The snapshot quickly went viral on social media, as it captured Mayfield’s enthusiasm and confidence for his former team.
Mayfield’s appearance on College GameDay was a boost for Oklahoma fans, who have been waiting for a big win over Texas since 2019. The Sooners have lost two of their last three games against the Longhorns, including a four-overtime thriller in 2020. Mayfield’s snapshot also added some spice to the rivalry, which is already one of the most intense and historic in college football.
The Red River Showdown will kick off at 11:00 a.m. CT on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The game will be broadcasted on ABC.