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It started with a bang on my twitter feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>New Social Media Movement: We'll call it the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a> movement. Here are a few examples. Tag all pics with <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a> <a href="http://t.co/n4ATzQ7iTr">pic.twitter.com/n4ATzQ7iTr</a></p>— UB Bulls Football (@UBFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBFootball/statuses/411626825656582144">December 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a> <a href="http://t.co/UhYF3Ejkh0">pic.twitter.com/UhYF3Ejkh0</a></p>— UB Bulls Football (@UBFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBFootball/statuses/411626869772255232">December 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a> <a href="http://t.co/Ciwm5a0SL0">pic.twitter.com/Ciwm5a0SL0</a></p>— UB Bulls Football (@UBFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBFootball/statuses/411627252372480000">December 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Yes, just like a freshman walking onto his college campus and picking his own nickname, we have on our hands a self-declared "Social Media Movement."
But... this looks familiar...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Never seen THIS before. Nope, not from any other school <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NewYorkHornsUpInitiative&src=hash">#NewYorkHornsUpInitiative</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NYHI&src=hash">#NYHI</a> RT <a href="https://twitter.com/UBFootball">@UBFootball</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a> <a href="http://t.co/Kz2r71iRj2">pic.twitter.com/Kz2r71iRj2</a></p>— Fake Danny White (@FakeDannyWhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/FakeDannyWhite/statuses/411630412889612288">December 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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I love the idea and the initiative. For as much as it felt like UB could have done more this year, this season really is one of the best ever for UB, and a specific hashtag and "movement" in the run up to the the school's second bowl game ever is undeniably A Good Idea. But, darn guys, other people do this already. From Wikipedia (because I am spending about 10% effort on this post):
Hook 'em Horns is the slogan and hand signal of the University of Texas at Austin. Students and alumni of the university employ a greeting consisting of the phrase "Hook 'em" or "Hook 'em Horns" and also use the phrase as a parting good-bye or as the closing line in a letter or story. The gesture is meant to approximate the shape of the head and horns of the UT mascot, the Texas Longhorn Bevo.
Fans of the University of South Florida Bulls use the same hand sign at their athletic events, except that the hand is turned around and facing the other way. With the middle and ring finger extending towards the person presenting the "Go Bulls" sign.
Fans of North Dakota State University Bison athletics also use a similar hand gesture, known as "Go Bison!" The pinky and index fingers are usually slightly bent, however, to mimic the shape of a bison's horns.
Fans of University of Utah athletics, particularly football and gymnastics, use a gesture where the index and pinky finger are straight and parallel to each other, forming a block "U."
Fans of Northwestern State University Demon athletics also use a similar hand gesture, known as "Fork 'em!" The pinky and index fingers are extended but a little more parallel to each other resembling the horns on a demon.
Arizona State University Sun Devil fans make a pitchfork sign by extending the index and middle fingers, as well as the pinky. The thumb holds down the ring finger to complete the gesture.
Fans of the University of Oklahoma, a Big 12 Conference rival of The University of Texas, typically invert the "Hook 'em Horns" as a symbol of defiance toward The University of Texas. This symbol is especially prevalent during football season, leading up to the Red River Rivalry game, played each October in Dallas, Texas.Fans of the Wichita State University Shockers frequently hold up their middle finger in addition to the pointer and pinky fingers as a reference to the comic sexual act.
So... this isn't exactly new. Which, I don't ask that *everything* UB does be new and 100% innovative, but there are several schools who have more of a claim to this hand gesture than we do. Kudos to UB Athletics for recognizing the opportunity, and even the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl should be celebrated more than it has been for UB, but I would have loved something more creative and UB-centric than a hashtag that not only *could* apply to many schools, but is already used by those schools.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Glad to see Mack Brown return to Texas. I don't care what people say he is still one of the best coaches in college football. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a></p>— Jeff Watts (@jcwatts21) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcwatts21/statuses/411702250826764288">December 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Hey Buffalo! We want you to show us your horns! Snap a photo using the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a> to be in our social media campaign! <a href="http://t.co/ypbrYiSWrL">pic.twitter.com/ypbrYiSWrL</a></p>— UB Bulls Football (@UBFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBFootball/statuses/411923917339906048">December 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Truth. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HornsUp&src=hash">#HornsUp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BowlingBulls&src=hash">#BowlingBulls</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ubuffalo&src=hash">#ubuffalo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ubbulls&src=hash">#ubbulls</a> <a href="http://t.co/qHPFMvByLG">pic.twitter.com/qHPFMvByLG</a></p>— University @ Buffalo (@UBCommunity) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBCommunity/statuses/411711654175322112">December 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Nope, nothing recycled or reused about #HornsUp at all. At the end of the day, it's fun, we're celebrating UB, and we're getting ready to stomp the Aztecs a week from today in Boise.
Send @UBFootball some pictures of you doing the totally-unique-to-UB #HornsUp and enjoy this week, UB fans. Someday in the future we'll get used to bowl games, but for now it should still be exciting and new.
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