Famed Texas Longhorns supporter Matthew McConaughey criticized the football team’s fans for throwing bottles on the field after they disagreed with an on-field call against Georgia last weekend.
The home crowd was outraged in Austin when an interception by the then-top-ranked Longhorns against now No. 2 Georgia was initially overturned by a pass interference penalty.
In protest, Longhorns fans threw hundreds of bottles onto the field to make their displeasure known, before head coach Steve Sarkisian could be seen approaching and urging them to stop.
However, incredibly, his surprising protests seemed to have an effect when the decision was finally overturned.
‘Longhorn Nation and specifically our student section (Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium), MOC McConaughey is coming to you here. First of all, you were electric Saturday night when we hosted Georgia. Bravo,” he began his statement on social media.
Texas Longhorns supporter Matthew McConaughey criticized Saturday’s fan antics
Fans threw bottles onto the field after disagreeing with a decision that was eventually overturned by the referees.
‘Let’s keep bringing it. Although our Horns did not come away with the victory, you created a measurable home field advantage. But let’s be real about the bottle bombing problem we had in the field. It’s not cool. Phantom movement.’
‘Yes, that call was stupid, but we’re better than that. Longhorn Nation knows how to show up, stand out like no other and still keep it classy. So, in the future, let’s clean up that kind of nonsense and leave it behind forever. We have to hold hands on that.”
‘Next November 9th, when the Gators come to town, let’s make sure they feel the heat, can’t hear the play calls and burn their timeouts, but remember that nothing comes to OUR field except that Texas fight. Until then, root hard and get them hooked. McConaughey.”
Georgia-Texas had the largest television audience of any college football game last weekend with 12.9 million viewers.
Texas fans littered the north end of their field with bottles and other trash when the pass interference penalty appeared to negate Jahdae Barron’s 36-yard interception return to the Georgia 9-yard line late in the third quarter.
Sarkisian, who was initially angry at the officials for the decision, then walked to the far corner of the field and signaled to the student section to calm down and stop throwing things.
As they picked up debris, officials discussed the play and picked up the flag of Barron’s contact with Georgia’s Arian Smith before the pick.
Two plays later, Quinn Ewers threw a 17-yard touchdown to Jaydon Blue to bring the Longhorns within 23-15 after trailing 23-0 at halftime.
However, Georgia added another seven points in what turned out to be a convincing 30-15 road win at Texas.