TCU: Kenny Hill gesture was religious expression, not throat slash
TCU quarterback Kenny Hill was penalized Saturday night for making what an official thought was a throat slash gesture following a touchdown run, but apparently it wasn’t a throat slash at all.
No, TCU says, it was actually a religious expression done diagonally across Hill’s chest, not his throat.
Clarification from @TCUCohen: #TCU Kenny Hill didn't make a throat slash but did the sign language for rising kings. pic.twitter.com/OnuAXfzre4
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) September 11, 2016
A TCU spokesman told the Austin American-Statesman that the above gesture (which resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty) means “Rise of Kings” in sign language. When informed of the meaning behind it, Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson said it changed the way he felt about it.
A TCU spokesman then told the American-Statesman that the gesture meant “Rise of Kings” in sign language and that Hill and a friend came up with the salute before the season. Hill had been doing the gesture the past two games.
Patterson said Monday that he’d discussed the penalty with Hill, who told him it was about his religious beliefs.
“I had a little bit less feelings about it,” Patterson said Monday. “To be honest, I don’t have any problems with it. … The thing he and I will discuss is he needs to let me know (beforehand) so I can do a good job of backing him up.”
The gesture, whatever it was, came at an inopportune for TCU. The flag was thrown after Hill scored a rushing touchdown to put the Horned Frogs ahead of Arkansas 28-20 with 2:05 to play. The 15-yard penalty was assessed on the ensuing kickoff, allowing the Razorbacks to start their next drive with great field position.
Arkansas quickly drove down the field and tied the game at 28, and after a TCU game-winning field goal attempt was blocked, the game went to overtime. Arkansas eventually prevailed 41-38 in double-overtime.
[Visit Dr. Saturday on Facebook for stories you might have missed and chat with the writers]
Hill, who is in his first year as TCU’s starter after beginning his career at Texas A&M, threw for 377 yards and rushed for 93 in the loss.
For more TCU news, visit PurpleMenace.com.
More from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
