Texas Tech kicker Reese Burkhardt unveiled a MAGA-inspired touchdown celebration after scoring on a trick play against TCU on Saturday.
The improbable moment came in the first quarter in Forth Worth after Burkhardt lined up for a field goal, only to take a pitch from holder Jack Burgess on a sweep right. Burkhardt beat the Horned Frogs special team to the end zone and quickly moved to lift up his jersey and expose his undershirt.
As caught by Fox Sports cameras, but not by network announcers, Burkhardt had written ‘Trump 24 MAGA’ on his undershirt.
Unfortunately for Burkhardt, a senior from Alabama, he would miss a 50-yard field goal before TCU sealed a 35-34 comeback win over the Red Raiders.
The loss notwithstanding, Burkhardt did get some praise online for his pro-Donald Trump demonstration.
Place kicker Reese Burkhardt scores a touchdown for Texas Tech on a trick play against TCU
As caught by Fox Sports cameras Burkhardt had written ‘Trump 24 MAGA’ on his undershirt
Burkhardt is an Alabama native who transferred to Texas Tech after two seasons at UAB
‘This is best thing you will see in college football today,’ wrote Derrick Evans, a former member of the West Virginia House of Representatives who was among the Trump supporters arrested for storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
But many others were upset with Burkhardt’s decision to mix politics and football.
‘Keep politics out of sports’ I thought,’ one person wrote on X.
But the overwhelming number of responses on X instead focused on Burkhardt missing a 50-yard field-goal attempt in a game the Red Raiders lost by a single point.
‘Ended up missing the Field Goal and lost them the game,’ one fan wrote. ‘Maybe keep politics out of sports next time lol.’
‘I am so glad they lost after this stupid stunt,’ an Ohio State fan wrote on X. ‘I had absolutely no interest in that game until l saw that and had to tune in and root against them. I was cheering so loud on the last play when it was obvious they were going to lose. Just like trump will lose in 10 days.’
One respondent likened the celebration to Trump’s 2020 claim that he actually won that year’s election.
‘Sounds like he prematurely celebrated a lot like Trump did in 2020,’ one fan joked.
