Long live Texcalibur! Texas Longhorns use turnover sword to slice up footballs, start new tradition

Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron got the first turnover of the season, so he went straight to the sideline and looked like a knight from King’s Landing.

Texcalibur, a new addition to the Texas Longhorns sideline, is a stunning — and sharp — way to celebrate turnovers. The Horns plan on taking the metal sword, stabbing the actual football through its rubber bladder and hoisting it to the heavens in jubilation.

The goal is to stack a bunch of footballs on that sword each week. “Yep, like a little turnover kebab,” linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. said.

The Horns got two interceptions during Saturday’s 52-0 win over Colorado State. So it was up to Barron and Wardell Mack to break in the new sword and new tradition.

“We try to kill it,” Barron said of the ball. “I need better technique. I wasn’t in the movie '300.' Nah, I wasn’t in that movie. But I play like it, though!”

Teammates actually wanted Barron to hold the ball while everyone is excited and… someone is wielding a sword?!

Surely the Horns’ equipment staff has pre-cut, deflated footballs they could use instead, right?

“It wasn’t like that. It was the real ball,” Barron said. “We’re trying to stab the real ball, but it didn’t work. One of us put the ball down, and they were like, ‘Jahdae, hold the ball down while Wardell stabs it.’ I’m like, I’m not holding this. What are we doing?”

Unlike Game of Thrones , nobody dies in the end, though. “God’s protecting us. We’re good,” Barron said.

Texas was tied for 20th nationally last season in turnover margin. Obviously, every team likes turnovers, so the more the merrier. Teams have introduced all sorts of sideline gimmicks to motivate defensive players over the years, showcasing everything from huge turnover chains to a king’s throne to a mock slot machine.

Whatever works, right?

New co-defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen introduced the idea to the Longhorns and it took off. “He just wanted to bring something and add something to our culture and our defense,” defensive end Barryn Sorrell said. “Just something to excite us about turnovers, and it worked out pretty good Saturday.”

Now, the Horns have to fill out their kebab.

“We obviously didn't fill the sword up,” Barron said of Saturday’s performance, “so we have to do a better job as a defense to attack the ball.”