Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has vowed to address internally the incident involving kicker Reese Burkhardt, who showed public support for Donald Trump during a recent game. The controversy erupted as Burkhardt’s post-touchdown celebration sparked both attention and debate, highlighting the challenges of politics mixing with sports.
Kicker’s Political Statement Raises Questions
The situation unfolded last Saturday, as Texas Tech faced TCU in a highly anticipated matchup. Down by 11 points, kicker Reese Burkhardt pulled off a fake field goal, scoring a five-yard touchdown. The celebration that followed was unexpected. Burkhardt lifted his jersey to reveal a white shirt boldly stating, “Trump ’24 MAGA.” This gesture quickly stirred discussion, as it brought a political element to the field—an element often discouraged in team sports.
Coach McGuire admitted he hadn’t noticed Burkhardt’s shirt until after the game, explaining to the media that the team is now dealing with the incident internally.
“We have addressed it. We will continue to address it. We’re addressing internally,” McGuire said.
According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
The Balancing Act: Team Sport vs. Individual Expression
McGuire emphasized the need for young athletes to understand the implications of their choices—especially when those choices impact a team setting. “It’s always one of [the] things as far as whenever you’re dealing with young adults, the really young adults, I guess, the choices that we make and when we make them and when you share it,” McGuire remarked. He further alluded to the challenge of balancing personal beliefs with the need to prioritize the team.
“I always think the greatest thing about football, basketball, sports like that, it’s a team sport. … And there’s places that you express your opinion and, you know, I don’t think necessarily that’s a time or the place,” McGuire continued.
For McGuire, the team’s cohesion comes first, and Burkhardt’s actions have brought an unintended spotlight onto the program. “As far as with [Burkhardt], we’re going to deal with it. Dealt with it on Saturday and continue to talk through stuff and find the best solution and keep it in house,” he added.
Trump Support in Sports: Not an Isolated Incident
Interestingly, Burkhardt’s gesture wasn’t the only one involving Trump support on the same weekend. San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa also caught attention for wearing a hat with “Make America Great Again” written in gold after his team’s game. Although Bosa chose not to elaborate, he did say, “I’m not gonna talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time.”
Meanwhile, McGuire sidestepped any questions about his own political leanings, declining to reveal his choice for the upcoming federal election. Instead, he kept his message simple: “I do encourage everybody to vote.”
Moving Forward
Burkhardt has yet to comment on the incident, and the university’s internal handling of the matter remains largely private. Texas Tech’s next game, scheduled for November 2 against Iowa State, will show whether the incident affects the team’s performance or unity.
As the intersection of sports and politics continues to stir debate, Coach McGuire’s stance on the matter is clear: “We’re going to deal with it,” keeping the focus where it belongs—on the field.
