Paul Ryan tried to rally Texas GOP delegates around Trump using football. It backfired spectacularly.

Paul Ryan used a football metaphor with the Texas delegation

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Before House Speaker Paul Ryan urged Republican Party unity at Tuesday night's Republican National Convention, he tried out his plea on the Texas delegation. He began by noting that the Republican Party has "had, let's say, a really big family discussion" in its divisive primary, The Texas Tribune reports. Then he tried to illustrate his point by citing the unofficial Texas state religion, football. "You've got Horned Frogs, Aggies," he said, then made the "hook 'em horns" sign (both up — i.e. correctly — and down). "You've got Longhorns."

Then he made his point. "See my point?" he asked; the Texas delegation did not. "You have all these teams and boy, those rivalries are tough," Ryan explained. "I mean... especially when the Big 12 is the Big 12. You guys are at each other's throats. It's tough." Then he showed either his good-natured Wisconsin optimism or his complete ignorance of Texas football: "But when one of the teams advances, to a big bowl game? Or a national championship? Don't you root for the Aggies if you are a Longhorn?" The Texans just laughed. "You don't?" Ryan asked, with an expression The Texas Tribune described as perplexed. To see how Ryan landed that plane, and his endorsement of rooting for the home conference (a Badger cheering for Ohio State and Michigan — really?), read the account of Tuesday's meeting at The Texas Tribune.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.