Texas Longhorns Football Traditions

Discover how Texas became the Longhorns, how Bevo became the mascot and many of the great traditions at UT

The Bevo tradition has been alive, but not necessarily well at UT since 1916. Brought to the school by a football manager, Bevo’s first line of duty was to stand tall for the Longhorn’s during a 1916 victory over Texas A&M in Austin. However, it wasn’t long before Bevo served in a different capacity. Actually he provided many servings when he showed up as the main entrée at an UT-Texas A&M banquet that honored the Texas 1920 squad that upset the Aggies for the SWC crown.

Of course, this story seems bizarre considering the pampering care today’s mascots receive. Once future Bevo’s were spared the possibility of wrapping up their careers at the nearest steakhouse, the line of mascots has been a source of great pride at UT. Bevo notables include Bevo II being a Hereford instead of a Longhorn, Bevo III earning a blue ribbon in a New York stock show, Bevo IV battering a car while entering Memorial Stadium and Bevo VIII escaping prior to the 1990 Oklahoma game.

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Bevo vs Uga

The 2019 Sugar Bowl was a memorable one for college football fans everywhere, but especially those in Texas and Georgia. On the field that day, Texas and Georgia were playing for more than just pride; they were playing to determine which mascot could be crowned the victor. Just before kickoff, UGA (the University of Georgia’s beloved bulldog mascot) was barking from his sidelines when he suddenly received an unexpected surprise. BEVO XV (the Longhorn steer mascot for the University of Texas) suddenly charged UGA with fierce determination – much to everyone’s amazement! See the video!

Though this moment has been immortalized in many a Vine or YouTube video since then, it wasn’t quite as dramatic as it looked on TV. In reality, BEVO XIV actually stopped short of reaching UGA – likely due to its handlers quickly stopping him from getting any closer. It also appears that someone had used rope to tie BEVO XIV’s horns onto its headgear so he couldn’t do too much damage even if he did continue charging at UGA IV! Though some speculated that this might have been premeditated by either school’s mascots team hoping for a meme-worthy moment, both schools denied such claims after reviewing the security footage surrounding this incident later on.

Regardless of what really happened between these two furry opponents on New Year’s Day 2019, their bout still lives in infamy among college sports fanatics today — and makes them all wonder: who would have won if they hadn’t been stopped in time?

How the Texas Longhorn Mascot Name was Branded

The naming of Bevo holds its own place in Texas folklore. The Longhorn supposedly received his name as a response to Aggie fans branding the 13-0 score into the UT mascot following the Aggies’ shutout victory in 1913. To remove the shameful marking, a Texas contingency formed “BEVO” by transforming the 13 into a “B,” making the hyphen an “E,” inserting the “V” and using the “0″ that was already there.

Bevo has his Silver Spurs

An honorary service organization named the University of Texas Silver Spurs has been
responsible for Bevo’s upkeep since 1936. When Bevo displays his Longhorn spirit, he
can be difficult to handle.

“You can never tell what type of mood Bevo will be in,” said UT Silver Spur member Adam
Krug. Sometimes he’s feisty and it takes four guys to get him going and sometimes he’s
peaceful. He lives out on a ranch with his buddies and we go out and see him a couple of
times a week.”

With the history of pranksters wreaking havoc with mascots through the years, the Silver
Spurs take pride in keeping Bevo out of harm’s way.
“Before games with a big rival we keep Bevo in a special place,” Krug said. “In the past,
Oklahoma and Texas A&M supporters have done some stupid things,” Krug added as he
guarded Bevo at the 1998 Oklahoma game. “They’ve thrown paint on Bevo and have done
other things. We have to be real careful.”

How Texas became the Longhorns

The University of Texas has been associated with the Longhorn nickname since the late 1800s. The “Lone Star State” and its legendary state symbols made it a natural choice for the school’s mascot and an excellent opportunity to honor the cultural heritage of Texas.

In 1895, while UT was still known as The University of Texas at Austin, two members of their varsity football team, Edwin “Dunc” Grey and Christian Fritzsche, both noticed a small herd of Longhorns grazing on campus. Captivated by their muscular bodies and impressive horns – which can reach up to five feet in length – they suggested that the strange breed should be the new symbol for their team.

The idea was quickly adopted by George “Doc” Dunn Moncrief- one of UT’s most successful coaches from 1900 to 1910- who included it in his official university report entitled “A Symbol For Texan Spirit” which urged students to use ‘the long-horned steer’ as a symbol for all sports teams representing The University Of Texas At Austin.

Today, more than 100 years later, Bevo XIV stands proudly as UT’s living mascot during sporting events in Austin – personifying not only the Texan spirit but also determination, pride & courage – three qualities that Texans deeply embody.

Why Texas Adopted Burnt Orange as the School Color

Texas first adopted it’s unique shade of Burnt Orange uniform colors in 1928 when second year
head coach Clyde Littlefield instrumented the change from bright orange. With the bright
orange hue, the Longhorns jerseys would fade from orange to yellow as each season
progressed. The color fade would lead Texas opponents to refer to Longhorn players as
“Yellow-Bellies.”

A friend of Littlefield’s who worked at the O’Shea Knitting Mills in Chicago helped to develop the special dye for Texas. The new burnt orange color stayed with UT until the dye was no longer made in WW II. With that development, Texas went back to sporting an orange that resembled that of Clemson and Tennessee. Daryl Royal brought Burnt Orange back to Texas in 1962 and that color is now firmly established as a part of Texas’ “Colorful” tradition.

The Lighting of the University’s Main Tower

Fans of college football understand the importance of tradition and symbolism when it comes to measuring the success of a program. One such tradition that has stood the test of time at this campus is the lighting of the tower after a big win or championship. The tower serves as a beacon of pride for the team and its dedicated followers, with its orange glow representing the tenacity and determination that it takes to reach the top. For conference wins, the top of the tower is lit up with a brilliant orange hue, while a conference championship warrants the entire tower being lit up for all to see. However, it is the rare national title that truly sets the tower ablaze with a vibrant orange light and the added numeral “1” signifying total dominance. For fans, the illuminated tower serves as a constant reminder of the program’s past successes and the potential for even greater triumphs in the future.

The Famous Texas Longhorn Band

The University of Texas Longhorn Band never fails to excite and energize sports fans with their impressive tunes and unique pre-game rituals. As the crowd anticipates the start of the game, the band creates an electric atmosphere by ringing cowbells and getting the crowd pumped up. The largest marching drum in the world, Big Bertha, is expertly played and adds an impressive sound to the stadium. Fans are always eager to see the band form the signature Script Texas, Block T, and other iconic formations. With their skillful execution of classic songs like “Texas Fight” and “Wabash Cannonball,” the Longhorn Band is a spectacle that can’t be missed at any UT sporting event.