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

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 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.

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