The University of Texas at Austin

BEVO

During halftime, two West Texas cowboys dragged a half-starved and frightened longhorn steer onto the field, where it was formally presented to the UT student body by a group of Texas Exes. Stephen Pinckney, who had long wanted to acquire a real longhorn as a living mascot for the University. A raid near Laredo in late September turned up a steer whose fur was so orange Pinckney knew he'd found his mascot. Loaded onto a boxcar without food or water, the steer arrived at the Austin train station just in time for the football game.After presenting the longhorn to the students, the animal was removed to a South Austin stockyard for a formal photograph and a long overdue meal. The steer, though, wasn't very cooperative. It stood still just long enough for a flash photograph, and then charged the camera. The photographer scurried out of the corral just in time, and both the camera and photograph survived the ordeal. In the meantime, the Texas football team ran two punts in for scores to win the game 21 - 7. To spread the news, the December 1916 issue of the Texas Exes Alcalde magazine was rushed into press. About the longhorn, Dyer stated simply, "His name is Bevo. Long may he reign!" With the football season over, the steer remained in South Austin while UT students discussed what to do with him. The debate was abruptly settled early on Sunday morning, February 12, 1917. A group of four Texas A & M students equipped "with all the utensils for steer branding" broke into the South Austin stockyard at 3:00am. There was a struggle, but the Aggies were able to brand the longhorn "13 - 0," which was the score of the 1915 football game A & M had won in College Station.

Facts about our Bevo XV

1) Bevo XIV hangs out with Hollywood celebrities. Pals with Oscar-winning actor and 1994 RTF graduate Matthew McConaughey, and earlier this year the he rubbed elbows (horns?) with actress Kristen Bell, star of the Disney hit Frozen.

2) Bevo XIV brought Longhorn pride to the White House for George W. Bushs second inauguration in 2004.

3) Bevo XIV carries a horn span longer than 6 feet.

4) With back-to-back Rose Bowl victories, including a national title win that capped an undefeated season, Bevo XIV could give Bevo XIII a run for the title of winningest mascot in school history.

5) Bevo XIV presented former head coach Mack Brown with a personalized halter to thank the coach for his service when he announced his departure earlier this year.