A Take on Texas Traditions
If you're a student or recent grad who went to every Texas football game, or a season ticket holder who's never missed a home game and schedules weekends around when the Longhorns are playing, it's easy to forget how it felt to discover college football.
On the other hand, being new to the sport doesn't mean you can't be part of the crowd. So you don't know James Street from Sixth Street. Big deal. Let us offer up a little insight into some Texas traditions to get you ready for the season.
Hook 'em Horns
The hand sign that's now synonymous with UT is relatively new, as far as traditions go. Cheerleader Harley Clark introduced it in 1955. A fellow student, Henry Pitts, had shown Clark the pinky-and-index-finger extended sign to approximate a Longhorn during what university historian Jim Nicar called "an inspired game of shadow casting".
You have to assume that neither Pitts nor Clark knew that the "sign of the horns" was a signal of infidelity in Italy, nor that they could anticipate its popularity among heavy-metal fans.
Clark debuted the sign at a pep rally and it was immediately adopted as a new way of showing team spirit. Clark, by the way, is a retired judge who now lives in Dripping Springs. Think about that: The guy who created "Hook 'em Horns" is still around.
Other hand signs you'll spot this season: The Texas A&M "Gig 'em" thumbs-up, the Texas Tech "Guns Up", Baylor's "Sic 'em Bears" claw, and Oklahoma's "Wiping the tears away after another loss to Texas".
Texas Fight
It took me a long time to realize that the opening strains of the raucous fight song "Texas Fight" are really a sped-up version of "Taps", the military funeral song. That seems a bit dark, but when the band cranks up "Texas Fight" after a Longhorn touchdown, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement.
Most fans have replaced the original lyric, "Hail, Hail, the gang's all here", with "Give 'em hell, Give 'em hell, Go Horns Go!". Others choose the slightly less classy, "Give 'em hell, Give 'em hell, Make 'em eat shit!" You're free to choose whichever one you like.
The song "Texas Fight" carries more weight than the cheer of the same name, where one half of the stadium yells "TEXAS!", and the other side responds "FIGHT!". The cheer does have a certain retro charm, but it's hampered by the awkward pause between the call and response where opposing fans jump in with "SUCKS!".
The Eyes of Texas
There's really no messing around with this one. Sure, we know it's to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and the lyrics evoke a kind of Big Brother-ish vibe (The Eyes of Texas are upon you / You can not get away / Do not think you can escape them), but for most fans, the singing of the alma mater is near-sacred. Many won't budge from their seat after the game until the song is complete. For your own safety, do not talk or, God forbid, leave the stadium, during "Eyes". Wait until after "Gabriel blows his horn" before proceeding calmly down the aisle.
Bevo
The 1,800-pound Longhorn steer is one of the most recognized college mascots. And even though the current one (Bevo XIV) has been in service since 2004, he's still got a bit of "new Bevo" attached to him.
Your old-school Bevos charged opposing cheerleaders, ran amok on campus, attacked parked cars, frightened the Baylor band, and collided with Earl Campbell. The current Bevo's predecessor, Bevo XIII, took a dump on the Nebraska emblem after the Cornhuskers beat Texas in the 1999 conference championship game.
Bevo XIV took over in 2004 after a retirement ceremony and I'll freely admit I teared up at. Fourteen is holding his own, but comes across a little flashy for me. He's already been to a presidential inauguration and a national championship game, and he's got his own music video where he's eyed lustily by cows. It's like he swings his horns but hasn't had to use them yet.
Also, that character in the mascot costume? That's not Bevo. That's "Hook 'Em". Not even the same thing.
Lighting the Tower
Exiting the stadium to see the top of the UT tower bathed in orange light is always a great thrill. People still stop and take pictures at every game to capture the moment. Even more special are the times when the tower is completely orange or lit with the number "1" to signify a national championship.
Those aren't the only events that trigger a tower lighting, however. The university's official Tower Lighting Policy lists six separate configurations and 23 different events that signal someone to throw the switches over in the main building.
If Colt McCoy wins the Heisman Trophy this year, can we expect an orange tower with his number "12" highlighted in white?
With these tidbits of information in hand, you can now mingle freely among the tailgating crowds and throw your horns up with the hard-rocking gusto of a Black Sabbath fan. Welcome to the tribe. We're happy you're here.
