The Texas Longhorns have an opportunity to win their first Big 12 title game in nearly a decade, but Breckyn Hager, their captain with the boisterous presence and golden locks, hopes to break a spell of his own by cutting his hair.
Hager, who walked onto the 40 Acres as a short-haired, clean-cut freshman, made a promise in 2015 that he wouldn’t cut his hair until Texas returned to postseason glory by winning a Big 12 Championship.
Hager vowed to let his teammates cut his hair off while standing on stage to receive the Big 12 trophy from commissioner Bob Bowlsby. As Texas spent last offseason evolving into a true conference contender for the first time in recent memory, the senior decided to double down on his promise.
“I’m gonna let (Sam) Ehlinger (cut it), I’m gonna let (Andrew) Beck, I’m gonna let (Todd Orlando), I’m gonna let everyone get a piece because it’s gonna be historic,” Hager said at Big 12 Media Days in July. “And then I’m gonna put it all in a Ziploc bag and donate it to Locks of Love.”
But while Hager’s hair has continued to grow down to his shoulders, the trademark look isn’t something that’s grown on him personally.
“I think that’s a pretty convicted individual,” Herman said on Thursday. “He hates it, he hates it, but he made a promise. I don’t know what his plans are in terms of when or how he’s going to do it, but maybe it will be like March Madness where everybody gets a snip. I don’t know, but I’ll definitely take part in it.”
Texas might be an 8-point underdog in Saturday’s game against Oklahoma, but Hager and the Longhorns are now right on the doorstep of a “historic” celebration in front of a crowd of over 100,000 screaming fans.
And while many of his teammates acknowledge that there’s still work to be done, they’re already planning to partake in the postgame festivities.
“You never know what he’s going to do so I’m going to leave that up to him,” Ehlinger said. “I know he’s got a plan for something.”
Ehlinger continued, “I would definitely be willing to cut it. We’ve got to take care of business first though.”
Ehlinger and Beck, two of Hager’s roommates at their apartment in Austin, are fully aware of how much he’s looked forward to finally chopping off his flowing mane. Now, all that stands between Hager and the opportunity to get a new haircut is a game against the Sooners.
“I was with him before I came up here and he was brushing his hair,” Beck said. “He was like, ‘I hate this thing.’ He’s excited. We’re getting close. We’re bringing the clippers on Saturday.”
