About 25 universities still use live mascots for sporting events, including Bevo, a longhorn steer. The University of Texas’ live mascot symbolizes Texas pride, strength and cattle heritage. From his appearances at Bevo Blvd. to leading the football team out on gameday, Bevo embodies the toughness and resilience ascribed to Texas culture.
Since his first appearance in 1916, Bevo has become one of the most recognizable mascots in the country — however, he wasn’t UT’s first mascot. In 1914, Texas athletic director L. Theo Bellmont brought a tan and white Pitbull mix named Pig to campus, and the University adopted the dog to serve as the varsity mascot.
However, only two years after Pig was brought on campus, UT Alumnus Stephen Pinckney made a historic purchase, buying an orange-tinted steer with one-dollar donations from 124 Texas Alumni. The steer traveled by train to Austin and was presented to the student body at halftime during the Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry football game.
Originally Bo, there are many disputes about how Bevo was named. The earliest mention is in 1916 from the editor of the Texas Exes Alcalde, Ben Dyer, who said, “His name is Bevo. Long may he reign!” Speculation suggests he could’ve been named after a non-alcoholic beer with the same name or a combination of Beeve, the plural form of beef, and the letter “O.”
After Bevo was introduced, he and Pig coexisted as mascots until Pig’s death in 1923, after which many thought Bevo became the university’s sole mascot. However, due to his unpredictability, Bevo I was kept away from students and events.
Since Bevo I, there have been 14 successors, with Bevo XV introduced as the current mascot on September 4, 2016. Since 1945, a student organization, The Silver Spurs, has been entrusted with caring for Bevo.
Selecting a new live mascot for UT Austin is tedious. When Bevo XV was selected, the Silver Spurs Alumni and the Bevo XV Selection Committee wanted a Longhorn native to Texas with the perfect shade of burnt orange and a calm demeanor. Sunrise Spur is a junior and grand champion longhorn, which helps represent UT Austin’s championship pedigree.
Bevo mascots typically have a lifespan of around 20 years, with most remaining active until the age of 15 before retiring to their home ranch.
