Playing his air guitar, singing hits on the Jumbotron and hyping up the student section with screams and shouts, Preston Powe’s larger-than-life persona and enthusiasm captivate Texas football fans.
Powe’s energy landed him a social media series produced in collaboration with the Texas Longhorns Athletics account, “Big Red on the Forty.” His first and second segments garnered over 280,000 and 100,000 Instagram views, respectively, turning him into a campus celebrity.
“It’s really surreal,” acting sophomore Powe said. “If I told myself two years ago where my life was now, (I’d) be like, ‘What? That’s crazy.’”
As a Longhorn football superfan, Powe said he follows the catchphrase, “Get there early, get loud, stay late.” Powe also said he tries to arrive at least five hours before kickoff, occasionally as early as 4 a.m.
“The adrenaline from the game will keep me awake,” Powe said.
Texas superfandom runs in Powe’s blood. His mom, a UT alumna, almost named him Vince, after Vince Young, the last Texas quarterback to win a national championship.
“There are pictures of me as a baby wearing Texas clothes,” Powe said. “It’s always been Texas. I didn’t think I would get in. It’s such a hard school to get into, but I got in, and I love it here.”
Powe said he attends games with a group of about 10 to 15 people who plan, arrive together and run to the front of the stands. Powe attends with other UT personas, including Red Cup Texas and Bevo Hat Guy.
“We (are) all big UT fans, high-energy people,” Powe said. “We all think sitting in the front (is a) great experience.”
Conner Roll-Bush, a psychology and government junior, described the group as some of his closest friends, whom he hangs out with, even outside of the games.
“They are the funniest people you will ever meet in your life,” Roll-Bush said. “It’s all football that brought us together, and (I) love it.”
Roll-Bush said Powe brings unbelievable energy to games. He recalled a time Powe lifted him into the air after Texas scored against OU.
“He’s the type of person (who, when) he walks into a room, you’re gonna get hype, because he doesn’t care,” Roll-Bush said. “He’s just gonna be himself at the end of the day. … That level of excitement is contagious.”
Roll-Bush said their group knew Powe was growing in popularity when random parents from the Texas vs. OU game approached the group and told them they loved seeing Powe on the Jumbotron.
“It was the funniest thing in the world, but he deserves it, like he really does,” Roll-Bush said. “He’s such a kind, sweet person, so I’m excited for that.”
Blain Stockton, a journalism and sports media junior who runs the Red Cup Texas Instagram account, said Powe brings energy, passion and love to whatever he’s doing — athletics and otherwise.
“We’re all really happy to see what he’s been able to start doing now because he’s getting recognition for what he’s doing, for being a high-energy guy, and that’s great,” Stockton said. “He’s a great person to be around, and we all love him.”
