From Sidelines to Center Court: The Texas Longhorns Basketball Mascot's Journey to Prominence

The Texas Longhorns basketball mascot is named Hook 'em, a costumed character representing the University of Texas at Austin. The main idea behind the mascot is to enhance school spirit and promote excitement during basketball games. Hook 'em can be seen cheering from the sidelines, dancing, and interacting with fans. The mascot's appearance consists of a longhorn head with giant expressive eyes and a wide smile, complemented by a burnt orange body suit and white gloves. It is designed to resemble a Texas longhorn steer, which is a symbol of both the state of Texas and the university. The mascot's name, Hook 'em, is a reference to the rallying cry often used by Texas fans, which is "hook 'em horns.

BEVO, The University of Texas mascot dating back to 1917, has long stood for all things Texas. He has seen National Championships, President’s Inaugurations, 93 graduations and countless Longhorn victories both on and off the field. In 2004, the Silver Spurs launched The BEVO Endowment, ensuring BEVO’s expenses would be taken care of for years to come. But that’s not all, BEVO’s Endowment now supports 10 scholarships annually to UT students as well as UT outreach programs like The Neighborhood Longhorns Program. 2004 was also significant because of the retirement of BEVO XIII and the introduction of BEVO XIV. BEVO XIII saw a lot of ups and downs through his 16 years of service to The University; through it all he recorded more wins than any of his 12 predecessors and enshrined his legacy as arguably our greatest mascot. As stacked as his resume is, BEVO XIV is off to a start that rivals any six year stretch in college football history. His record now stands at 69-9. He saw our Longhorns win 5 straight bowl games (should have been 6). XIV kicked things off with back to back Rose Bowl victories, the second of which bringing Texas the 2005 National Championship in what is widely considered the greatest college football game ever played. BEVOFanClub.com is the newest opportunity for fans to get involved and support BEVO. Launching with kickoff for the 2010 season, BEVOFanClub.com membership comes with an “autographed” photo of BEVO and gets you on an email list that will notify you when BEVO will be making a public appearance. Updates will be frequent throughout the season with exciting offers and opportunities. Thank you for considering joining us in support of BEVO and The University of Texas. We know BEVO XIV is looking forward to another great season. Hook ’em, Dustin Elliott
Ricky Brennes
Co-Presidents
Silver Spurs Alumni Association [email protected]

XIV kicked things off with back to back Rose Bowl victories, the second of which bringing Texas the 2005 National Championship in what is widely considered the greatest college football game ever played. XIV kicked things off with back to back Rose Bowl victories, the second of which bringing Texas the 2005 National Championship in what is widely considered the greatest college football game ever played.

The mascot's name, Hook 'em, is a reference to the rallying cry often used by Texas fans, which is "hook 'em horns." This phrase is accompanied by a hand gesture that represents the shape of a longhorn's horns. Hook 'em's role extends beyond just game day activities.

5 great college football mascots

Georgia mascot Uga X peers out from his doghouse on the sideline during during the second half of a rivalry game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Athens, Ga.

These five mascots are among the best to roam the sidelines at college football games.

Bevo XV, the mascot of the Texas Longhorns, is seen during the first half of a game against TCU, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Austin, Texas.

Bevo spends Saturdays in Texas roaming the sideline at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Texas Longhorn steer made his first appearance at halftime of the 1916 football game against Texas A&M. Bevo XIV retired in October 2015 after contracting bovine leukemia virus. He died shortly thereafter. Bevo XV made his debut in 2016, 100 years after the first Bevo was introduced. He made headlines at the 2019 Sugar Bowl after charging at Uga before the game.

Mike the Tiger

LSU mascot Mike VI, a part Bengal and Siberian tiger, sits in his cage on the field for his first time before a game against Florida, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, in Baton Rouge, La.

Mike the Tiger has been an attraction at Louisiana State football games since 1936. On home football game days, Mike's cage on wheels is parked by the opponent's locker room outside Tiger Stadium. Opposing players must pass by Mike in order to reach their locker room. In 1950, four Tulane students abducted Mike before a game. He was eventually returned and the students were banned from LSU's campus. A new habitat was constructed for the Bengal tiger in 2005. Mike VI debuted during LSU's national championship season of 2007. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016 and was euthanized. Mike VII, who was donated from a tiger sanctuary in Okeechobee, made his debut during the 2017 season.

Ralphie the Buffalo

Handlers guide Colorado mascot Ralphie VI on ceremonial run in the first half of a game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Boulder, Colo.

The first Ralphie debuted in 1966 and spent 13 years on the Colorado sidelines. Ralphie II took over in 1978, but she unexpectedly died after a 1987 game against Stanford. Ralphie III was pressed into action prematurely after her predecessor's life was cut short and served through the 1997 season. Ralphie IV then spent 10 seasons on the sidelines from 1998-2007. Ralphie V took the field at a Colorado game for the first time in 2008 and retired in 2019. Ralphie VI was born in 2020 but sat out that season amid the coronavirus pandemic. She made her Folsom Field debut in 2021.

Sebastian the Ibis

Miami mascot Sebastian the Ibis leads the team onto the field before the start of a game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Sebastian the Ibis has been a fixture at Miami games since 1957. On game days, the costumed mascot leads Hurricanes fans in the "C-A-N-E-S" cheer, spelling the letters with his body. Why an ibis? Because the bird is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane approaches, giving warning that danger is imminent. Sebastian narrowly avoided arrest before a game against rival Florida State in 1989. Miami's mascot, wearing a fireman's helmet and yellow raincoat while holding a fire extinguisher, was tackled and handcuffed by police during an attempt to douse Florida State mascot Osceola's flaming spear.

Georgia mascot Uga X walks on the field during the first half of a rivalry game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Athens, Ga.

Uga is a sideline staple at Georgia football games since 1956. After the death of Uga VII, his half-brother, Russ, was selected as interim mascot for the final two games of the 2009 season. He continued as interim mascot for the first six games of the 2010 season and participated in a "passing of the collar" ceremony for Uga VIII before the homecoming game. Less than two months later, Russ was once again called upon for the bowl game because of an illness to and the eventual death of Uga VIII. Russ eventually assumed the title of Uga IX in 2012, but he died in December 2015 and was replaced by his grandson. Uga X retired after the 2022 season as the winningest mascot in school history. The collar was passed to an English bulldog puppy named Boom during the spring scrimmage in April.

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Ralphie the Buffalo

The mascot also makes appearances at various campus events, community gatherings, and charity fundraisers. Overall, the Texas Longhorns basketball mascot, Hook 'em, serves as a spirited ambassador for the university, helping to unite fans and create a memorable experience for all..

Reviews for "The Psychology of Mascots: Why the Texas Longhorns Basketball Mascot Matters"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Texas Longhorns basketball mascot. First of all, the costume looked cheap and poorly made. It didn't resemble a longhorn at all and looked more like a big, cartoonish cow. Secondly, the mascot didn't seem to have any impact on the game or engage with the crowd. It just walked around aimlessly, not adding any excitement or energy to the atmosphere. Overall, I found the Texas Longhorns basketball mascot to be underwhelming and ineffective.

2. Sarah - 1 star - The Texas Longhorns basketball mascot was simply awful. Not only did the costume look outdated, but the person inside it seemed disinterested and unenthusiastic. The mascot barely interacted with the fans and failed to create any sort of excitement or entertainment during the game. It felt like they were just going through the motions, without any real effort to engage the crowd. I was highly disappointed in the lackluster performance of the Texas Longhorns basketball mascot.

3. Michael - 2 stars - The Texas Longhorns basketball mascot left me unimpressed. The costume appeared worn out and faded, lacking the vibrant colors and details that you would expect from a professional mascot. Furthermore, the mascot's dance routines or attempts at crowd interaction were lackluster and uninspiring. It felt like they were just going through the motions, without any enthusiasm or creativity. Overall, I was left disappointed with the Texas Longhorns basketball mascot and expected better from a university with such a prestigious sports program.

4. Emily - 1 star - I have to say, the Texas Longhorns basketball mascot was one of the worst I have ever seen. The costume was bulky and awkward, making it difficult for the mascot to move around or engage with the crowd. Additionally, the mascot seemed detached and unenthusiastic, lacking the energy and spirit that a good mascot should bring to a game. It felt like they were simply going through the motions, rather than trying to create a fun and exciting atmosphere. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with the Texas Longhorns basketball mascot and found it to be a complete letdown.

The Power of Symbolism: How the Texas Longhorns Basketball Mascot Energizes the Crowd