Why game days in Austin are so special
Sucks to be an Aggie
Each and every college is different but there is only one Texas. Everything we do here is bigger and better than anywhere else. Football game days are a tradition that strengthens our community and binds the students together as Longhorns. There’s nothing quite like a Saturday spent in Austin, here’s why.
Congress Ave tailgating
Every school with a football team has tailgates, but nothing quite like ours. Right in the heat of downtown, across the Capitol, what better place to be than sipping on a cold beer from the keg, playing Cornhole with your buds before the Longhorns get ready to play. This perimeter houses one of the biggest tailgates in college football, with friendly tailgaters welcoming Longhorn fans providing a variety of food and beverages.
If Cornhole is not your style, there will always be a game of beer pong or flip cup going on in the near vicinity that will welcome you with open arms. It’s also impossible to go hungry at one of our tailgates, there’s enough food to feed a small army. Pick up fresh grilled hamburgers and hotdogs before you walk over to DKR.
BEVO
BEVO originated as a prank by Texas A&M, in which they branded the score 13-0 from the football game onto the university’s first Longhorn mascot. In order to get the best of A&M, students at UT changed 13-0 to B-E-V-O, marking the birth of a Texas legend.
Another loss by the Aggies.
Big Bertha
The “Sweetheart of the Longhorn Band”. Over 90 years old, it’s one of the largest bass drums in the world. It can be seen in her home in the north end zone concourse from all of the DKR-Memorial Stadium.
“The Eyes of Texas”
This song is the first thing a person must know before going to any UT sporting event. At my first football game, I sang “The Eyes of Texas” after UT demolished North Texas in our home opener.
My friends and I were so excited and singing it at the top of our lungs. It was a bonding experience between the whole stadium and was definitely one of my favorite moments from that year.
Smokey the Cannon
The famous replica Civil War cannon created by mechanical engineering students as a response to shotgun blasts heard at the Red-River Rivalry, the annual game played between the Texas Longhorns and the OU. *SUCKS!*
Four blank shotgun shells are fired signifying every Longhorn score, kick-off, and end of the quarter. Most importantly, it is fired after the famous “The Eyes of Texas” after each Longhorn victory.
“Texas Fight”
Who can go to a Texas Football game and not know the Texas Fight song? It is played following touchdowns and extra points at the games. What you really need to do is learn the altered version though.
Instead of”Give ’em hell, give ’em hell! Go Horns go,” the Longhorn students say “Give ’em hell, give ’em hell! Make ’em eat shit.”
The opponents will definitely be eating shit this year served proudly by your #11 ranked Longhorns.
Lighting the Tower
Undoubtably the best part about winning on game day, lighting the tower burnt orange. For every football win, the Tower is lit white with orange top. This changing of colors signifies dominance and the pride that each and every University of Texas student embodies.
It’s lit. Quite literally.
Game days in Austin are an amazing occasion, it is truly an honor to be able to call myself a Texas Longhorn.
Hook ‘Em as Always