Happy Birthday, Bevo! Texas' beloved mascot turns 8 years old
Upon the unfortunate passing of Bevo XIV in 2015, the search for the next in the line of the most beloved live mascot in all of sports began. A steer named Sunrise Spur received the call, and like monarchs who take on regal names upon ascension to the throne, he took on a new moniker: Bevo XV. Eight years ago today, that steer was born.
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Bevo XV would assume his mascot duties 18 months after his birth when the Longhorn football program hosted the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Labor Day weekend 2016 at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. If there were any questions about how the newest living face of the Longhorns would handle commotion, they were quickly answered when the stoic steer handled his responsibilities with aplomb as Tyrone Swoopes’ dive across the goal line sealed a 50-47 Longhorn win.
Before then, Texas had brought Sunrise Spur and a handful of other candidates to a Longhorn Band practice to test how the animals would handle a small simulation of the loud and boisterous environment present on game days, a far cry from the tranquil setting of Sunrise Spur’s home at Sunrise Ranch.
No person needed to worry too much about how the steer would handle the responsibilities.
The same, however, could not be said for the steer’s fellow four-legged creatures. Bevo XV is best known nationally not only for being the Texas mascot, but for antagonizing Georgia mascot Uga X on New Years Day 2019 at the Super Dome for the Sugar Bowl.
The story of Bevo, who replaced a dog named Pig Bellmont who died tragically after being struck by a Model T 100 years ago, is one steeped in tall-tales. A legend states it was a literal rebranding of an Aggie prank involving the score of the 13-0 Texas A&M victory over UT in 1916, but that’s nothing more than a legend.
There’s entertaining history with his successors, too. Bevo II arrived in 1936, but didn’t last long. Bevo III ascended to the throne in 1945 but was returned to the San Antonio Zoo a few years later.
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Bevo V made a trip to South Bend, Ind. as the first Longhorn to hit the road. Bevo VII saw Texas’ first national title in football in 1963. Bevo IX, the longest reigning of all the honored steers, saw two national titles.
Bevo XIII graced the field of the 1999 Big 12 championship game with his waste during UT’s battle with Nebraska. Bevo XIV eventually saw Texas’ fourth national championship in football in 2005.
Bevo XV, who is cared for by the Silver Spurs, has a 50-37 football record during his reign. He’s already seen three different head football coaches, four bowl wins, and two victories over Oklahoma.
His reign is hopefully still in its early stages, with many longhorns living upwards of two decades.
That means there’s a lot of time left for Bevo XV to see university and athletic successes as the Longhorns’ mascot.
But here and now, Texas celebrates his eighth birthday.
