Meet the woman behind Hook 'Em, the Texas Longhorns mascot | The Girl Herd

Hook ‘Em has been rallying fans nationwide—but who’s behind the horns? Meet Grace Pohl, the woman who’s brought the Texas spirit to life for the past four years.

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@the.gracepohl The spirit of Texas lives in all of us. I wore it… and it was very warm in there #54 #texasmascot #hookem #universityoftexas #SEC #heismanhouse #classof2025 #mascotreveal @Hook ‘Em @TEXAS ZETA ♬ original sound – Grace Pohl

Mascot Journey: Grace Pohl shares her origin story from Belton, Texas, and her transformation from a student into the University of Texas mascot, Hook ‘Em.

From Fashion Major to Mascot: A fashion design major, Grace initially offered costume repair help, but quickly embraced the role of mascot after a mentor encouraged her, making her a D1 athlete in a unique capacity.

Auditions and Unique Style: Her audition included sparkly high tops and TikToks, bringing a new, girly flair to Hook ‘Em. She successfully became the mascot and held the role for four years.

Influence on Mascot’s Appearance: Grace added style to the mascot’s outfits, including an all-black cowboy hat look inspired by a favorite player. She consistently pushed for fashionable upgrades for Hook’em.

Inside the Suit: Life in the suit was grueling with no ice packs or fans and extreme heat, but Grace maintained hygiene standards and even added cologne for a clean mascot image.

Training and Endurance: The physical demand was high. Grace ran marathons and followed strict fitness routines, enduring long game days and promotional events inside the hot suit.

Skits and Audience Engagement: She created themed skits like the Barbie box, crowd games, and water pong to increase crowd engagement. These skits also contributed to national competition entries.

UCA Nationals: Grace explained UCA Mascot Nationals where Hook ‘Em competed using creative highlight reels. She detailed the submission and ranking process and mentioned meeting other famous mascots.

Handling Losing Games: She highlighted how Hook ‘Em helped lift fan spirits during losses with gestures and humor, maintaining the mascot’s role as a symbol of support and enthusiasm.

Post-Mascot Identity: Even outside the suit, Grace’s mannerisms often stayed with her. Her confidence grew, and the role helped her socially, emotionally, and in leadership growth.

Legacy and Rivalries: Grace discussed rivalries, particularly with Texas A&M and OU, describing them with humorous anecdotes. She emphasized the importance of representing Texas with pride and sportsmanship.

Empowerment and Confidence: The experience as Hook ‘Em boosted her self-confidence and identity. She reflected on how being a mascot helped her transition from feeling average in a sea of overachievers to embodying a leader and symbol of unity.

Rapid Fire Insights: Grace shared personal favorites like home games, favorite songs, toughest suit tasks, snacks in Austin, and celebrities she met in the suit including Matthew McConaughey and Shaquille O’Neal.

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