TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

TEXAS COLLEGE MASCOT SERIES CONTINUES

By JENNIFER WILSON, Our Town Temple

Don’t worry, Texas. Things will get better.

I realize many of you Longhorn fans have a long list of things you would like to see improved, but I know for a fact that Bevo isn’t on that list. So, forget about this past season and let’s now focus on something that can always bring a smile to even the most disgruntled fan. 

The University of Texas opened its doors on Sept. 15, 1883. Baseball was king back then, and Texas fans need to thank the baseball team and good ol’ supply and demand for the school colors.

In 1885, two students on their way to a game stopped at a store to pick up some ribbons for the crowd. Orange and white were the most plentiful, and their choice was officially adopted in 1900 — although the school did experiment briefly with gold and white and even orange and maroon (yikes!).

It wasn’t until 1893 that UT fielded its first football team. 

During those early years, Texas was known as The Varsity, kind of a nickname for university. The Longhorn name didn’t come into play until around 1900 when the media starting using the moniker.

In 1903, The Daily Texan (the university’s newspaper) even began to promote the Longhorn brand. According to some accounts, the student body wasn’t particularly thrilled with this new sobriquet, but as we all know, it eventually won out.

A few years later, on Feb. 10, 1914, UT’s first official mascot was born in Houston, and at just 7 weeks old he accompanied L. Theo Bellmont to Austin. You see, Bellmont was UT’s first athletic director, and it didn’t take long for the adorable tan and white puppy to be adopted by the university.

That’s right! Texas’ first mascot was a certified canine of the mutt persuasion (he would probably be called a pitbull today), but can you blame them? I mean, who can resist puppy breath? 

This lovable guy was christened Pig Bellmont. He was named after the team’s center, Gus “Pig” Dittmar, not only were they both bowlegged, but Gus was said to be able to slip through the defense like a “greased pig.”

Pig Bellmont roamed the campus for nine years, greeting students and administrators as he made his rounds during the day. He would visit classrooms, the library (now Battle Hall), and even attended out of town sporting events. A quote indicated, “If you say A&M to him, he will promptly lie down as though ready to give up the ghost in disgust. On the other hand, say Texas to him and he starts barking with joy.”

Students rewarded Pig’s loyalty — they had a special brass “T” made to attach to his collar, and he was inducted as a member of the T Association.

Unfortunately, on New Year’s Day 1923, Pig was hit by a Model T at the corner of 24th and Guadalupe. On Jan. 5, his body lay in state in front of the University Co-op on Guadalupe Street. More than 1,000 people filed by the small casket, and at 5 p.m. the University Band led the funeral procession to the old Law Building (the Graduate School of Business stands there today).

Beneath a grove of three live-oak trees, Dr. Thomas Taylor, dean and founder of the Cockrell School of Engineering, gave the eulogy.

“Let no spirit of levity dominate this occasion. A landmark has passed away.”

Taylor continued: “I do not know if there is a haven of rest to which good dogs go, but I know Pig will take his place by the side of the great dogs of the earth.”

Taps was played, and a marker was placed on the gravesite. It said simply, “Pig’s Dead. Dog Gone.”

According to a Dec. 10, 2018 article in The Daily Texan, Pig’s grave is currently unmarked. A few students were trying to rectify that oversight. I could find no other updates. It would be a shame to let Pig’s memory fade away — I have since emailed The Daily Texan and am awaiting a reply.  Stay tuned. 

During Pig's reign, a real longhorn did make an appearance, although it was a brief one. Stephen Pinckey, a law grauate in 1911, had always wanted a live longhorn mascot to represent the university. Employed by the U.S. Attorney General's Office, he had been assisting with raids on cattle rustlers when he came across a steer near Laredo he thought would be the perfect fit.

One-hundred-and-twenty-four UT alumni contributed $1 each to buy the animal, and he was soon transported to Austin. The poor animal was very thin and in no mood to pose for a picture. He stood still just long enough to take one photograph and then charged the cameraman. 

The frightened steer was presented to the student body on Nov. 30, 1916, during halftime of the Texas versus Texas A&M football game.

Tom Buffington (1892 alumnus) proffered: "I have been requested to present to the University of Texas a mascot, or protecting spirit, that now and in future years will bring good luck to the institution and its teaching. Behold him! The Longhorn of Texas, emblematic as he stands for the fighting spirit of progress...As the great longhorn was free to roam the wilderness of Texas, so must the university be free to roam the world of thought, unhampered and unafraid."

Texas went on to win the game 21-7. There are many discrepancies/disagreements about the events that follow. I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

The December issue of the Alcalde (the alumni magazine) was rushed to press to spread the good news of the victory. Editor Ben Dyer gave a detailed account of the day's events. In writing about the longhorn, Dyer stated: "His name is Bevo. Long may he reign!"

Bevo was a slang word used to describe a cow or steer marked for food. Beeve is also the plural of beef. Many believe Pinckey came up with the name, while others suggest that Dyer did. In either case, Dyer's article is the oldest mention of the name that can be found thus far.

After the festivities died down, there were numerous discussions as to what to do with Bevo. Some wanted to brand the animal with the recent victory score, others wanted to tame him and have him roam and graze freely around the campus. The discussion came to a hault on Feb. 12, 1917. Early that morning, six men, including Texas A&M students, broke into the stockyard and branded Beevo with the numbers 13-0. This happened to be the score of the 1915 football game at which A&M was the victor over the Longhorns.

The Alcade magazine reported: "The worst has happened. Bevo, the Varsity mascot...has been basely mutilated with the hated numerals 13 to 0. Miscreants, who boast of former attendance at a little insignificant college over in the sticks in the vicinity of the back door of Bryan proclaim complicity in the dire deed."

Some say the name Bevo originated after the Texas A&M branding incident when the longhorn's handlers decided to turn turn the 13 into a B, the dash into an E, and inserted a V before the 0. Bevo just happened to be the name of a non-alcoholic beer at the time. This legend and the rebranding has largely been debunked — especially by UT fans. Aggies hold it as gospel truth. Wonder what OU thinks?

Bevo was promptly relocated to a ranch west of Austin and had a few years of peace until the end of WWI. His upkeep was costing the university 60 cents a day, and not knowing what else to do with the animal, a decision was make to slaughter Bevo and serve him at the January 1920 football banquet. A delegation from A&M was invited to attend.

Longhorn magazine noted, "The half of the hide bearing the mystic figures 13 to 0 was presented to A&M with appropriate ceremonies. The remainder of the hide will be preserved and properly branded each succeeding year as the Longhorns humble the Farmers. A significant aspect of this feature is that the brands are to be small in order that the skin may not too soon be used up." (No offense UT, but this sounds like some nightmare story).

It would not be until 1936 that UT introduced another mascot. During those early years most of the longhorns were too unmanageable to represent their school for long (they probably heard about Bevo I). Luckily, all subsequent Bevos were released or retired to live out their lives. 

Thankfully, times have changed and so have the ways we treat our animal friends — including mascots.

The current Bevo, (Bevo XV) was born on Jan. 24, 2015, and made his debut as the official mascot in September 2016. He was the youngest mascot in UT's history, and was affectionately known as "Baby Bevo" for awhile.

This gorgeous guy's registered name is Sunrise Spur, and he certainly lives high on the hog. Conditioned from calfhood to deal with the excitement of football games — noise, travel and crowds — Bevo roams 250 acres on a private ranch, has many other  longhorns to socialize with (those commoners) and rides in an air-conditioned trailer. He also gets all the treats and hay he can eat. 

Bevo XV is expected to be around for years to come — longhorns can live well into their 20s — and you can bet that he will be treated with the respect and dignity that all mascots deserve.

So, be on the lookout for him the next time you see the Longhorns playing on television — he'll be the proud orange and white steer watching calmly over his team --unless an Aggie walks by.

The University of Texas’ first live mascot was a dog named Pig, named after a football player known to cut through opposing defenses like a greased pig.

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AROUND TOWN: A VISIT BY THE GRINCH

That ol’ Grinch was at Darling Decor & More in downtown Whoville, I mean Temple, on Monday. He tried his best to snarl traffic at the intersection of Main and Adams, and inside the store he was caught punching a Christmas bear. But at some point, his heart must have grown three sizes because he agreed to take photos with little Cindylou Who and other visitors to the store. David Stone | Our Town Temple

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