Texas Fight Meets Texas Flight

By Rose Cahalan in Association, Special on July 23, 2012 at 5:50 pm | No Comments

UT Athletics, Texas Exes Team Up With Southwest Airlines

Travelers passing by Gate 4 in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport this morning found themselves pausing to wonder if they had been transported to a pep rally instead of a terminal. A crowd gathered around a contingent of UT cheerleaders and the costumed mascot Hook ’Em as the Longhorn Alumni Band led the singing of “The Eyes of Texas.”

The cause for celebration: a new sponsorship between Southwest Airlines, UT Athletics, and the Texas Exes. For the next five years, Southwest will be the official airline sponsor of all UT sports teams and the Texas Exes. Longhorn fans can expect to see promotional areas, signs, and special events, including contests, starting at the first home football game on Sept. 1.

“Texas Athletics and Southwest Airlines represent a family partnership,” Men’s Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds said today in a press release. “We both work hard to excel, have fun, and have passionate, loyal fans.”

Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, BBA ’77, Life Member, Distinguished Alumnus, has long been a stalwart supporter of the University. Kelly is a founding member of the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education.

“We love being affiliated with a Texas business led by a distinguished Texas Ex,” said Texas Exes CEO Leslie Cedar in the press release. “Our goal is to champion The University of Texas, both on the field and off, and this collaboration will allow us to do so more effectively than ever.”

Photos by Michael Nutter, Southwest Airlines.

Tags: deloss dodds, Gary Kelly, Leslie Cedar, partnership, Southwest Airlines, sponsorship, texas exes, UT athletics