“Bigger Yell” Rally Corrals UT School Spirit

By Jordan Schraeder in 40 Acres, Special on August 30, 2012 at 11:45 am | No Comments

The Hook ‘Em Horns hand sign, Smokey the Cannon, The Eyes of Texas, the Wabash Cannonball: last night students on the Forty Acres were treated to a rowdy rundown of UT’s most beloved campus traditions, songs, and cheers at the sixth annual Big Yell.

Hosted in DKR-Memorial Stadium and broadcasted live on the Longhorn Network, this year’s Big Yell was bigger than ever before, even prompting the night’s host, LHN anchor Lowell Galindo, to continually call the event “the Bigger Yell.”

On the field, the “Showband of the Southwest“—better known as the Longhorn Band—as well as Texas Cheer and the Pom Squad helped pump up the rambunctious crowd, which included student spirit organizations like the Orange Jackets, Texas Spirits, and the Longhorn Hellraisers. The event was presented by the Texas Exes Spirit and Traditions Council.

Students new and old learned vital lessons about being a Longhorn fan. From the Texas fight song to the story behind Bevo’s name (The Alcalde dubbed the steer Bevo in 1916), videos broadcast on the jumbotron helped students learn a little more about the University they now call home.

Texas Exes CEO and Executive Director Leslie Cedar encouraged the crowd to participate in a new gameday tradition, the Stadium Stampede. Two hours and 30 minutes before game time, the players and coaches will exit the buses at 23rd and Robert Dedman, and fans are encouraged to line 23rd Street and give them a proper welcome as they enter the stadium.

Cedar also told students that it’s never too early to get involved with their University’s alumni association. “Make no mistake,” she said. “This alumni association is not for your grandpa. It’s for you.”

The night’s biggest star was undoubtedly football head coach Mack Brown, who high-fived the crowd before answering questions students had asked him via Twitter. From his favorite birthday gift (getting to spend time with his grandkids) to the coach who inspires him most (Darrell K Royal), Brown tackled it all. And, of course, he talked football.

“The team is only as good as your fans,” Brown said. “To have the best team in the country, you have to have the best fans in the country. And I think we started it off right tonight.”