Hook ’em Horns and welcome back to school, Austin!

Whether you’re a proud Longhorn, an Austin transplant, or just a trivia junkie, the University of Texas has been keeping things interesting since the 1800s. From live steer mascots to color wars over orange, UT is more than just a campus—it’s a treasure trove of quirky history.

Let’s dive into 6 fun, fascinating facts about UT Austin that make it such an iconic part of our city.

 

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1. UT's First Day Was… Kind of Unfinished

When UT officially opened in September 1883, the building wasn’t even finished yet. Classes kicked off in a half-built structure on a grassy hill—where the famous UT Tower now stands. Talk about humble beginnings!

 

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2. Bevo May Be the Face, But the OG Mascot Was a Dog Named Pig

Yes, really. UT’s first mascot was a pup named Pig Bellmont. He lived on campus, followed students to class, and is even buried under the stadium with a plaque in his honor.
But in 1916, Bevo the Longhorn made his big debut at a Thanksgiving game against Texas A&M, and the legend was born. We’re now on Bevo XV, who joined the team in 2016.

Oh, and if you ever wondered who the official mascot is—it's actually “Hook ‘Em,” the costumed Longhorn. Bevo is the live one, but Hook ‘Em does the crowd work.

 

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3. They Hand Out About 15,000 Degrees a Year

That’s a whole lot of new Longhorns walking across the stage each year—approximately 15,000 degrees awarded annually, making UT one of the biggest launching pads in the country.

 

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4. It’s the Big Horn in Town—and in the Country

With over 53,000 students, UT Austin is not just the largest university in the city—it’s the largest in the entire UT System and one of the biggest in the U.S.

If you’ve ever tried to find parking on campus, this won’t surprise you.

 

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5. The Iconic Orange Was Almost... Maroon?!

The story goes that two students grabbed orange and white ribbons on the way to a baseball game in 1885 because it’s all the store had. The crowd loved it.
UT experimented with other color combos (gold and white? maroon and orange?), but by 1900, burnt orange and white were locked in as the official colors.

The legendary Coach Darrell Royal brought back the burnt orange look in the '60s to match football uniforms—and the rest is fashion history.

 

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6. The UT Tower Has a Mood Ring... Kind Of

Since 1937, the UT Tower has been lighting up the Austin skyline—and not just for fun. Special lighting patterns are used to signal celebrations, championships, graduations, and even moments of mourning.

They can even light up office windows to display numbers—like a giant “1” for a national title, or the last two digits of the graduating class.

 

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Honorable Mention: UT Is Just Cool

Between its deep roots, weird traditions, and unmistakable energy, UT is more than a university—it’s a cultural cornerstone of Austin. Whether you're grabbing tacos on Guadalupe or taking selfies at the Tower, it’s impossible to ignore the impact this school has had on the city.

So next time you're driving down MLK or cheering in burnt orange, remember: UT’s history is anything but boring.

 

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Hook ’em! 

 

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The T. Kerr Property Group, led by Tanya Kerr, was named Best Real Estate Team in Georgetown and runner-up for Best Real Estate Agent in Round Rock by community vote. They also won the Austin Business Journal Residential Real Estate Award for elite production, with Tanya nominated for Women in Business.