Getty Images If the old maxim is true that everything's bigger in Texas, then BEVO is living, breathing proof of it. BEVO XV, the largest college football mascot in America, is the University of Texas' live football mascot. The legendary steer and his predecessors have been auniversity traditionsince 1916, and the players wouldn't have it any other way. According to Ricky Brennes (class of 2000), a University of Texas alum and executive director of the Silver Spurs Alumni Association, the Longhorns' current mascot weighs 2,100 pounds and has a horn span of almost six feet tip to tip. The steer is 10 years old and nearly as tall as his handlers. "BEVO is a living symbol of the passion andpride people have for the school and the team. We never take that for granted," Brennes says. The Longhorn lore runs deep in Texas, and Brennes explained that when he's with BEVO, people often stop him to share the story of that one time they got to see him up close, like at a gas station in 1987 or in the end zone during the rival game against the University of Oklahoma. "We have a police escort for BEVO now because otherwise, it would be an exhibition in distracted driving. At stop lights, people get out of their cars to take pictures and videos," he said, adding that BEVO's chill vibe is what makes him so popular. "BEVO's demeanor is the sweetest. That's why he gets to be BEVO. Some people think we sedate him. We do not. He just has a calm disposition and such expressive eyes. I can see him see things for the first time, and anticipate his next move by listening to his body language." Besides Brennes, BEVO's care falls to his four handlers, who are part of the Silver Spurs, an organization that dates back to 1937. "You don't get asked to join, you get asked to interview," says Jackson Canter (class of 2021), one of BEVO's former handlers. "From there, you go through a semi-rigorous interview process within the Spurs organization. They look for students whose reputation aligns with their values. Once you're chosen, you're a 'rowel' at first (the title named for the wheel within a spur), and you come to the meetings, social events, and work on the philanthropy. After that, the leaders hold elections to choose the next four handlers out of about 15-20 people who put their names in the hat. They need to see your dedication and if BEVO takes a liking to you. He gets very used to the people that he knows." Once you're chosen, you're about as busy as the football players themselves. Handlers care for BEVO, transport him to home games, and return him to the ranch where he lives about 30 miles north ofAustin. It's all made easier because the steer is so tame. "He can definitely get riled up, but if you go about it the right way, he's pretty cooperative," Canter said. "Even if you want to stand beside him, you've got to account for the potential swing of his head." Canter also praised the ranch, saying that BEVO is the most well-cared-for cattle in Texas, has acres of land to himself, and gets brushed daily. Canter recalls his favorite memory from his time as a Silver Spur. "We were driving BEVO up I-35 to the University of Oklahoma game in Dallas. People were driving alongside the trailer, either throwing the Hook 'Em Horns up or down," he said, "just to signal the house divided on the weekend of that game. The Red River Rivalry is so deeply embedded in Texas culture." James Pyle (class of 2026) is a current BEVO handler and said it's an honor to be representing UT, the Longhorn tradition, and the community as a whole. He's following in his older brother's footsteps as a Silver Spur. "To be a part of this brotherhood and get outside of your fraternity bubble is incredible," he said. "Being surrounded by a group of campus leaders is an amazing experience in itself, but having the opportunity to give back to the Austin community through the Neighborhood Longhorn Program and represent the university is an even greater one." So far, a core memory for Pyle has been getting fitted for his Texas Hatters hat, his burnt orange Gassane Tailors shirt, and cowboy boots that are Texas authentic. And once the first home game is here, he'll be living the UT dream: "I've never even been down on the field before," he said. "That's where more than 100,000 people are cheering for you, and when BEVO walks out that tunnel, the entire stadium erupts." This season, when you see Pyle in his Silver Spurs uniform in the end zone, with BEVO by his side, y'all can almost hear the fans throwing their Hook 'Em Horns hands in the air. Read the original article onSouthern Living