The love of the Longhorn

The love of the Longhorn

 [1]

The Longhorn: The mascot that loves you back.

When I think Longhorns (seen above), I think totemism. There are many reasons for this. Longhorns fans are hog wild about Bevo. At sporting events people "bleed orange"-- win or lose, rival or no rival. Being a Longhorn carries a certain level of pride, sincerity and integrity. Like with being a member of any society, there are certain realities involved with being a fan of or actually being a Texas Longhorn.  The thinking seems to be along the lines of I am part of this group, therefore I belong to everything it stands for. For some, it's not about being an individual at all. It's about the prestige or what belonging to the group means to them. 

A lot of us grew up in or around Texas, so we know the pride associated with it and how some can get carried away with it even. OK, I've been guilty of that myself. I didn't want to go to any other college in Texas and I would not be as enthusiastic about college if I wasn't attending Texas. When I received my letter from A&M before my acceptance letter from Texas was delivered, I worried Texas wouldn't accept me or that I got lost in the shuffle. I picked up a phone call from some group of Aggies wanting me to join their totemistic group.... I was so excited when I got the letter from Texas, I just sat there for like 2 hours looking at it before I stood up, stopped staring at or told anyone about it. But for me, it was more about what it would mean after I was finished. I wanted to go to a reputable school I could feasibly attend. 

No. I didn't want to graduate from some dinky school in some po-dunk, dry town in Texas either. I'd have gladly been an Aggie had things worked out that way. My point is when I decided to go back to school, I remember saying, "when I go to Texas... etc. etc. et cetera." And people would say, "do you mean IF? Don't you know how hard it is to get in?" in a cautioning tone. It sounded impossible, but I wasn't convinced. I wanted to learn as much as I could. And I worked hard every day with the goal of becoming a Longhorn in mind, though I never told anyone that. Apparently, my teachers noticed my effort along the way. Though they never made it easy, determination became my best friend.  Which brings me to the so-called "fight song". The Texas Fight song inspires determination and the will do get it done when things get tough. Given my goals, they made it tough a tough fight.

The Texas Fight song represents  the competitive nature of the tribe and symbolizes the kinship and the magical practices of--winning.

[2]



When I hear the Texas Longhorns fight song, I don't feel like fighting. I feel like celebrating my success as I think back to how I would shake my head confidently and say, "No, I'm going" to those who warned me of the bumps in the road. I guess part of reaching your goals is just seeing yourself do it; one day at a time. My sociology teacher told me (the only teacher from which I ever earned a C ), just imagine yourself achieving your goals and before you know it, you'll look around and you'll have achieved them if you try hard enough and "work like a protestant". There's one thing I tell people when they ask me about UT. "So, Ben, how's UT?" My response is that it's a lot of work and that I'm probably going to be a victim of my own success (since my goals are high after I leave this place). But, still, I think to myself. In spite of all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears; I wouldn't give it up for the world. Being a Longhorn means something to me. Being a successful Longhorn means even more because of the prestige associated with UT. When I go on to "bigger and better" things,  where I came from will be taken into consideration. 

That's one reason I take Texas so seriously. I won't get to be here my whole life and I see this as an opportunity to be part of something big. My education is precious; the quality of it even more so. And I feel Texas is the best place to receive a quality education.   

So, about totemism: "W.H.R. Rivers defined totemism as the combination of three elements (1) the social, which is the division of the tribe into totemic groups; (2) the psychological, which is the belief in a kinship between members of the clan; and (3) the ritual, which includes all the taboos and magical practices." [3]

As I was saying, there is a social "division of the tribe" amongst those who are longhorns or consider themselves to be and they view themselves as in and see others as out. They want, some more than anything else, to be a Longhorn because of the associated social status of being a Longhorn. And who in their right state of mind doesn't want to say, with a Texas draw, "HOOK 'EM" every once in a while?  Not to mention, there is absolutely no shame in proudly holding up the hook 'em horns sign--a salute to Bevo; our beloved mascot.  If you look around a lot of places within the great state of Texas, it seems no place is without Texas alumni proudly saluting the orange and white tradition. 

 
[4]

The Hook 'em sign: it goes something like this. 

Definitively, there are limitations to Rivers' definition. I'm on board with the psychological belief in kinship aspect I'm not sure I so much agree with the kin part. And harsh truth be told, I'd rather not mingle with a lot of students around campus, but that's because I'm an old guy.  I have family and have had the same friends since grade school who I still hang with in Austin, so that's not what the 40 acres is about to me.  As I proudly acknowledge, there is a psychological aspect for me, too. I'd think less of myself if I were an Aggie, if only because being a Longhorn was the goal I set for myself. I know that sounds terrible, but it's true. This brings me to the taboo or ritual part of being a Longhorn. 

As the saying goes, "Don't mess with Texas." I find that to be a funny slogan since I normally say it to my Aggie friends, more than I say it to any one I see littering. Oh, and you see the Aggies driving their gas guzzling trucks, driving by themselves (with maybe a dog in the back) sporting the broken horns sign, as if that's supposed to mean the Aggie has defeated the Longhorn...those pesky Aggies. 

This brings me to the ritual aspect of being a Longhorn. There is nothing, and I mean nothing,  I like more than getting in a cheap jab at an Aggie, with good sportsmanlike intentions. I have friends who are Aggies and, believe it or not, they're pretty good guys. But even they know something about the Longhorn--it's a lot cooler than having Lassie as your mascot. It's comical the levels of immaturity we'll go to in order to defend our categorized place in society. Even more comical than Lassie, is the stories you'll hear Aggies tell you about how they named our Mascot. However, as Jim Nicar points out in the Daily Texan:

"Whatever the reason, UT's mascot was named by folks in Austin, not College Station." [5]

But it's not about the division that being in separate groups causes that makes me really proud to be a Longhorn. I find the most pride in how hard I have to work to remain a member of the group. In the end it means we can all pridefully stroll down the trail of success having bled, perspired and cried, telling tasteless Aggie jokes about the Aggie that lied.

Hook 'em!









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[1]http://www.theamundsons.com/photos/2006/texas%20longhorn%20with%20rose_1%202.jpg

[2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTUJSEFKSBE
[3]course anthology, 901
[4]http://www.texassports.com/image_lib/hookem_200.jpg
[5]]course anthology, 892