An oral history of when Bevo charged Uga at the Sugar Bowl

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  • David Hale, ESPN Employees AuthorOct 17, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

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    • Faculty soccer reporter.
    • Joined ESPN in 2012.
    • Graduate of the College of Delaware.

On Jan. 1, 2019, two icons have been set to satisfy on the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Sure, Georgia and Texas would face off, however that wasn’t the true draw. It was the assembly between the groups’ mascots — Georgia’s bulldog Uga and Texas’ longhorn steer Bevo — that finally captured the nation’s consideration.

What started as a made-for-TV second to fill airtime earlier than kickoff ended up a near catastrophe, a showcase of the energy and majesty of the world’s most well-known cow, a preview of the sport to return and a tangible instance of the extremely skinny line between comedy and tragedy. Above all, it turned one of many iconic viral movies in bowl historical past.

Now SEC rivals, Georgia and Texas are set to play once more this week for the primary time because the nice Bevo-Uga showdown, so we appeared again on that famed assembly of mascots for a greater understanding of what occurred and why reside mascots stay an indelible a part of the tradition of faculty soccer.

Lowell Galindo, Longhorn Community play-by-play announcer: Folks get caught up within the second, and actually, who’s pondering that is going to occur? Certainly they’ve talked this by way of and have all of it found out, and there will not be any points, proper? Improper.

Jim Sigmon, Texas crew photographer: I used to be form of pondering, that is odd as a result of often different colleges do not convey their reside animal mascots over to Bevo. That is a big-ass animal. I simply thought the entire thing was weird.

Holly Rowe, ESPN sideline reporter: I noticed Uga coming our manner and thought, “Aww, what a candy meet-cute for the mascots,” so I began filming it on my telephone. Then issues bought wild.

Tommy Tomlinson, Georgia fan and creator of “Dogland: Ardour, Glory, and A number of Slobber on the Westminster Canine Present”: What is the outdated Mel Brooks line? Tragedy is once I get a hangnail. Comedy is once you fall right into a gap and die. Relying on which aspect you have been on on this story, it may’ve been each.

Charles Seiler, Uga’s proprietor and handler: Individuals who’ve been within the mascot enterprise, we do not prefer to have issues with the mascots. However I can not say they misplaced management as a result of my butt was headed within the different route.

Half I: A historical past of reside animal mascots

The story of Uga and Bevo’s assembly truly begins 140 years earlier. That is when Yale’s bulldog Good-looking Dan, extensively considered faculty soccer’s first mascot, took to the sector at Yale. The time period “mascot” comes from the French phrase “mascotte,” which implies “fortunate allure,” and for dozens of faculties across the nation, Good-looking Dan and different reside animals have been precisely that.

Tim Brown, soccer historian: It was principally canines initially. However as groups began developing with mascots like badgers or buffalo, it was nearly like a prank initially. Some college students would resolve to get one and convey it to the sport.

Seiler: When my dad began this factor, he truly smuggled the canine into the Florida State sport, and the [newspaper] took some photos of it. That sport was 3-0, and Coach [Wally] Butts, I believe form of tongue-in-cheek, stated to my dad, “That sport wasn’t very attention-grabbing, so it is good you introduced that canine.”

These days, excessive care is taken in deciding on simply the proper animal, and numerous hours are spent coaching each the mascot and its handlers. However in fact, incidents have occurred alongside the best way.

Taylor Stratton, handler for the Colorado Buffaloes’ buffalo, Ralphie: I speak to them as in the event that they perceive me, and the factor I used to be telling Ralphie VI is, “Oh no, all buffalo do that. It might be bizarre in the event you did not go to a stadium. That is regular.”

Ricky Brennes, govt director of the College of Texas Silver Spurs, handler for Bevo: Quite a lot of it comes all the way down to their pure temperament and disposition. With out that, it would not matter an excessive amount of. We took him to band follow, music taking part in in his pen, hung flags up within the barn to see how he’d react to various kinds of motion. The earlier Bevo didn’t like flags in any respect.

Stratton: As a result of [Ralphie’s] so huge and athletic, we do Division I-level energy and conditioning coaching. They’re doing dash exercises, ensuring their our bodies are prepared and performing at peak athletic efficiency. … We undergo other ways we run. Get your chest up and your knees up since you can not run 25 mph, so you might want to let the buffalo pull you whilst you’re within the air so once you hit the bottom you’ll be able to preserve your toes and go as quick as you’ll be able to.

Adam Harper, handler for SMU‘s stallion, Peruna: The one time he is not used to loud environments are flyovers, and that is one thing we’ve got to plan for. Like, “Bear in mind guys, Peruna goes to hate that.”

Peter Cashman, handler for Army‘s mules: Mules are humorous animals. Sure issues hassle them and sure issues do not. They are often standing subsequent to the cannon when it goes off, and it is no downside. But when the wave begins behind them, and it is of their peripheral imaginative and prescient, that bothers them.

Harper: We type a form of circle round [Peruna] the place it negates anyone from probably strolling behind him. That is our one huge rule: Don’t stroll behind Peruna.

Cashman: We have been at Military-Navy about 5 years in the past, and for some motive, the entire Military crew ran out proper into the mules the place we have been standing. We had 50 soccer gamers amongst the mules, however no one was harm.

Seiler: Baylor used to convey out a bear cub. Uga walked as much as sniff the bear’s butt, and he spun round and, rattling if he did not spin Uga like a high. I do not assume they will probably convey a cub anymore.

Cashman: The largest half is retaining [the mules] hidden from Navy. On the highway, I’ve to discover a location that’s secretive and no one goes to inform Navy the place the mules are. We go in with an unmarked trailer. And it is the identical with the [Navy] goats.

Harper: Earlier than I took the job, one individual pulled me apart and stated, “That is what occurred to me.” He was working with Peruna, and he tripped and fell. We’re tasked to carry on to the reins it doesn’t matter what, as a result of if Peruna will get unfastened, you are not catching him. So in the event you fall, let him drag you. Simply maintain on. That is all that issues. Anyway, he fell on the 40-yard line, and was dragged by Peruna all the best way to the top zone. He scored a landing. He had a nasty bruise down the aspect of his physique.

Brennes: We had a second strolling Bevo off the sector in opposition to Nebraska within the Large 12 championship sport, and he defecated on the phrase “Nebraska” once we have been strolling him off.

Harper: The pooping on TCU‘s area will get talked about nonetheless. Folks nonetheless come up and say, “Do not let [Peruna] poop on the sector.” It provides to the superstar standing.

Michael Griffin, former Texas participant and Longhorn Community analyst: If I am not mistaken, did not Uga chunk any individual earlier than?

Tomlinson: That is the one the place in the event you go right into a dive bar in Georgia, that photo or a portray of it will likely be on a wall someplace. That is one of many high moments, as a result of it is a literal manifestation of the rivalry. We wish to eat the opposite crew. Uga stood in for all of us that day.

Seiler: Auburn hates that [picture]. For 5 years after that, they put somebody on me to verify I did not get that near the sector once more.

Brennes: One of many funniest Bevo moments … was Jordan Shipley leaping into Bevo’s pit on a punt return [at Darrell K. Royal Stadium].

Jordan Shipley, former Texas participant and Longhorn Community analyst: It was a brief punt, and I already had some pace constructed up. It ended up being a footrace to the pylon, and I hit the top zone working full pace. Within the second, you do not give it some thought, however I needed to jump over a pair issues, and by the point I search for, I am actually proper in entrance of Bevo. I put my arms up and hit his horns and jumped again out of there. He was fairly torpid that day, thank goodness. It was a fast, “OK, I will get out of right here.”

Harper: Peruna killed a mascot within the Nineteen Thirties. I stepped on campus, and the very first thing our administration instructed the brand new college students is that our mascot is Peruna, and he killed the Fordham ram. That is legendary.

Breckyn Hager, Texas defensive lineman: Effectively, it is good Bevo saved it elegant.

Half II: The picture op

In faculty soccer historical past, few mascots resonate among the many lots like Uga and Bevo, who’ve been part of their respective applications for generations. The historical past between bulldogs and bulls, nevertheless, goes again a lot additional.

Tomlinson: Wild bulls are big, ornery animals which can be arduous to manage, particularly in frontier days. These canines have been bred to be fearless, and bred bodily to have flat faces so they might actually run as much as the bull, seize its nostril with its enamel and drag its head to the bottom.

Brennes: Bevo would not hate canines. Bevo’s not aware of what bulldogs are bred for, and let’s be sincere, that was bred out of English bulldogs a very long time in the past.

Seiler: My breeder, she’d get day-old bread and provides it to the bulldogs, and so they’d go down the fence line and provides it to the cows twice per week. Bulldogs do not care about cows. They’re used to them. A cow isn’t any huge deal to a bulldog.

Tomlinson: In some methods, I would prefer to assume Bevo was putting a blow for his aspect in spite of everything that historical past. Clearly in that second, neither bull nor canine had any expertise in that kind of factor, however perhaps someplace deep in Bevo’s DNA, he remembered that these canines used to get the perfect of his kin.

Earlier than the Sugar Bowl, the Longhorn Community was much less involved with the historical past of bulls and canines, and extra about filling somewhat airtime earlier than kickoff, so TV labored with Brennes and Seiler to rearrange what was truly a second assembly of the mascots.

Seiler: We have been staged proper behind Bevo within the parade the day earlier than. We went to go speak to Rick and his guys, and we may see Bevo within the trailer, however his butt’s going through out at me. So as to get an image of Bevo with out getting a butt shot, they needed to pull him out backwards. It took him some time to do it, however Bevo was tremendous chill. We took our canine over, and me, my spouse and our son bought an image with Bevo and Rick and the homeowners, and it was no fuss, no muss.

Rowe: [Bevo] is without doubt one of the iconic mascots in all of sports activities — the literal brand for Texas, the Jerry West of faculty soccer. I’ve a fearful and respectful relationship with him, as a result of let’s be sincere — I am 5-8, and the horn span is greater than me.

Danny Davis, reporter for Austin American-Statesman: At Texas video games, the pen he stays in is correct within the nook the place the media stands for the final 5 minutes of the sport, and he is often chill. I do not know what his downside was that someday. Perhaps he wasn’t completely happy to see the lovable, little pet.

Seiler: We roll up. We’re not fairly on time for TV but. I’ve bought the canine in his kennel on the golf cart. I look over at Bevo, and so they have him in some makeshift corral, however he is gazing a concrete wall.

Angela Wang, photographer for The Day by day Texan: All of us heard Uga was being introduced over and thought it will be an ideal picture alternative. I used to be squatting down behind the barricade, going through Uga, with no thought what was taking place behind me.

Davis: I used to be standing round with different journalists and noticed Uga come up, and I made a decision to do a video. Then, in fact, all chaos broke unfastened.

Sigmon: It is like being at a automobile wreck. All the pieces’s completely effective, then hastily, s—‘s bizarre and you are like, “What occurred?” Among the greatest TV moments are that manner.

Nick Wagner, photographer for Austin American-Statesman: You’ve the overhead digicam, three or 4 different angles, it was essentially the most good setup to catch a viral second.

Galindo: It was straight out of “Anchorman.” Like, that escalated rapidly.

Tre Watson, Texas working again: All we hear is individuals yelling. I believe any individual instructed us Bevo had simply tried to assault the bulldog, and we have been lit. We have been yelling, “Let’s go Bevo!”

Temple Grandin, animal skilled: A longhorn can be taught to tolerate that setting, however this was a brand-new stadium, and that is a part of the issue. At residence, he’d be used to it, however now you’ve got bought him in a wierd place in a makeshift enclosure, and that in all probability led to the issue. I’ve seen present steers get upset at simply commerce present banners on tables. Sudden novelty scares him.

Sigmon: Bevo’s butt was going through the place the canine was, and he spun round, and when he noticed the canine, he flipped the New Orleans police barricade, simply one-horned it, and flung it prefer it was a bug.

Galindo: I am shocked there have been photographers close to the pen with their backs towards Bevo at that second.

Seiler: There have been cameras on tripods. There have been individuals laying down. A few of these sideline guys are nuts. They get taken out by gamers on a regular basis.

Sigmon: I am behind the golf cart. The golf cart is between me, the canine and Bevo. The individuals with wide-angle lenses proper up entrance, I wasn’t going to be a type of individuals.

Wang: Initially, I heard a girl begin screaming. At the moment, Uga had began squatting, so I believed it was as a result of she thought he was going to make use of the restroom on the sector.

Kirby Sensible, Georgia head coach: I used to be nervous for Uga, to be sincere.

Seiler: Uga was sitting down ready to have his image made, and I do not even assume he knew Bevo was behind him. Then I heard a woman scream, and I rotated, and noticed individuals dashing. I wasn’t going to attend round, so I simply pulled away the canine. In a few of these photos, it appears to be like like Bevo’s like 2 toes from us, however truly he was by no means inside 10 toes of us.

Griffin: The largest factor I actually bear in mind was his horn went over this — I believe she was a photographer. I simply bear in mind her ducking, and the horn going proper over her head.

Wang: I began standing up and thought, “Oh, it is effective,” so squatted again down, and in the event you watch the video in slow-mo, you may see me form of duck and the horn barely scrapes by me. I did not understand the horn hit me till somebody pointed it out on Reddit.

Griffin: She was nonetheless doing her job. That is humorous. I believed she was ducking like, “Oh my god.”

Tomlinson: The factor that makes me snicker each time is there have been like three announcers, and so they’re clearly mocking and having fun with this second because it leads as much as it, speaking about it being just like the royal wedding ceremony. However when it occurred, they reverted to soccer announcers, as a result of one of many guys instantly stated, “That is concentrating on.”

On the TV feed, the incident is basically performed for laughs. Galindo in contrast it to the meme of Joe Rogan reacting at a UFC struggle — hugging, laughing, screaming, chaos.

Galindo: We’re truly on the sideline with a monitor in entrance of us. We noticed Uga come behind us to go see Bevo, however then we’re simply watching all the pieces on the monitor.

Griffin: They take Uga out of his crate, and hastily, Bevo is out to destroy.

Shipley: Bevo simply form of squared up and went after him, and he wasn’t going to take “no” for a solution.

Griffin: You are like, “Oh s—, if Bevo will get unfastened, the place the hell is he going?”

Shipley: One of many issues they thought was humorous about it was the sport I bumped into Bevo, and so they have been saying, “It is a good factor Bevo did not deal with you want he handled Uga.”

Galindo (on the ESPN broadcast): Can reside tv get higher than that? No!

Hager: The one factor I’ve ever actually confirmed my girlfriend from my soccer profession is that video.

Galindo: I find it irresistible, man. That is what faculty sports activities are about — the madness, the followers, the mascots, the gamers. So if I am related to [the Bevo call] greater than something, I do not care. I believe it is hilarious.

In the end, all the incident lasts only a few seconds earlier than Bevo’s handlers, the Silver Spurs, get management of the state of affairs, and the TV clip ends with Galindo and Co. repeating the phrase that is now tethered to the incident in faculty soccer lore: That. Was. Superior.

Watson: I did not see it till after the sport. We have been all speaking about it. Bevo actually tried to go get him. I simply thought it was a pleasant straightforward buck. No. That boy was about to lose his life on reside tv.

Wagner: Folks proper there understood the gravity of it, of the way it may’ve been. It was simply chaos. That second, all the evening, the next day. It was a narrative I am going to inform for the remainder of my life.

Griffin: That entire dialog that is all the time been stated, “Is Bevo drugged up and that is why he is so tame throughout the video games?” Now you see that and you are like, “No, I do not assume he is drugged.”

Hager: I used to be truly a Silver Spur. I have been very near Bevo, and there was by no means, within the 4 years I used to be taking part in, a second once I thought Bevo was going to do something out of the extraordinary, not to mention assault the opposite crew’s mascot. It is actually spectacular how they’re in a position to deal with an animal like that, particularly in a time when that talent of the true cowboy is form of misplaced.

Sigmon: They professionally took care of it. They bought the canine secure, and so they bought Bevo again behind the barricade. However I am guessing that will not occur once more.

Rowe: I believe there was a second we have been all speaking and saying, “Wow, that would have gone actually badly.” Kudos to the handlers.

Galindo: I wish to be sure individuals understand how skilled and effectively skilled all of the individuals round Bevo are. However on the finish of the day, it’s a huge animal. However Ricky Brennes and all these guys, it’s surprising how detailed all the pieces is. It is just like the Secret Service getting ready for the president to reach someplace.

Seiler: In some unspecified time in the future, I took the canine again over there, and we did get an image.

There was, in fact, nonetheless a sport to play, and whereas nobody can say for positive whether or not Bevo’s cost modified the end result, the oldsters at Texas definitely imagine it did. Texas, a 12.5-point underdog, pulled off the upset win, 28-21.

Griffin: It was quite a bit for Texas stepping into the Sugar Bowl, however everyone was speaking about Georgia being upset, as a result of they weren’t within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.

Hager: I simply bear in mind them being overhyped, and Georgia was going to kill us, and all my mates from Georgia have been telling me we have been going to get beat fairly unhealthy. And earlier than kickoff, to see our beloved Bevo setting the tone, I believe it helped us go on the market extra relaxed and excited and aggressive.

Davis: Faculty soccer followers will rally round something. Bevo charging somewhat pet turned a rallying cry that evening. It turned a logo earlier than they beat a Georgia crew nobody thought they’d beat.

Watson: Our mascot was able to go to warfare with their mascot on full reside tv. Bevo bought us rolling. That was the beginning and set the tone that we have been going to step on some Bulldogs’ necks that day.

Charlie Woerner, Georgia tight finish: I bear in mind them exhibiting it on the Jumbotron. Bevo knocked over a fence. It was loopy. I used to be like, “Dang, I am glad Uga is OK.”

Hager: Coming in from warming up, it went viral across the locker room. And the primary level was, “How can we lose if Bevo’s bossing up like that?”

Griffin: Texas goes on to win the sport, and everyone’s like, “It is as a result of Bevo confirmed angle.”

Sensible: The incident involves gentle due to all of the movies since, however I do not recollect it having any impression on us or seeing it previous to the sport.

Bijan Robinson, high recruit and future Texas tailback: I wasn’t there when Bevo attacked, however I noticed it reside on TV. I used to be like, “That is the scariest factor for that canine to get attacked by an absolute gigantic mammal.” From that second, I used to be like, “I will Texas.”

Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia kicker: There was a complete lot of content material that stated, “This sums up the Texas-Georgia sport.”

Half III: The aftermath

The sport itself turned one thing of an afterthought, whereas the clip of Bevo’s brashness was a sensation. It unfold throughout social media like wildfire, led “SportsCenter,” and it was Scott Van Pelt’s “Greatest Factor I Noticed” that evening. Texas followers instantly adopted the picture as the proper image of the state and the varsity’s ethos of toughness.

Seiler: Rick known as me and apologized. I stated, “Did you get some good photos?” He stated he thinks that, as a result of Bevo bought to the sector like six hours earlier than the sport began and hadn’t moved from that spot, he simply bought worn out from gazing a wall. He simply needed to go for a stroll. I do not assume the cow ever even noticed the canine, as a result of there have been too many individuals round.

Galindo: Within the second, we thought it was hilarious and funky and humorous. However we actually did not understand it was that huge a deal till we bought again to the lodge and on the bar, each TV was on “SportsCenter,” and so they’re exhibiting principally my play name.

Davis: This in all probability says quite a bit concerning the business or how horrible an individual I’m, however this occurs, and the very first thing I believe is, “Did I get it on digicam?” After which, “This is content gold I’ve right here.”

Seiler: I had a photographer come up and say, “Look what Bevo did to me.” He pulled up his shirt, and the man had a giant gash down his again.

Wagner: Folks have been simply coming as much as me within the press room like, “Can I see your again?” My brother, Peter, had line that evening within the household group textual content: “Nick I’ve seen your again extra instances as we speak than I’ve in my complete life, and we used to share a room.”

Davis: Nick’s well being and wellbeing, I did not even give it some thought at first. Then somebody was like, “What occurred with Nick?” and I used to be like, “Oh, s—, I ought to examine on him.”

Wagner: On the workman’s comp type, it asks why you are receiving remedy, and I simply wrote, “Hit by cow.”

Wang: Nick and I all the time joked that we actually want our careers have been one thing greater than this meme, however on the similar time, I am going to share it.

Griffin: [Wang] in all probability has a shiny future forward of her, however now she’s often called the woman who nearly bought killed by Bevo. When she has children, they will be like, “Hey, you already know my mother nearly bought killed by Bevo, proper?”

Davis: It has been a long-running joke that I peaked that evening.

Wang: When it first occurred, I would get responses on relationship apps like, “Was that you simply?” My résumé on the backside on particular pursuits says, “Dodging mascots.”

Galindo: Yearly we would do three or 4 Longhorn Community promos earlier than the beginning of the soccer season. We needed to play off it, so we did a bit the place it was, “Deliver your canine to work day.” It was Ricky [Williams], Ship, me and Griff, and we’re all strolling our precise canines on the sector at DKR. Ricky and Ship have bulldogs. So we’re strolling our canines, then lower to a shot from behind us of Bevo coming in body. All of us flip and stroll the opposite manner like, “Nope, not a good suggestion.”

However finally, there is not any arguing the colour, custom and, sometimes, unpredictability, reside mascots convey to the game.

Stratton: I do assume [Ralphie] enjoys it. She’s a 1,000-pound animal, and we use solely optimistic reinforcement, so on the finish of the day, we’re not making this buffalo do something she would not wish to do. We will not make her do something she would not wish to do. … I’ve had so many individuals come as much as me and say, regardless of what number of instances they see Ralphie run, they nonetheless get goosebumps. These animals are so particular. They’re home, however they’re nonetheless just a bit bit wild. And I believe that speaks to our campus. It simply will get your adrenaline going to look at 4 or 5 loopy faculty children maintain on to a buffalo for expensive life. Who thinks that is a good suggestion? However it’s me. I did it, and I find it irresistible.

Sensible: So many individuals respect the lengthy historical past and custom of every Uga. They’re buried in our stadium. They’re proper there. He is a part of the material of our tradition.

Steve Sarkisian, Texas head coach: Bevo brings a ton of delight to our program and is such an ideal image of the ability, energy and dedication of Texas soccer. Considered one of our mantras is “Powerful All Day,” and that is what Bevo is and represents.




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