The Texas Flag

The Texas Flag

The world's largest Texas flag resides here at the University of Texas. It is run by members of Alpha Phi Omega at many different UT sporting events and celebrations. It can be seen during the pre-game festivities at every home football game, and at the annual OU game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Additionally, the Texas Flag appears at several home basketball games in the spring. The Texas Flag can also be seen being marched down the Drag during the annual OU Torchlight Parade and hung from the President's Balcony for special events such as The UT Birthday Celebration each September, the Texas A&M Hex Rally, and every spring on March 2 to celebrate Texas Independence Day. APO members take great pride in the history and tradition of the Texas Flag. We not only think of the Texas Flag as one of our traditions, but as a tradition of the University and the Great State of Texas.

History of the Texas Flag

The Alpha Rho chapter of Alpha Phi Omega is currently in the possession of the World's Three Largest Texas Flags. Each Flag is used during different events. However, there have been a total of five Texas Flags throughout APO's history. The original Flag was given to Texas Governor Price Daniel by Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett during the halftime show of the 1962 Cotton Bowl (after which Texas beat Ole Miss 12-7). The Flag was meant as a gesture of southern hospitality from the citizens of Mississippi to the citizens of Texas. Governor Daniel later gave the Flag to the Longhorn Band. The band later, however, returned the Flag to the University where it eventually made its way to the Men's Athletic Department. The next football season, APO was asked to run the Flag and the first APO Flag run was at the Thanksgiving Day game in 1962 against Texas A&M. The original Texas Flag measured 17 yards by 30 yards. That translates into 51 feet by 90 feet. The second Texas Flag was made and came into APO's possession around 1966. Unfortunately not much is known about this Flag because the records have not survived. It is assumed to be roughly the same size as the first Flag. The third Texas Flag was purchased in 1972. This was the first on the nylon flags (the first two were cotton) and was supposed to measure 21 yards by 40 yards. However, one long side only measures 37 feet while the other is 40 feet. This Flag is still in the possession of APO and is carried in the annual OU Torchlight Parade. Flag number four was given to APO in 1978 as an anonymous donation. It measures 22 yards by 40 yards and is currently the Flag used for Flag Drops from the President's Balcony and for Flag runs at Basketball games. The fifth Texas Flag was unveiled on November 23, 1991 before the Texas vs. Baylor football game in Austin. This Flag measures 75 feet by 125 feet and weighs 500 pounds. It is also equipped with handles so that APO members can better control it. This is the first Flag to have the correct Texas Flag dimensions of 3x5 and was made in less than three weeks by Kronberg's Flags and Flagpoles in Houston. This is the Flag that is run at football games. In the Fall of 1998 Alpha Rho purchased another flag to be run at the Frank Erwin Center during basketball games and to be used in parades. This flag, the smallest flag, measures 50 feet by 30 feet and was made by Kronberg's Flags and Flag Poles in Houston. Since this flag is much smaller, weighing only about 60 pounds, only about ten people are necessary to run this flag. This new flag made its debut at the OU Torchlight parade in October 1998.

Adapted from -- Alpha Phi Omega

The University of Texas Tower

The University Tower of the Main Building, rising 307 feet from Austin, stands as a symbol of identity and a timekeeper of tradition for the University of Texas at Austin. Built at a cost of $3 million in 1936, the 27-story Tower was designed in a modified Spanish Renaissance style by Paul P. Cret, an alum of Rice. Consequently when one views the Tower at an angle, the clock faces transform into what looks like the eyes of an owl.

Throughout the past 62 years, the Tower has stood as a symbol of the campus of The University of Texas at Austin for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the University community.

The Tower Victory Lights

The use of the Tower lights to celebrate Longhorn victories was originated by Dr. Carl Eckhardt, superintendent of buildings and grounds and professor of mechanical engineering in 1939. Eckhardt placed orange filters over the lights, and when the idea was lauded, special orange lights were installed. The lighting schedule follows:

1. Complete Tower Orange:

On nights a NCAA national team championship is won in any sport.
On nights of football victories over Texas A&M.
On nights a basketball championship is won in the NIT.

2. Observation and Column Decks Orange:

On nights of football victories other than those involving Texas A&M.
On nights a Big 12 championship is won in any team sport.
On nights of baseball or basketball victories in the Big 12, NCAA, or NIT tournaments.
Annual Commencement, Honors Day, and upon the occasion of the inauguration of the president of The University of Texas at Austin.
On March 2, April 21, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

3. Observation and Column Decks alternating Orange and White:

On nights of a tie for NCAA or Big 12 championships in any sport.
On nights of tie football games.

Adapted from -- The Daily Texan

The University of Texas Fight Song

"Texas Fight," or better known as "TAPS," is the official fight song of The University of Texas and was written by Colonel Walter S. Hunnicutt in collaboration with James E. King, then director of the Marlin High School Band. The words of the song as finally adopted, were written by "Blondie" Pharr, director of the Longhorn Band from 1917 to 1937. "Taps" is played following touchdowns and extra points at Texas football games as well as on thousands of other occasions.

Note: What may not be obvious to many is that the first strain of "Texas Fight" is really a sped up version of "Taps," the song played at many military funerals. The repeated strain contains portions of 'The Eyes of Texas.' The words are as follows:

Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
And it's goodbye to A&M.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
And we'll put over one more win.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
For it's Texas that we love best.
Hail, Hail, The gang's all here,
And it's good-bye to all the rest!

(YELL)
Yea Orange! Yea White!
Yea Longhorns! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Texas Fight! Texas Fight,
Yea Texas Fight!
Texas Fight! Texas Fight,
Yea Texas Fight!

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the livelong day.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
For it's Texas that we love best.
Hail, Hail, The gang's all here,
And it good-bye to all the rest!

Note: The line, "Hail, Hail, the gang's all here" is usually replaced with "Give 'em hell, Give 'em hell, Go Horns Go!" There are also a number of other adaptations that students have come up with over the years.

Adapted from -- The University of Texas Longhorn Band

The University of Texas School Song "The Eyes of Texas" is the official Alma Mater of the University of Texas. It was written in 1903 by John Sinclair, in response to a request that a song be written for the Cowboy Minstrel Show. Since he was given only a few hours in which to come up with a tune, Mr. Sinclair hit upon the idea of using a famous saying of Colonel Prather, who was the President of the University. The Colonel always told his audiences to remember that "the eyes of Texas are upon you." This expression was fitted to the tune of "I've Been working on the Railroad." Sinclair, dressed in minstrel attire with a black face, sang the song in imitation of President Prather's serious tone and solemn expression. The beloved President soon passed away, and it was not until after the song was sung at his funeral in tribute that it achieved its complete dignity. Now, it is played prior to the start and at the close of all Texas sporting events and at all other official University of Texas functions. The original manuscript hangs in the Alumni Center. The complete original lyrics are as follows:
I once did know a President, Away down South, in Texas. And, always, everywhere he went, He saw the eyes of Texas.

The Eyes of Texas are upon you, All the live long day. The Eyes of Texas are upon you, You can not get away. Do not think you can escape them At night or early in the morn- The Eyes of Texas are upon you 'Till Gabriel blows his horn.
Sing me a song of Proxy, Of days long since gone by. Again I seem to greet him And hear his kind reply. Smiles of gracious welcome Before my memory rise, Again I hear him say to me, "Remember Texas' Eyes."
Adapted from -- The University of Texas Longhorn Band

Bevo, UT's Mascot

The Longhorn steer Bevo, the University's mascot. In 1916 pranksters branded Bevo with "13 - 0"-- the score of the Texas A & M victory from the previous year. UT students saved face by altering the numerals to read BEVO. Courtesy, Prints and Photographs Collection, the Center for American History.