In Game
Football may be king in Texas, but you’ll still see plenty of support for the Longhorns basketball game when attending a game in Austin. Longhorns fans can be found all throughout the country and the fans live and die with their team, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that you’ll see lots of burnt orange around Austin on Longhorn basketball game days.
There is a festive atmosphere inside the Frank Erwin Center and you’ll be greeted with all the sights and sounds you would expect from a college basketball game. The cheer squad and mascot can be seen entertaining the crowd throughout the game and you’ll be serenaded by the sounds of the pep band as well. Like a lot of places where basketball takes a back seat to football, you’ll find that the atmosphere inside the Frank Erwin Center varies depending on who the opponent is. If you’re lucky enough to be in town for a game against Oklahoma or Kansas though you’ll be in for a treat and get experience one of the best in-game atmospheres in the Big 12.
At the Frank Erwin Center, you’ll see plenty of tributes to Texas’s best players and teams over the years. The banners hanging from the rafters are a nice touch, and the statue of Jody Conradt does an excellent job of celebrating the greatest coach in Longhorns women’s basketball history.
Finally, a trip to Austin is a fun trip for anyone even if you’re not going to a UT sporting event. There are plenty of outstanding bars and restaurants nearby, so you’ll have plenty to choose from if you want to grab a bite to eat or something to drink. Barbecue lovers will want to check out Franklin or Stubb’s. If you’re not into barbecue the Scholz Garten is a great place to grab a drink and there are plenty of food trucks around.
A trip to Austin is well worth your time even if you aren’t looking to attend a basketball game, although a Longhorns basketball game is a great way to spend some time if you’re in Austin.
Things to check out
Longhorn Statue
You may not be able to see Texas’s live mascot Bevo at a basketball game, but the longhorn statue outside the Frank Erwin Center is the next best thing. Snap a picture with the statue for a nice keepsake from your visit to Austin.
Jody Conradt Statue
The Longhorns honor legendary women’s basketball coach Jody Conradt with a statue inside the arena. The statue depicts Conradt showing the “Hook Em Horns” sign and is a must see for Longhorn fans everywhere, so make sure to check it out.
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Banners
Take a minute to view the banners and remember your favorite Longhorns players and teams when attending a game at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorn’s 2003 Final Four run is an especially important memory for Longhorns fans, so look for the banner and remember the incredible run.
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Hook ‘Em Horns
The famous hand signal of all Texas Longhorn fans is almost always coupled with the saying “Hook ‘em!” or “Hook ‘em Horns!” The signal is made by extending your index and pinky fingers while your middle and ring finger are held down by your thumb.
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Hook‘em
Texas’s costumed mascot Hook'em is one of the most well-known mascots in the country. Hook’em can be seen at every game cheering on the team and energizing the crowd, so don’t miss him during your visit to the Frank Erwin Center.
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Pep Band
The Longhorns have one of the best marching bands in the country, and as a result, their pep band puts on a great performance as well. The band is a big part of any Texas sporting event, so enjoy the pep band’s musical stylings when attending a game at the Frank Erwin Center.
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Spirit Squad
The cheer and pom squads to an excellent job of entertaining and energizing the crowd throughout the game. They even perform a halftime extravaganza at some games, so enjoy the show if you’re lucky enough to attend one of those games.
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Fight Songs
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“Texas..Fight!”
No matter the situation or the time of the game, if you yell Texas, someone will surely respond with a “Fight!”. It’s one of the more popular chants that can be heard throughout Longhorn games, so don’t be afraid to join in when you hear it.
Texas…
Fight! -
Fight Texas (fight song)
The official fight song of UT. The lyrics can be found here.
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! -
The Eyes of Texas
The song sung at each game was created as a poem. It is now a staple of Longhorn games and is sung to the tune of “I’ve been working on the railroad”. Nothing like singing with 100,000 people to unify and celebrate a great tradition of Texas football. Here are the lyrics.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the livelong day.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Do not think you can escape them
At night or early in the morn —
The Eyes of Texas are upon you
Til Gabriel blows his horn.
