Texas Traditions 🤘

Dear readers,

Happy Independence Day! While you’re celebrating 250 years of this country with fireworks and hot dogs, we figured we’d take a second to appreciate our own University’s history. UT has so many of its own traditions and buying into the “Texas” of it all makes the experience. Whether you’re reading this because you’re an international student or your whole family went to A&M, welcome to the Longhorn family. Here’s everything I wish I knew before moving to the Forty!

The Texas Longhorns.

You can’t talk about the University of Texas without talking about our sports. 

Songs to know

Each football game starts and ends with the “Eyes of Texas,” our fight song, performed by the Longhorn student band. It’s tradition to brave the heat and stay from the beginning to end of the game, or Eyes-to-Eyes. You should also know “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)” by Alabama, “Deep in the Heart of Texas” by Moe Bandy, and my personal favorite, “Texas Longhorn” by Django Walker, which plays during our field show after the 3rd quarter. 

Our little brothers

Texas has two main rivalries: the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma and Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. We play OU every year in the Red River Rivalry game in Dallas, a halfway point between Austin and Norman. The game is the same weekend as the Texas State Fair, and various organizations take buses to the game in Dallas. We typically play A&M at the end of Thanksgiving break and switch off on location — this year we play in College Station, which I’m confident won’t keep us from continuing our win streak.

Big Ticket

The Big Ticket is your ticket to all UT sports events, which is $270 for access to football and other UT sporting events and $110 without football. It’ll be on sale until August 30th for students who want to claim a ticket to our home opener. The Big Ticket does not guarantee you a seat at a football game, but gives you access to the portal to claim football tickets. Longhorn Foundation, which is around $140 and opens your access to claiming a football ticket earlier, will be available on August 11th. You can buy an OU ticket for $200 through your student portal, but A&M tickets will be released to Big Ticket football access holders based on seniority. If you’re buying a Big Ticket that includes football, make sure you go to sporting events other than football, too—our softball and volleyball teams are AMAZING.

What you’ll wear

If you’re from the northeast like me, you grew up seeing people wear jerseys and jeans to football games. In the south, it’s more common to dress all the way up: think maxi skirts, matching sets, and sundresses. I recommend you invest in a clear stadium bag (you can’t bring a non-clear bag into DKR) and a good pair of cowgirl boots — I didn’t get my first pair until February of my freshman year and still cannot believe I held out that long. You’ll also see girls wearing pins from the sorority they’re in, which is one of my favorite ways to show your spirit! Keep an eye out for our football gameday outfit inspo later this summer.

Life in West Campus

Wampus is a way of life.

West Campus, North Campus, & The Drag

All 13 chapter houses are in or bordering West Campus, and whether or not you’ll be living in, you’ll likely live in the 0.3 square miles we call “Wampus” after freshman year, if you aren’t already. Some people also live in townhouses in North Campus, the tradeoff being more space and the college house experience for a longer commute to campus. “The Drag” is our nickname for Guadalupe Street, the six-block stretch bordering campus that has shopping, dining, and housing for students. 

Littlefield Fountain

The fountain that sits between the UT tower and the Capitol building is actually a WW1 memorial in honor of all the UT alumni and students who lost their lives during the war. Every year on graduation night, new graduates jump into the fountain, basically turning it into a huge pool party. It’s a moment everyone looks forward to, even if we’re simultaneously dreading what it means (graduation, impending doom, putting @texasexes in our bio).

Albino squirrel

Legend has it, if you see an albino squirrel on your walk to an exam, you’re guaranteed to ace it. Even though they’re not actually albino—they’re actually white fox squirrels—it’s probably a good idea to keep your eyes peeled on your way to class, especially if you traded studying for a trip to Barton Springs (more on that later).

Our tower

If you’ve visited campus, you’ve obviously seen the iconic UT tower, or gotten one in the mail with your acceptance letter. It usually lights up orange to celebrate a UT sports win or university accomplishment, but if you’re ever curious about why exactly it’s lit, check this website. 

The tower is currently under construction for a restoration project that will be done by the summer of 2027, so incoming freshmen, you’re in the clear when it comes to your college graduation photos in front of the tower. 

All around Austin!

Live music capital of the world, btw.

So close, yet so far out

South Congress (SoCo) is basic, but a one-stop-shop for a very quintessential Austin day. It’s basically a long street of stores, restaurants, and a vintage market; you can get your window shopping and ice cream fix in one place. Some of my favorites are Home Slice Pizza, Two Hands, and obviously taking pictures in front of the Austin motel sign. Parking and taking rideshares can get expensive, but we get access to the Austin CapMetro bus system for free with our student ID and I would encourage you to try it out! P.S., there’s a bus stop right in front of the SoCo outdoor market. 

Wampus eats

If you’re ever tired of dorm food but don’t want to drive or take the bus, Cabo Bob’s is your best bet for a huge burrito with the best mango pico you’ve ever had. Dirty Martin’s and El Patio are my friends’ favorites for casual sit-down dinners when we want to walk somewhere quick. I’ve used a saffron matcha from the Kriya truck or the vanilla chai from Lucky Lab as study motivation more than once, and Jo’s Coffee at Union on 24th has seen me at my most locked-in.

Views & vibes

Part of the reason UT is so special is how we have both a campus and a city. You should try out hiking Mount Bonnell for the best view, studying at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on the lake, and either location of ZEDS for New Zealand ice cream (you’ll probably spot me and my friends there). Barton Springs is a huge fan favorite, especially from late fall to early spring when admission is free.

Moving somewhere new for college is intimidating, but you should know you’re heading to the most supportive community in the world, not just in Panhellenic but at UT. Lean on your friends for support and let this place turn into your home away from home. I hope this eased your nerves, and as always, Hook ‘Em!

All my love,

Shreya