Autumn Spectacle: Hook 'Em Horns

Hook 'Em Horns
By AutumnSpectacle.com staff E-mail

courtesy UT Ahletic Media Relations

It’s the Rose Bowl and Texas has just scored in the dying seconds to win the National Championship against Southern Cal. The strains of “The Eyes” drift toward the San Gabriels as 40,000 Longhorn Faithful in the stadium, and thousands more across the nation, sing and proudly lift the sign to the sky in triumph. “Hook ‘em Horns!”

The hand signal for the University of Texas is distinct, recognizable and it is a part of college football’s pageantry.

It started in 1955 when UT student Henry Pitts was – honestly – making shadow puppets on the wall with his friends. The likeness of the signal to UT’s Bevo inspired him to approach cheerleader Harley Clark, who led the Horn faithful at a pep rally three days later. Clark boldly instructed everyone at the pep rally that the hand signal would be used from that time forward and they responded by displaying the sign at the following day’s game. Thus, the tradition was born and it has stuck to this day.

To make the sign, simply make a fist and then raise your index finger and pinky finger at the same time. You have just made the Hook ‘em Horns.

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