The University of Texas Longhorn Band The University of Texas Longhorn Band , also known as the Showband of the Southwest or LHB , is the marching band of The University of Texas at Austin . The Longhorn Band was founded in 1900 by a distinguished professor of chemistry , Dr . Eugene P . Schoch . The band is currently under the direction of Dr . Robert Carnochan and associate directors Dr . Scott S . Hanna and Mr . Anthony Marinello . The band performs at all in - state football games , for various Texas Longhorn Athletics teams , and at special pep rallies and parades throughout the year . The band includes about 350 students , all of whom must register for a year - round course offered by UT ' s School of Music . On - Field Performances . The Longhorn Band performs a different show at each home football game throughout the year . These shows include ' Traditional Shows ' , which feature signature music and drill , and ' Non - Traditional Shows ' , which feature contemporary music and a modern marching style . Curl - on entrance . The curl - on entrance is a traditional entrance in which the marchers enter from both east and west sidelines . To reach this position , the section is positioned on the field , divided in the center , and then the marcher closest to the sideline begins a spiral towards the nearest end zone until all marchers are in a tight spiral with the last marcher on the sideline . This entrance is utilized for Wall - to - Wall Band performances , as well as other special occasions . Marchers enter with a Taps 8 to 5 stride , but adjust to a 6 to 5 interval for downfield marching . " Execution " After 4 whistles , the percussion will play eight " dead beats , " during which time the band remains at attention . The function of these 8 counts is to establish tempo in a noisy stadium . Following the 8 dead beats , the person on the sideline leads on the marchers to the field . Marchers kick off from the sideline every two steps . After a designated number of counts , a 9 - count halt cadence will be played . Traditional Shows . Script Texas . First performed in 1957 , " Script Texas " is a traditional halftime show performed every year . The Drum Major leads the band onto the field in a single - file line , spelling " Texas " in script writing . The band is split into two blocks at the start of the performance and begins by playing " The Yellow Rose of Texas . " The Drum Major marches over to the front of block one and block one begins spelling out the T - E - X of " Texas " . They only spell out the bottom part of the T and the / of the X , though . While the first block follows the Drum Major out onto the field , the color guard who are in block one march in a large circle to the side of the band before putting the top on the T after block one has marched to their positions . At the end of " The Yellow Rose of Texas , " the band goes straight into " March of the Longhorns " and the rest of " Texas " is spelled out . Once " March of the Longhorns " is over , " Calypso " starts and the Drum Major leads the Saxophones , who are by themselves , into an arc that comes down and below A and S . This concludes Script Texas , and " Texas Fight " is played while the band marches off of the field . Wall - to - Wall Band / Shotgun Texas . " Wall to Wall Band " is another traditional drill performed annually by Longhorn Band . The drum line starts in the end zone while the band is off on each of the sidelines curled into spirals . The drum line marches onto the field , playing a cadence while the band usually jumps up and down over on the sides . After the drum line reaches their starting position , the Drum Major calls the band to attention , followed by another cadence that brings the band onto the field . The spirals are unrolled and the band marches straight down the yard lines and form into fronts . A roll off ensues , and " March Grandioso " begins . Every six counts , parts of fronts step off , marching in a six - to - five step , and form less dense fronts that still span the width of the field . Half way through " March Grandioso , " the band halts for 4 counts of silence , followed by a proclamation to beat the hell out of Texas ' opponent . The band then continues down the field playing the rest of " March Grandioso " and transitioning straight into " March of the Longhorns . " Once a front reaches the opposite end zone , a counter - march is performed to bring the band back the way it came . Before the counter - march , the Longhorn band covers the entire football field , putting meaning to the name Wall - to - Wall band . At the trio of " March of the Longhorns , " the band contracts into larger fronts that span the width of the football field , then condense into smaller ones that span a little more than the distance between the hashes . At the end of " March of the Longhorns , " Wall - to - Wall Band is officially finished , though it is typically followed by Shotgun Texas , in which several condensed fronts quickly shift to spell " TEXAS " in block letters . To start Shotgun Texas , another roll off starts and the band goes straight into " Texas Fight . " After the Intro of " Texas Fight , " the band spells out each letter of " TEXAS , " leaving the fronts every 8 counts of " Texas Fight . " In 2007 , a twist was added to Shotgun Texas where , during the Interlude of " Texas Fight , " the Longhorn band flipped the " Texas " from its traditionally facing west direction to spell it to the east side for the student section of the stadium . After the Interlude , the band marches off the field , concluding Shotgun Texas . Pregame . Prior to kickoff at all home football games , the band marches through the north tunnel and fills the north end - zone with fourteen fronts . Instruments are held above the heads of the band members while they march in before coming down to play the fight song . The fronts cross the field using a modified high - step , called Taps Stride . The fronts march through the duration of " Texas Fight " and 8 counts afterwards , then halt and perform " Eyes Fanfare " to the east , north , and finally west side . This fanfare was composed and arranged by Randol Alan Bass originally titled " Fanfare 75 " some 32 years ago . Afterwards , the band begins " Texas Fight " again and marches the rest of the way down the field , turning once each front hits the 15 yard line and performing a counter - march toward the opposite end zone until stopping at the end of " Texas Fight . " After a short role off , a shortened version of " March of the Longhorns " begins and the fronts then adjust to form an interlocking UT . The band stays at this position for announcements , the opponent ' s school song , and finally " The Star Spangled Banner " is played . Since some opponents travel long distances , they can ' t bring their band . If this is the case , the Longhorn band plays the opponents school song . After " The Star Spangled Banner " and the presentation of the colors , the band starts " Deep in the Heart of Texas " and marches to form a block T . After " Deep in the Heart of Texas , " the sideways block T is then floated toward the south end zone while the band plays " Calypso . " About a third of the way through " Calypso , " the band halts and faces toward the 25 or 35 yard line . Normally , the top of the T stops at the back of the south end zone . However , due to stadium construction , for the 2007 season , the visiting team uses a locker room at the south end of the stadium , so the band stops at the front of the end zone to give the visiting team room to run to their side line . Once stopped , there are a few more announcements that take place , followed by the possible performance of " March Grandioso . " " March Grandioso " is only played if enough time is left before the football team comes out . If not , the band goes straight into " The Eyes of Texas . " Right after this , a short video is shown , followed by the entrance of the football team , accompanied by " Texas Fight . " After this , the band marches through the south end zone before entering the stand for the game . Non - traditional shows . The Longhorn Band performs four non - traditional shows each year . The band typically selects music that highlights a wide variety of musical artists and thematic ideas . The music and drill for these performances are arranged by current and former staff of the University of Texas School of Music . Thanks to the high general level of musical talent in the Longhorn Band , complex arrangements of popular tunes appear many times every year . Selected recent non - traditional shows Traditional songs . In attendance at all home and away football games , the band performs signature songs . Many have been rooted in the band for many years . Traditionals as played by the Longhorn Band . Features . Big Bertha . The band features Big Bertha , which is considered to be the world ' s largest bass drum . The drum is managed by the Bertha Crew , sometimes called " drum wranglers " . The crew moves the drum around the field during performances , and twirls it when the team scores . Big Bertha was nicknamed the " Sweetheart of the Longhorn Band " when it arrived at The University of Texas campus in 1955 . In 1955 , the director of the Longhorn Band was Colonel D . Harold Byrd who purchased " Big " Bertha from the University of Chicago , then for only one dollar . Big Bertha performs in the traditional Longhorn Band pregame show performed before kickoff at every home game . She also performs in ' Script Texas ' , another LHB traditional show . She makes appearances at other events , such as appearing outside Gregory Gymnasium before volleyball games . Cowbells . During football games , members of the Longhorn Band shake cowbells to create noise in the stadium while the opposing team has the ball . The bells are rung only after the opposing team snaps the ball or in conjunction with drum cadences . When the opposing team is in the " red zone " , the drumline will , at times , call a cadence that simply calls for the band to create as much noise as possible with the cowbells . Pep band . While the entire band traditionally travels to all in - state football games and bowl games , a smaller pep band composed mainly of section leaders is taken to out - of - state games . Basketball / Volleyball Band . The Basketball / Volleyball Band is technically a separate ensemble from the Longhorn Band , but falls under the same umbrella of leadership and shares many members with the Longhorn Band . Supporting organizations . The band is supported by a service fraternity and sorority , Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma , respectively . Instruments . Rather than mellophones , baritones , and tubas , LHB has Mellos , SOB ' s ( Society of Baritones ) , and TUBA ! s . Also , the band does not march flutes , only piccolos or Piccs . The Longhorn Band Student Association . The Longhorn Band Student Association ( LHBSA ) is the group responsible for organizing student activities within the Longhorn Band . Its main purpose is to serve the Longhorn Band by helping members become acquainted and accustomed to working with one another . The LHBSA - is a registered student organization with the U . T . Dean of Students office . Membership is open to any Longhorn Band member , and the active fees are determined by the members each year . The LHBSA sponsors social events throughout the year and the annual Longhorn Band Awards Banquet in the spring . The officers of LHBSA are collectively termed the Band Council . Election of officers is held during the spring semester at a general meeting of the members of the LHBSA . The Freshman Advisors are elected by the LHBSA members during a general meeting in the fall . The Presidents of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are elected by their respective organizations and the Drum Major is determined by audition . Freshman Representatives are elected by the first year members of Longhorn Band at a special meeting following the posting of the final Longhorn Band audition results . The Parliamentarian , if deemed beneficial , is appointed by the President . Kappa Kappa Psi . Kappa Kappa Psi is a National Honorary Band Fraternity dedicated to serving the needs of the university and college bands . In May 1940 , thirty members of the University of Texas Longhorn Band , under the direction of Colonel George E . Hurt , petitioned the national office of Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity for a chapter . The charter was granted , and the local chapter was given the name Alpha Tau Nu . Later , this was changed to Alpha Tau . Alpha Tau has remained consistent over the past 51 years and has on average 40 members . Over the years , Alpha Tau has also been recognized as one of the top chapters in the nation , having been selected third in the nation at the 1969 National Convention . The 1970 and 1989 District Conventions and in part the 2001 National Convention were hosted by Alpha Tau . The chapter serves the band through various means : setting up and tearing down all equipment during practice , moving equipment to and from the stadium on game days , serving water during practice , service projects , and community projects . Kappa Kappa Psi hosts The Longhorn Band Golf Classic in May with help from LHBSA ( Longhorn Band Student Association ) . The tournament has been held at the UT Golf Club and River Place Country Club in the past and will be held at Shadow Glen Golf Club , Sunday May 2 , 2010 . The event raises money for KKY and LHBSA . These are non - profit organizations and all proceeds go toward funding the activities of The Longhorn Band . Past participants have included Mack Brown and Colt McCoy . Tau Beta Sigma . Tau Beta Sigma is the National Service Sorority for College Bandswomen . On March 8 , 1957 , the Beta Gamma Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was founded at the University of Texas at Austin under director Vincent R . DiNino and his wife Jane DiNino . The members of Tau Beta Sigma are dedicated to serving the Longhorn Band and can be found repairing uniforms , serving water at football games , and carrying a sewing / medical kit during games and rehearsals . The Beta Gamma chapter is also very active in the Austin community . Each year , the chapter adopts a local high school band with a small program in need of encouragement . TBS and other band members attend multiple home games each year . They perform in the stands with the high school band . Each year before the high school competes in UIL Marching competition , the Beta Gamma chapter decorates their band hall to show encouragement . Along those same lines they attend the high school ' s concerts to promote growth in the band program and encourage students to stick with music . The chapter has also participated in marathons each year , runs drives to collect items for the Peace Corps , works with Habitat for Humanity , the Women ' s Shelter , the Humane Society , Girl Scouts , and has also been involved with UT ' s Relay for Life . As their main form of fundraising , the Beta Gamma chapter is in charge of creating and selling Longhorn Band merchandise . These sales are known as " hall sales " in which LHB Shirts , CDs , picture frames , cowbells , and more are sold in the hall of the Music Building outside of the band hall by the treasurer and her committee . These " hall sales " take place on game days , as well as at Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest in the spring . Traditions . " The Newman Beanie " . After audition results are posted , the new members are presented with the traditional Longhorn Band Newmember Beanie . There is then a contest held to see which of the new members can consecutively wear the beanie to practices the longest . The male and female new members who wear their beanie the longest are traditionally rewarded with a steak dinner . " Shake the Fringe " . Performed in conjunction with certain drum cadences , " Shake the Fringe " refers to the effect that results from a Longhorn Band member moving their shoulders back and forth in quick , violent motions . The " Fringe " of the uniform then flails wildly in the air . " Home on the Range " . Sung during the last two minutes of every home football game , the members of the Longhorn Band place their arms around each other , begin swaying from side to side and then jump up - and - down as they sing their own colorful take on a traditional state song : " Home , home on the range , " " where the deer and the antelope play with themselves . " " Where seldom is heeeeeeeaaaaard , " " a discouraging woooooooooooord , " " and the skies are not cloudy all day . [ Hey , hey , hey ] " The tradition started in the 70 ' s when the band would often sing dirty songs in the stands . The director at the time yelled at the band to sing something nice like " Home on the Range " , and so the version now sung was created . " Hup . . . hup . . . hup " . Innocent and unsuspecting pedestrians may find themselves as objects of entertainment for the Longhorn Band members . After targeting an individual , LHB members will yell " hup " every time the target takes a step . Once the individual realizes what is happening they typically adjust their strides in an effort to confuse , trick , evade , or hoodwink the band . The " hups " continue until the individual stands still , at which point the band lets out a long " sigh " , or if the individual trips and falls down . In The Stands . The Longhorn Band follows many traditions while in the stands for Longhorn football games . Most of all , all members stand for the entire game and yell before every play in conjunction with ringing their cowbells . Numerous times throughout the game , the " Texas ! . . . Fight ! " chant is yelled by the entire stadium . Also , the drumline plays cadences between almost every play , all of which are accompanied by dancing or chanting , such as " Go , Horns , Go " , " Where my horns at ? " , " Defense ! " , and " Texas , Texas , yeehaw ! " Spring Banquet . Each spring , usually the first weekend in May , the Longhorn Band Spring Awards Banquet takes place . This event is not only a celebration for a great year but it also serves as the event that passes the torch to the next generation of LHB by the presentation of scholarships and traditional honors such as : President ' s Ring . One tradition of LHB is the " Passing of the President ' s Ring . " During this ceremony , which takes place at the annual Spring Banquet , the former Band President presents the ring to the new President . The tradition began at the close of World War II when the parents of Curtis Popham , Longhorn Band Drum Major , who was killed in the war , gave Curtis ' University ring to the Band for this purpose . Drum Major ' s belt buckle . The Drum Major ' s belt buckle is passed on to the new Drum Major at the annual Spring Banquet . Engraved on the back are the names of past Longhorn Band Drum Majors beginning in 1969 . Longhorn Alumni Band . The Longhorn Alumni Band , or LHAB , is composed of former members of the Longhorn Band . The Longhorn Alumni Band plays at many services and dinners in the Austin area as well as Alumni Band Day . On Alumni Band Day , many of the former band members come together for a special halftime performance during one of the football games . During Alumni Band Day , LHB and LHAB share the field , numbering over 1 , 000 members for their performance . The Alumni Band Association is the largest in the world , with 2 , 600 members among its ranks , scattered across seven countries . Awards and honors . In 1974 , the Longhorn Band was selected to perform at Super Bowl VIII in Houston , Texas . In 1986 , the Longhorn Band was awarded the prestigious Louis Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy . The Longhorn Band was selected and performed for inauguration s of President s Theodore Roosevelt , John F . Kennedy , Lyndon B . Johnson , Ronald Reagan , George H . W . Bush and the two inaugurations of George W . Bush . Honorary members . On May 7 , 2007 , the Longhorn Band presented Coach Mack Brown and Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds with Honorary Membership for their outstanding spirit , pride , and leadership . The Honorary Membership award was established by past KKY President Eddie Lopez .