Texas’ live mascot, Bevo XV, won’t be making the trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game against Georgia on Saturday. The reason? There just isn’t enough space on the sidelines at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fit his enclosure safely.
Bevo’s Size Creates a Space Issue
Bevo XV, who weighs a massive 1,700 pounds and has a horn span of 58 inches, has been the face of Texas athletics since 2016. While this might come as a disappointment to fans, the SEC explained that the decision was made purely for safety reasons.
The statement from the Southeastern Conference said:
“The reality is there is limited sideline space at the stadium. We can’t jeopardize the safety of Bevo or the game participants. With the narrow sidelines, location of multiple sets for television and camera carts, there is not enough space.”
In simple terms, the sidelines are just too tight with cameras, equipment, and other obstacles to have Bevo there safely.
Flashback to the 2019 Mascot Moment
Bevo is no stranger to headlines. In 2019, during the Sugar Bowl pre-game, Bevo almost ran over Uga, Georgia’s mascot. While that caused quite a stir at the time, this isn’t the reason Bevo will miss the game.
Interestingly, Georgia’s current mascot, Uga’s son “Boom,” didn’t travel to Texas earlier this season for the Week 8 matchup between Georgia and Texas because his owner felt the trip would be too much.
A Bit of Drama in the Regular-Season Game
The Texas vs. Georgia regular-season game earlier this year had its fair share of controversy. Texas fans threw debris on the field during the game, which caused a delay. Officials overturned a pass interference call that would have upheld a Texas interception. Georgia ended up winning that game 30-15.
After the incident, the SEC fined Texas $250,000 and told the university to ban any fans involved in the throwing incident from attending athletic events next year. So far, they haven’t been able to identify anyone involved.
What’s Next?
The SEC Championship game kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, with the winner earning a first-round bye in the new 12-team College Football Playoff format. Although Bevo won’t be there, fans are still excited for what should be a thrilling matchup.
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