Why Bevo cannot attend Texas vs. Arizona State Peach Bowl game
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Peach Bowl is on New Year’s Day in Atlanta, and Texas is playing Arizona State in the college football playoff game. But the big question is—What about Bevo? Will he be there?
Peach Bowl President and CEO Gary Stokan said he keeps getting asked why the beloved, real-life mascot has been banned from the Texas vs. Arizona State bowl game.
“When I was at the game on Saturday, the security for Bevo came up and asked me. The guy that runs the Bevo format came up and asked me. The guy's wife that runs Bevo came up and asked me, and then all the guys that are were around handling Bevo asked me,” Stokan said. “So yeah, I think that's a more relevant question for a lot of fans than the actual game.”
Stokan said the decision to bar Bevo from the game was about safety.
“I do apologize to all the Texas fans for not having Bevo at the game,” Stokan said.
He explained the sidelines at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the game is being played, were tight and that there was already so much going on.
“With the cameras that drive up and down from ESPN on the sidelines, with the cheerleaders, with the photographers, with the teams and their staffs on the sidelines, it's just really difficult to fit Bevo in there,” Stokan said.
The nearly 2,000 lbs. longhorn also wasn't allowed at the SEC championship game earlier this month.
KXAN photojournalist Todd Bynum contributed to this report.