Longhorns fans enjoyed autographs, access even without spring football game
AUSTIN (KXAN) — It wasn't how spring practices for the Texas Longhorns traditionally end, but fans still appreciated it.
Rather than an Orange-White scrimmage to culminate the spring football practice period, the program put on a day full of special events with a gameday-like experience for fans Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
While some fans KXAN spoke with were a little disappointed they couldn't see their favorite players like Arch Manning or Anthony Hill Jr. play on Campbell-Williams Field for free, they loved collecting autographs and getting their picture with Bevo XV, the Texas Longhorns' live mascot.
"I liked to see the Orange-White game and the talent we're bringing in, but either way, I'm fine with it," one fan said. "It's great. We got to be with the team, talk with them a little bit, got to be on the field ... it was a great day."
The event began at 9 a.m. and fans got there early to take advantage of a big apparel sale, Bevo Boulevard, Smokey's Midway carnival and the usual gameday experience. Children got to do NFL combine-style drills on the field, and fans had photo opportunities with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl trophy, along with head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Sarkisian decided against a spring game this season for a couple of reasons, one being the length of the season with the expanded College Football Playoff format. He wants to limit the wear-and-tear on players going into fall camps, but he also wants to make sure his younger players get a grasp of what it takes to be a college football player.
"I've got 27 new faces on my roster that I need to take time to develop," he said. "That development starts at the beginning of spring ball to understand the why of things we do."
The program had a record 12 players taken in the 2025 NFL draft that ended Saturday. At least one player was selected in all seven rounds, with tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. going first at No. 9 to the New Orleans Saints and quarterback Quinn Ewers going to the Miami Dolphins in the last round.
The Longhorns take on Ohio State, the team that beat them in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic before winning the national title, in Columbus on Aug. 30 to open the 2025 season.