AUSTIN, Texas — They’ve been friends for as long as they can remember.

And even though Darrell K. Royal and Frank Broyles coached at rival schools for so many years, the two always took time with each other, whether it was playing a round of golf or grabbing a quick bite to eat.

And that’s the way it’s always been.

At Saturday’s 77th meeting between Arkansas and Texas, Royal and Broyles again shared a few moments together before the game and reminisced about the past.

“It is always a pleasure when I get the opportunity to spend some time with Darrell Royal,” Broyles said in a statement released through the university. “He was an outstanding college football coach and has been a longtime friend.”

Both Royal and Broyles met at midfield prior to the game in recognition of the many great games played between the former Southwest Conference rivals. In the 1960s, the Arkansas-Texas games usually always had national championship implications.

“Anytime I’ve ever met with Frank Broyles, we’ve never had a harsh word,” Royal said. “We always had a handshake agreement and he abided by them and I always tried to, too.

“It’s always special to visit with coach Broyles.”

During Royal’s 19-year career at Texas, the Longhorns dominated the series between Arkansas, winning 15 of the 20 games that were played.

Murray Enjoys Game

Actor Bill Murray watched the Arkansas-Texas game from the sideline for most of the first half.

Murray, who was in Austin attending a film festival, said he decided to attend the game at the last minute “because it seemed like something fun to do.”

“I’ve been so busy lately, I don’t ever get to do stuff like this,” Murray said. “It’s nice to come and catch a game and just enjoy watching college football.”

Murray, who was born in Wilmette, Ill., in 1950, said it was his first time to see either Texas or Arkansas in person.

“I’m from Illinois, so I basically root for the (University of Illinois) or the Chicago Bulls,” Murray said.

Murray is most famous for his appearances in several comedic films, including “Ghostbusters,” “Caddyshack,” “Stripes,” and “Kingpin.”

Plans Changed After Ike

Fayetteville residents Bill and Jackie Curington had their plans all set for the Arkansas-Texas game, which was originally supposed to be played on Sept. 13.

But because of the destruction of Hurricane Ike near Galveston and Houston, the game was postponed until Saturday.

“We had our plans all set,” Bill said. “We were both coming down to the game and to see our daughter, Lindsay. But when the game got postponed, we weren’t sure if we were going to get to come down or not because of other commitments.”

The Curingtons were originally going to fly to Austin, but instead drove down on Friday.

“We wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Bill said.

Takin’ Care Of Bevo

Texas senior Wright Wommack wouldn’t have it any other way.

While watching every Texas home game from the sideline, he’s one of four Silver Spur Handlers that watch over Bevo, the University of Texas’ Longhorns mascot.

“He’s not too hard to handle,” Wommack said. “He usually stays in one place.”

Bevo is one of the most recognized college mascots and has even been called “the toughest-looking animal mascot in sports” by one newspaper columnist.

The current Bevo is the 14th in the line of longhorns that have been the university’s mascot.

“It’s a great experience doing this,” Wommack said. “I feel like I have the best of both worlds.”

Ol’ Smokey

Anybody who has been to a Texas football game has heard the boom.

That boom comes from an old artillery cannon that’s referred to as Smokey. The cannon is blasted during every Texas score, every kickoff and at the end of each quarter.

Smokey is only handled by students, which are part of the Texas Cowboys student organization.

“It’s awesome getting to shoot this thing,” said senior Travis Patterson, from Arlington, Texas. “I don’t get to watch the game much, so I just TiVo games and watch them when I get home.”

The current Smokey, Smokey III, weighs 1,200 pounds and fires up to four blank 10-gauge shells at a time. The cannon was built in 1988 by Lupton Machinery of Austin out of the trunk of an oak tree.

“I’m famous because of this thing,” said senior Emily Jung, from Georgetown, Texas. “This is all about tradition and it wouldn’t be a Texas football game without this cannon.”