The Razorbacks mascot is a beloved symbol of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, representing the university's sports teams and school spirit. The mascot, an anthropomorphic razorback hog, has become an iconic figure in both the university and the state of Arkansas. The selection of the razorback as the university's mascot dates back to the early 20th century. The term "razorback" is often used to describe wild hogs that inhabit the backwoods and hills of Arkansas. Known for their toughness, resilience, and tenacity, the razorbacks are a fitting representation of the university's athletic teams. The first appearance of the razorback as a symbol for the university can be traced back to a 1910 football game against LSU.
Razorbacks Hogs
Arkansas was known for its razorback hogs long before the University of Arkansas mascot came into being. These wild boars were called razorbacks because of their high, hair-covered backbone and ill-mannered temper. The razorback hog was considered ruthless and dangerous when backed into a corner.
The true wild boar, also called the European or Russian boar, is not native to the United States. Christopher Columbus introduced their domesticated ancestors to the New World in 1493. Wild boars are thought to have arrived with explorer Hernando de Soto, who brought the original thirteen grunting hogs to the new world in 1539, though this theory has lately been cast into doubt by Charles Hudson, who reconstructs de Soto’s path in his book, Knights Of Spain, Warriors Of The Sun (University of Georgia Press, 1997).
Domestic swine arrived in Arkansas with the first settlers. Many escaped from their pens and headed for the hills, where they established breeding grounds and roamed town streets. Over time, these feral pigs interbred with their wild counterparts and became what we now call “wild boars.” Settlers would trap the hogs in large pens and take them to market. This practice continued into the twentieth century, but the Depression forced many farmers to leave their country lifestyle for a more stable life in town. Today, feral hogs are present in more than fifty Arkansas counties.
The most common color for feral hogs is black. Boars have long, bristly hair, high shoulders, a sloping rump, long, skinny legs, and small hips. The massive wedge-shaped head with short, hairy, erect ears ends in a pointed snout. The nose is almost round and looks and feels somewhat soft but must be one of the most efficient rooting machines of any animal. Boars dig up fields of crops with ease.
A mature male is 4′ to 5′ long and weighs 150–300 pounds. Females are slightly smaller. The boar has long tusks. The upper tusks rub against the lower ones and sharpen them. The boar’s body armor of fat, gristle, and tendons can be more than an inch thick. It starts around the neck and extends just past the lower ribs.
Boars adapt to various habitats as long as there is a reliable source of water. If they have a weakness, it is a low tolerance for heat. They make “wallows” to cool and protect themselves from insects and lice. A lot of the wild hogs in Arkansas are found in swampy terrain.
Wild boars are intelligent, equipped with keen senses, swift, wary, easily agitated, and aggressive when cornered. They can move thirty-five miles per hour and are constantly on the move, even when feeding.
Problems with wild hogs are numerous. They uproot plants and will eat anything they can catch, including young mammals. They destroy terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, ruin water holes used by other wildlife, and contribute to erosion and siltation, which can degrade water quality. They can transmit brucellosis and other diseases to domestic animals. There have been cases in Arkansas of feral hogs transmitting brucellosis and trichinosis to humans.
Despite the problems hogs cause, they provide great hunting opportunities for the expert hunter. There are still wild hogs roaming free on Arkansas Game and Fish and federal hunting lands.
For additional information:
“Feral Hogs.” Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/feral-hogs/ (accessed July 27, 2023).
Foti, Thomas, and Gerald Hanson. Arkansas and the Land. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1992.
Lancaster, Bob. “The Adelantado’s Pigs.” Arkansas Times, January 1986, 65–76.
“Laws and Regulations Governing Feral Hogs in Arkansas.” University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-9106.pdf (accessed July 27, 2023).
Tina Easley
Paragould, Arkansas
Five more things -- all mascot
While the University of Arkansas is on spring break, ArkansasRazorbacks.com is giving viewers a chance to learn more about Arkansas Athletics with a special series of 25 Things About the Arkansas Razorbacks You Might Not Know. For the five days, we’ll have installments of five different noteworthy factoids about Arkansas Athletics.
Day 1
:
Wired Razorbacks ||
Day 2: We’re Top 25 ||
Day 3: Arkansas and the SEC
Day 4: A Mascot Like No Other ||
Day 5: America’s Best Facilities
| #16 – The One and Only Lions, Tigers and Bears – but oh my there is only one Razorback in college athletics. Perhaps the most distinct and unique college mascot, the Razorback is considered one of the top sports icons not just in the United States, but world wide. Any Razorback fan who has traveled the globe knows that wearing the distinctive classic hog on a shirt or hat is guaranteed to draw a Woo Pig Sooie in airports or city streets. In Division I sports, there literally is only one Razorback, and on the world stage, we only know of a few other sports franchises that use the name: a semi-pro German football squad, Sydney, Australia’s, pro basketball team and the North Queensland Razorbacks of the New Zealand soccer league. |
| #17 – Mess With the Hog and You Get the Tusk Tusk II is the current Razorback mascot, a strapping Russian boar. His predecessors in the role of Head Hog have quite a reputation. As a result, the Razorback mascot is often listed in the top two or three most dangerous mascots in all of sports. Former mascot Big Red III escaped from an exhibit near Eureka Springs in the summer of 1977 and ravaged the countryside before being gunned down by an irate farmer. Another live mascot, Ragnar, was a wild hog captured in south Arkansas by Leola farmer Bill Robinson. Before Ragnar’s spree was done, the mighty animal had killed a coyote, a 450-pound domestic pig and seven rattlesnakes. Ragnar died in 1978 of unknown causes. |
| #18 – Our Mascot Isn’t Plush Sure, Big Red – the official spirit squad mascot – and the Razorback family – Sue E, Pork Chop and Boss Hog – are friendly folks, but the real Razorback isn’t a Styrofoam cartoon character. Only a handful of colleges and universities that maintain a live mascot, Tusk II is the second generation Russian boar which serves as the ambassador for Arkansas Athletics. Cared for by the Stokes family of Russellville, Ark., Tusk travels to home events and special appearances for the Razorbacks. A legacy program is underway to insure future Tusks. Razorback fans who wish to contribute to the support of the live mascot can make donations to the Tusk Fund, care of the Razorback Foundation, Inc. |
| #19 – The Legend of the Hog Hat It is true; no Razorback fan’s closet is complete without an official Hog Hat. The original style was a hard plastic hat with a long snout, rough razorback ridges across the top and wickedly sharp, pointed curly-cue tail. The modern versions are often sculpted from softer material. Regardless, the Hog Hat is undoubtedly the most recognized piece of fan apparel in college athletics. Just ask ESPN GameDay’s Kirk Herbstreit as he dons the traditional Hog Hat. |
| #20 – 100 Years of Razorbacks When football coach Hugo Besdek stepped of the train at the Fayetteville station in the late fall of 1909, the proclaimed the Arkansas football team played like a wild bunch of Razorbacks. Alluding to the Razorback, characterized by a ridge back and tenacious, wild fighting ability, Bezdek never forgot this idea and often called his team “a fighting band of Razorbacks.” This new nickname became increasingly popular and the student body voted to change the official University mascot from the Cardinal to the Razorbacks Next year, 2009-10 is the 100th anniversary of the mascot change. |
Arkansas Traditions
A few things we've grown fond of since 1871.
We're proud of our many fun and unique traditions at the University of Arkansas. Here are just a few of the traditions that have shaped the U of A's distinct identity and have united generations of students.
The first appearance of the razorback as a symbol for the university can be traced back to a 1910 football game against LSU. The student manager of the team, Mike C. Connell, bought a live razorback hog to the game and paraded it around the field.
How we became the Razorbacks
There are dozens of Lions, Tigers and Bears, but in all of college athletics there is only one Razorback – but it wasn't always that way. The university's teams were known as the Cardinals until Arkansas football coach Hugo Bezdek fatefully called his players "a wild band of Razorback hogs" after a big win over LSU in 1909.
The Razorback, characterized by a ridge back and its tenacious, wild fighting ability, immediately became a popular nickname, and one year after coach Bezdek's statement, the student body voted to change the official mascot to Razorbacks.
The sight of the hog running wild sparked enthusiasm among the fans, and from then on, the razorback became closely associated with the university's sports teams. Over the years, the razorback hog mascot has undergone various updates and redesigns. The current mascot costume features a robust and muscular hog wearing the university's colors of cardinal red and white. The mascot's presence at games and events ignites excitement and pride among students, alumni, and fans alike. The razorbacks mascot not only represents the university's athletics but also embodies the spirit and values of the university community. The characteristics of the razorback, such as strength, determination, and fearlessness, mirror the qualities that the university instills in its students and athletes. The razorback mascot plays a vital role in fostering a sense of unity and school spirit among the university's students and fans. Whether it is leading cheers, interacting with fans, or representing the university at various events, the mascot serves as a visible and energetic ambassador for the university. In conclusion, the razorbacks mascot holds a special place in the hearts of the University of Arkansas and its supporters. It symbolizes the university's athletic prowess, its dedication to excellence, and its unwavering spirit. The mascot represents more than just a sports team or a symbol; it represents the pride and traditions of the university and its community..
Reviews for "From Pigs to Pride: The Story Behind the Razorbacks Mascot"
1. John - 2/5 stars
I was really disappointed with the Razorbacks mascot. It just didn't live up to my expectations. The design was lackluster, and it didn't convey the spirit and energy of the team. The choice of a razorback pig as a mascot was also questionable, as it didn't feel intimidating or representative of a winning team. Overall, I found the mascot to be underwhelming and a missed opportunity for the team.
2. Lisa - 1/5 stars
I cannot understand why the Razorbacks chose such a ridiculous mascot. The whole concept of a pig with razorback spikes is just odd and doesn't make any sense to me. It's not exciting or inspiring in any way. The costume design was also poorly executed, with the overall appearance looking cheap and amateurish. The Razorbacks deserve a more fitting and professional mascot that can truly represent their strengths as a team.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars
As a fan of the Razorbacks, I have to say that I'm not a fan of their mascot. I find it to be unoriginal and uninspiring. The generic pig with razorback tattoos feels cliché and doesn't add any value to the team's brand. I was hoping for a more unique and memorable mascot that would make a real impact during games and events. The Razorbacks should consider revisiting their mascot choice and aim for something more distinctive and engaging.