Oklahoma
14
Softball
1
false
379
Friday 05/03
Arkansas Twilight
T&F - Women
Friday 05/03
Arkansas Twilight
T&F - Men
Sunday 04/28
Tennessee
Softball
Sunday 04/28
Tennessee
Softball
Sunday 04/21
NCAA Championship
Gymnastics
Friday 04/19
NCAA Championship
Gymnastics
196.150
Wednesday 04/10
Missouri St.
Softball
Tuesday 04/02
Mississippi Valley St.
Softball
Tuesday 04/02
Mississippi Valley St.
Softball
05/21 - All Day
WGF
at
First Round
05/22 - All Day
WGF
at
Second Round
05/22 - TBA
WTN
vs
NCAA Tournament Individual Singles
05/23 - All Day
WGF
at
Third Round
05/23 - 12:00 PM
WTF
at
NCAA West Preliminary
05/23 - 12:00 PM
MTF
at
NCAA West Preliminary
05/24 - All Day
WGF
at
Fourth Round
05/24 - 12:00 PM
WTF
at
NCAA West Preliminary
05/24 - 12:00 PM
MTF
at
NCAA West Preliminary
05/25 - 12:00 PM
MTF
at
NCAA West Preliminary
05/25 - 12:00 PM
WTF
at
NCAA West Preliminary
05/28 - TBA
MGF
at
TBA
05/31 - TBA
BSB
vs
TBD
06/05 - TBA
MTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/05 - TBA
WTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/06 - TBA
WTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/06 - TBA
MTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/07 - TBA
WTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/07 - TBA
MTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/07 - TBA
BSB
vs
TBD
06/08 - TBA
WTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/08 - TBA
MTF
at
NCAA Championships
06/15 - TBA
BSB
vs
TBD
06/19 - TBA
MTF
at
USA Championships
06/19 - TBA
WTF
at
USA Championships
|
Courtesy: Arkansas
Tusk: the Razorback live mascot
RELATED LINKS
| More Tusk photo galleries | ||||
| Tusk goes to 2009 RazorRock | Tusk II's Baby Album | Historic Live Mascot Photos | Tusk II at Home | Tusk II Around Town |
| Do you have historic photos of our former live mascots? Send your scanned photos to The Tusk II page, and we'll give you credit on ArkansasRazorbacks.com for your old photos. | ||||
The wild hogs known as razorbacks native to the Arkansas wilderness bear no resemblance to the typical barnyard pig of today. The untamed razorback hog was a lean, feral animal that was ill-tempered. It fought and defeated anything that crossed its path, man or beast. Turn of the 20th century outdoor magazines lauded the razorback as “the most intelligent of all the hogs and is likewise the most courageous. . . . He has a clear, farseeing eye.”
This was the mighty animal that inspired Hugo Bezdek to proclaim his team had fought “like a wild band of razorback hogs” against LSU in 1909. To read more on the Bezdek legend, click here.
Except for rare sightings in the Australian Outback, the Razorback only exists today in the form of Arkansas’ players and fans. A Russian boar, which closely resembles the wild hog of Bezdek’s day, currently serves as the official live mascot. He resides near campus, and attends all Arkansas home football games.
Tusk IV, a Russian boar, which closely resembles the wild hog of Hugo Bezdek's day, currently serves as the official live mascot. Tusk IV is cared for by the Stokes family of Dardanelle, Ark., and travels to home games and special events for the Razorbacks. Tusk IV is supported by the legacy program known as the Tusk Fund, and fans can participate by sending their support in care of the Razorback Foundation, Inc. Tusk IV enters his first full season in 2011 after debuting at the 2011 Allstate Sugar Bowl. He follows Tusk III, who is retired and still living on the Stokes' farm.
There are only a handful of universities which maintain a live mascot program, and the outpouring of support for the current Tusk from the Razorback fan base is the primary reason why the University of Arkansas continues the tradition.
The tradition of a live mascot prior to Tusk dates back to the 1960s with a series of hogs that have proudly represented Arkansas. In addition to appearances at games, they have gained a reputation for fierce behavior.
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.
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