Tusk Fund off to a great start

FAYETTEVILLE – Almost $7,000 was donated by the fans of the University of Arkansas to help support the care and upkeep of the Razorback Athletic Department’s live mascot, Tusk.

Through individual donations at the basketball Red-White Game and the Ole Miss football game, just more than $6,800 was raised toward the Razorback Athletic Department’s Tusk Trust Fund.

“We are grateful to the Razorback fans for their response to the establishment of the Tusk Fund,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. “Through their voluntary donations our fans are helping support our live mascot program and making it possible for Tusk to attend even more Razorback events involving our 19 intercollegiate sport programs. Our live mascot is a source of pride and we will continue to work with our fans to make sure that it remains an integral part of our tradition.”

This weekend, Tusk visits with fans before kickoff of the Homecoming game with Tulsa this Saturday. Tusk will be on the sidewalk outside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium from approximately 10 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. Tusk will also take part in the Homecoming parade on Friday evening on Dickson Street. Kickoff for the Tulsa game is 1 p.m.

Tusk currently resides on the Stokes family farm in Dardanelle, Ark., and makes a two-hour trek up to Northwest Arkansas for every Razorback football game but the establishment of the Tusk Fund could allow Arkansas’ current Razorback, Tusk II, to attend more Razorback events such as basketball, soccer, baseball and many more of Arkansas 19 intercollegiate sporting events.

Contributions to the Tusk Fund may be made anywhere Tusk appears. Those unable to attend those events may make donations to the fund through the Razorback Foundation.

Tusk is just one of three lineage live mascots in the Southeastern Conference joining LSU’s Mike the Tiger and Georgia’s bulldog, UGA, and one of just a handful throughout the country. Arkansas’ first live mascot, Tusk I was selected in 1997 and served as the Razorback mascot for eight years. Tusk II took over for his father in 2004 and remains Arkansas’ live mascot.

For more information regarding the Tusk Fund or University of Arkansas athletics please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.