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us at
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MASCOT
SQUAD INFORMATION
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 The
wild razorback hogs that roamed the Arkansas countryside in the early 1900s
bore only slight resemblence to the typical farmgrown pigs commonly found
at a county fair. The untamed razorback hogs were lean, ill-tempered
beasts that commonly fought, and defeated whatever crossed their paths.
Hugo Bezdek,
the first Arkansas coach hired by the school and not the students, apparently
was familiar with these animals, for Bezdek is credited with sparking the
change of Arkansas' mascot from the Cardinals to the Razorbacks.
.jpg) The
1909 season, Bezdek's second as head coach, was significant because Arkansas
went 7-0 against a schedule that included major colleges. In fact,
Arkansas outscored its opponents 186-18. The tough and gritty play
of that squad inspired Bezdek.
After beating
Oklahoma 21-6, the team traveled to Memphis for a regional showdown against
Louisiana State. A win would give Arkansas a 5-0 record and all but
assure an undefeated season. So when Arkansas blitzed the Tigers
16-0, a crowd of students and other fans gathered at the train station
to welcom their team home. Bezdek delivered an impromptu speech,
telling the crowd that the team had played "like a wild band of razorback
hogs" in the victory over LSU.
Bezdek's spark turned into a flame.
The name was an instant hit among the student body, which voted in 1910
to change the school's offical mascot from the Cardinals to the Razorbacks
-- one of the most unique mascots in all of college athletics.
Arkansas also
has a family of uniformed mascots, led by the original Big Red, the "Fighting
Razorback." Sue E. who is known for her costume changes and her dancing
skills, is popular with younger fans, as is the kid-sized Pork Chop.
Boss Hog, a nine foot tall inflatable mascot, joined the team at the end
of the 1998-99 season. Ribby The Razorback can be found at Baum Stadium
druing the baseball season. |
2008-2009 MASCOTS
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