University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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Tusk II waits in his pig pen for his chance to escort the cheerlead¬ ers into Razorback Stadium. The live mascot has been a tradition at UA since the 1960s. PHOTOS BY DARREN MCNEILL fe KABLE A SLACKS: WhA W HOGS HoS KNOW TO r A | SE Ruckus BIG RED III In the summer of 1977, Big Red III escaped from an animal ex¬ hibit near Eureka Springs. The rowdy razorback then ravaged the countryside before an irate farmer gunned him down. RAGNAR Ragnar was a wild hog captured in Southern Arkansas by Leola farmer Bill Robinson. Ragnar killed a coyote, a 450-pound domestic pig and seven rattle¬ snakes. Ragnar died in 1978 of unknown causes. TUSK II A 450-pound Russian boar. Tusk was the closest living re¬ semblance of a true Razorback. One of three sons of Tusk I, the current mascot and his entou¬ rage brought the cheerleaders and mascots into the stadium at every home game. TUSK 25

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This Little PIGGY Went to Fayetteville LIVE MASCOT LEADS HOGS TO VICTORY IN RAZORBACK STADIUM BY MEGAN Most people are familiar with the red running Razorback that can be found across the state of Ar¬ kansas, adorning everything from hats to shirts to license plates. But some students, like senior Reece Bailey, got hands-on experience with a different kind of Razorback. A living, breathing, snorting one. Tusk II, a 450-pound Russian boar, served as the live Razorback mascot for the UA, which has had a live mascot tradition since the 1960s. Tusk is the clos¬ est living resemblance of a real Razorback, a moniker given to the lean, ill-tempered beasts that roamed the Arkansas countryside in the early 1900s. These animals are said to only exist today in the Australian Outback. Tusk was close enough to a Razorback for Hog fans though, who welcomed the boar ' s entrance into Razorback stadium with a heartfelt hog call. Tusk was driven into the stadium before every game in his own piggy palace, which also brought the cheer¬ leaders and mascots into the stadium. Tusk and his entourage circled the entire stadium, rallying Razor- back support and getting the crowd ready to cheer for the Hogs on the field. GARNER Bailey and his fellow Alpha Gamma Rho mem¬ bers were the official caretakers of Tusk, and before Tusk ' s permanent home was relocated this year, used to enjoy the duty of loading Tusk into a truck the night before the game, bathing him and escorting him to the game the next day. Loading him was fun, Bailey said. Sometimes he would get after you. It was nothing serious, but he ' s definitely a Razorback. Bailey served as the driver of the Tusk truck for two and a half years, a position he volunteered for and was proud to hold. 1 thought it would be a neat experience, Bailey said with a smile. You learn a lot, and it has been a great experience. In addition to Tusk, there were several uniformed mascots, including the original Big Red, Pork Chop and a crowd favorite, the nine-foot tall inflatable Boss Hog. But for Bailey and others. Tusk brought some¬ thing unique to Razorback players and fans. I think having a live mascot adds something, Bailey said. It ' s an intangible, until you have a live animal. It really adds to the tradition. 24STUDENT LIFE

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Ip A parked cC,r i the feature ' l! the big screen- in theaters . pealing the cheap beca , fO« prices and friendly a tm ° sp V PHOTOS SIMMONS 26STUDENT LIFE