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

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Thousands of fans greet the USC Trojans with a rousing Hog call. The season open¬ er brought so many fans to Fayetteville that Razorback Sta¬ dium sold out by the end of the first week of school. PHOTO BY DARREN MCNEILL use GAME 23

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Hog Fans RALLY in Razorback Nation RECORD NUMBERS OF HOG FANS FLOOD FAYETTEVILLE FOR SEASON OPENER BY JEFF HOBSON AND MEGAN GARNER As the adage says, revenge is a dish best served cold. And after giving up more points in any Razor- back game since the World War I era to the USC Tro¬ jans in 2005, the Razorbacks were embarrassed and looked to take retribution on the Trojans on their own home turf. The season opener was scheduled for Sept. 2, and in the weeks leading up to the game, fan frenzy was intoxicating with buildup for the grudge match be¬ tween the rebuilding Razorbacks and the reloading Trojans reaching heights not seen since the 1969 big shootout between the then number one Texas Long¬ horns and the number two Razorbacks. Ticket sales reflected the building anticipation, as Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium sold all 72,000 tickets for the game. Tickets were sold out by Aug. 25, only five days after classes started. The game marked only the third time Razorback Stadium had sold out since its expansion in 2001. Following the sellout, the university added 7,300 seats to the south end zone to accommodate the rising numbers of hog- wild fans planning to attend. In the end, the game brought together the largest congregation of Razor- backs to witness the Hogs play in Arkansas as 76,564 screaming fans filed into Razorback Stadium to make for one of the most electric atmospheres in Razorback history. Seasoned student veterans began camping out in front of the stadium ' s student entrance as early as the Tuesday before the game, in order to secure front row seats. Tents, sleeping bags and lawn chairs lined Stadium Drive as more and more students braved the elements for the chance to watch the Hogs up close. But even with record numbers of Hog fans cheer¬ ing them on, the Razorbacks were disappointed in their quest for revenge. The loss of star running back Darren McFadden, who was battling an off-the-field injury, was a crippling blow to the Hogs, as well as the numerous questions at the quarterback position. And while the Hogs didn ' t bring home the ba¬ con, that wouldn ' t stop the thousands of relentless Razorback fans from pouring into Fayetteville time and time again to call those Hogs and cheer them on to an amazing season. 22STUDENT LIFE

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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