Tusk (mascot)

Last updated
Tusk
UniversityUniversity of Arkansas
Conference SEC
Description Russian boar
First seen1994
Related mascot(s) Big Red, Sue E., Pork Chop, Boss Hog, Ribby
The original Tusk I feeding. TuskMascot2.JPG
The original Tusk I feeding.
Tusk III TuskIII.jpg
Tusk III
Tusk IV as a new mascot in September 2012. Tusk IV.jpg
Tusk IV as a new mascot in September 2012.

Tusk is the name of the official live mascot for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The current live mascot is Tusk VI. All Tusks so far have been male (female swine do not have tusks) and from the same lineage.

Contents

Tusk travels to every home football game at Fayetteville or Little Rock, certain away football games such as the annual Southwest Classic game against Texas A&M in Dallas and some bowl games, occasional home basketball and baseball games, as well as other select events (such as pep rallies). Tusk is put into a spacious cardinal red holding pen which travels through the crowds, with the cheerleaders on the upper level, making him a crowd favorite. During the actual game, Tusk is moved into Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium where he can be seen by the entire crowd. Tusk has been trained to give kisses to people who are brave enough to do so. [1]

Tusk occupies a 9,000-square-foot (840 m2) indoor facility and a 7,000-square-foot (650 m2) fenced outdoor area just outside Dardanelle, Arkansas. He uses the indoor facility to escape the heat and sun, and the outdoor facility provides him the opportunity to slop in several mud holes. One of the first things that Tusk does each day is to go straight to his mud hole for a mud bath. Since Razorbacks are extremely muscular and have very little body fat, the mud keeps him cooler throughout the day and protects him from the sun and insects. Before any official functions he must attend, Tusk is given a shampoo and wash to make sure he looks his best for the public. In 2008, Razorback Athletics created the Tusk Fund to help provide financial assistance for the maintenance and upkeep of the live mascot program.

Tusk is one of several live mascots in the SEC, including UGA, the Georgia Bulldogs mascot, Reveille, the Texas A&M Aggies rough collie mascot, Smokey, the bluetick coonhound of the Tennessee Volunteers, Bully, the Mississippi State English Bulldog mascot, Mike the Tiger of LSU, War Eagle of Auburn, and Sir Big Spur, the official live gamecock of the South Carolina Gamecocks. There are only a few other live lineage mascots in the United States.

History and genealogy of Tusk namesake

All of the Russian boars bearing the name of Tusk so far have lived on a rural farm, just outside Dardanelle, Arkansas, and cared for by the Stokes family. [2] All official Tusks so far have come from the same lineage. Tusks II and III were brothers and the offspring of Tusk I [2] which were born August, 2002, to two separate female sows. They were both Russian boars, resembled wild razorback hogs, and weighed in at approximately 475 pounds (215 kg) each.

Tusk I (1997–2004) came about when Keith Stokes, then president of the Arkansas Pork Producers Association, was approached by local Razorback personality David Bazzel to find a wild hog to be the live mascot of the University of Arkansas in 1994. [3] Stokes found a wild hog near Greenbrier, Arkansas, which became Tusk I and started the Tusk lineage beginning in 1997. [3] Tusk I then served as the Razorback mascot for eight years, spending his first four football seasons at the Little Rock Zoo before being moved to the Tyson Foods Farm in Springdale, Arkansas, in 2001. Tusk I fathered Tusk II in 2002, and died in December 2004.

Tusk II (2004–2010) took over after the death of Tusk I in December 2004 and was known to sign autographs. An actual hoof print of Tusk II was taken and applied to an ink stamp that could be used on paper or T-shirts. Kids and Razorback fans could request the stamp where ever Tusk II made an appearance. Russian boars are extremely strong and surprisingly quick and fast for their size. Tusk II repeatedly jumped over a four-foot gate, at a weight of almost 500 pounds (230 kg).

Tusk III (2010–2011) took over upon the death of Tusk II who died on January 5, 2010. [4] Tusk III was the brother of Tusk II (both sons of Tusk I), and took over for the 2010 football season as the interim live Razorback mascot because Tusk IV was still too young to do so.

Tusk IV (2011–2019) is the son of Tusk II and was born February 20, 2010. Tusk IV took over as the official live mascot beginning in the 2011 football season. [2] He was described by his caretakers as the most docile and friendly-to-humans Tusk up to that point, largely as a result of being raised and handled frequently by humans since his birth. [5] Tusk IV made news for such things as sending flowers to retiring Texas mascot Bevo upon a diagnosis of cancer. [6] Tusk died on January 12, 2020.

Tusk V (2019–2022) was born April 19, 2018, and announced as the next in the line to take over from Tusk IV in May 2018. [7] Tusk V took over during the 2019 football season, after his father, Tusk IV, retired. Tusk died on Sunday, January 15, 2023. Tusk V's final appearance at a sporting event was at the 2022 liberty bowl, which the Razorbacks won 55-53 in the third overtime. During his time in the mascot role, the Razorback Football team won two of their three bowl appearances, and the Razorback athletics program won numerous SEC championships. He was the mascot during the two most successful years in program history, with 18 various SEC championships.

Tusk VI (2022–present) is the brother of Tusk V, and son of Tusk IV. He succeeded Tusk V following his death in 2023.

Previous University of Arkansas live mascots

In addition to the Tusk lineage, the live mascot tradition dates back to the 1960s and a number of hogs have represented the university through the years. In addition to their presence on the sidelines of sporting events, some have also gained a reputation for some of their activities off the field. The animal mascot was once called "Big Red", but that name is now used exclusively for the costumed human mascot Big Red.

There are several examples of previous animal mascot hijinks, [8] [9] to include an instance where Big Red III escaped from an animal exhibit near Eureka Springs in the summer of 1977 and ravaged the countryside before an irate farmer gunned him down. Ragnar was a wild hog captured in south Arkansas by Leola farmer Bill Robinson and Ragnar was also a reigning mascot that escaped to go on an animal killing spree before eventually dying of unknown causes in 1978. On his spree, he killed a coyote, a 450-pound (200 kg) domestic pig, and seven rattlesnakes.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Arkansas</span> Public university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, US

The University of Arkansas is a public land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System. Founded as Arkansas Industrial University in 1871, classes were first held in 1872, with its present name adopted in 1899.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Razorbacks</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the intercollegiate athletics teams representing the University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville. The University of Arkansas student body voted to change the name of the school mascot in 1910 to the Arkansas Razorbacks after a hard-fought battle against LSU in which they were said to play like a "wild band of Razorback hogs" by former coach Hugo Bezdek. The Arkansas Razorbacks are the only major sports team in the U.S. with a porcine nickname, though the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas play in Division II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Van Horn</span> American baseball coach

David Kevin Van Horn is an American college baseball coach and former infielder, who is the head baseball coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Despite leading the Razorbacks to 7 College World Series Appearances, he along with Jim Schlossnagle of Texas are the only current SEC coaches with a minimum of 10 years head coaching experience who have not won a National Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Red (University of Arkansas)</span>

Big Red is the main costumed mascot of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Since 1910, the mascot is modeled after the wild razorback hog. In 1964, he was named Big Red.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Razorbacks football</span> College football team of the University of Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks football program represents the University of Arkansas in the sport of American football. The Razorbacks compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games are played at stadiums on or near the two largest campuses of the University of Arkansas System: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Sam Pittman is the head coach and has served since 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball</span> NCAA Division I mens basketball team

The Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represents the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The team competes in the Southeastern Conference and is coached by John Calipari. Arkansas plays its home games in Bud Walton Arena on the University of Arkansas campus. The Razorbacks are a top-twenty-five program all-time by winning percentage (.641), top-twenty program by NCAA tournament games played, top-twenty program by NCAA Tournament games won, top-fifteen program by Final Four appearances, and despite playing significantly fewer seasons than most programs in major conferences, top-thirty by all-time wins. Under the coaching leadership of Nolan Richardson, the Hogs won the national championship in 1994, defeating Duke, and appeared in the championship game the following year, finishing as runner-up to UCLA. The Razorbacks have made six NCAA Final Four appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2008 football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and one home game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas.[a] The Razorbacks finished the season with an overall record of 5–7 and a conference record of 2–6 in Bobby Petrino's inaugural season.

The 1992 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Razorbacks compiled an overall record of 3–7–1, with a mark of 3–4–1 in conference play, and finished in fourth place in the SEC Western Division. Head coach Jack Crowe was fired after the first game, when Arkansas lost to I-AA The Citadel. Joe Kines was promoted from defensive coordinator to interim head coach until the end of the season, when Danny Ford was hired as head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Razorbacks baseball</span> Baseball team representing the University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and is coached by Dave Van Horn. The program started in 1897, and is in its 102nd season of play in 2024. Arkansas is one of only four schools in the SEC to turn a profit from its baseball program in recent years, along with SEC Western division rivals LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

The 2001 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Razorbacks reached the 2002 Cotton Bowl Classic in Houston Nutt's fourth season as head coach.

Calling the Hogs is a tradition of University of Arkansas students, alumni, and sports fans. The origin and date of first use are not known, but is said to have started in the 1920s when people attempted to encourage a Razorback football team that was losing. The next home game produced a group who repeated the cheer often.

The 1996 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Danny Ford, the Razorbacks compiled an overall record of 4–7, with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, and finished sixth in the SEC Western Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team</span> American college baseball season

The 2010 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team represented the University of Arkansas in baseball at the Division I level in the NCAA for the 2010 season. Dave van Horn, a former Razorback player, was the coach in his sixth year at his alma mater. The 2010 club hosted and won the Fayetteville Regional, but fell in the Tempe Super Regional to the top-seeded Arizona State Sun Devils. The team was led by two All-Americans, Brett Eibner and Zack Cox.

Damario Ambrose is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Arkansas. Ambrose entered the 2011 NFL draft but went undrafted. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle Line Rivalry</span> American college football rivalry game

The Battle Line Rivalry is the name given to the Arkansas–Missouri football rivalry due to the state line between the two states dividing the North and South during the Civil War. It is an American college football rivalry game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and Missouri Tigers. The teams have met fifteen times, between November 1906 and November 2023. They have faced off twice in bowl games, first in the 2003 Independence Bowl and second in the 2008 Cotton Bowl Classic. The rivalry was formally introduced in 2014, and the Battle Line trophy was first awarded in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with one home game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Arkansas played as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was captained by quarterback Austin Allen, defensive backs Santos Ramirez and Kevin Richardson II, and offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. The Razorbacks were led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema. Bielema was fired after the final game of the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with one home game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Arkansas played as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Razorbacks were led by first-year head coach Chad Morris. They finished the season 2–10, 0–8 in SEC play to finish in last place in the Western Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Arkansas competed as a member of the West Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and were led by second-year head coach Sam Pittman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by third-year head coach Sam Pittman. Arkansas won a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for only the second time in program history, repeating the feat of the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

References

  1. ↑ "Mascots of the Southeastern Conference". Espn.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Tusk IV: A New Era for the Arkansas Razorback Mascot". YouTube . Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Arkansas Razorback Tusk Mascot Feature". YouTube . Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "Arkansas live mascot Tusk II dies". Nwaonline.com. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "- YouTube". YouTube . Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "Texas mascot gets flowers on behalf of Arkansas' hog". Wholehogsports.com. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Tusk V Next In Line Of Live Razorback Mascots". Arkansasrazorbacks.com. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Tusk: the Razorback live mascot". Arkansasrazorbacks.com. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "Five more things — all mascot". Arkansasrazorbacks.com. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.