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Arkansas Razorbacks

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Arkansas Razorbacks
Logo
UniversityUniversity of Arkansas
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionDivision I
Athletic directorFrank Broyles (men's) and Bev Lewis (women's)
LocationFayetteville, Arkansas
Varsity teams19
Football stadiumDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
ArenaBud Walton Arena
MascotBig Red, Sue E.,Pork Chop, Boss Hog and Tusk
NicknameHogs
ColorsCardinal and White
   
Websitehogwired.com

The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the all-male sports team at the university while women's teams at the University of Arkansas are generally referred to as "The Lady'Backs". The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name. The University of Arkansas student body voted to change the name of the school mascot (originally the Cardinals) in 1910 to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Since the Razorback name was already in use by the Texarkana Arkansas High School Razorbacks, the University agreed to 'use' the Razorback logo as their mascot; In turn, giving Arkansas High School used athletic equipment from the university. The Arkansas Razorbacks are the only major sports team in the US with a porcine nickname.

The University of Arkansas currently fields 19 total varsity teams (8 men's and 11 women's) in 13 sports. The 7 men's varsity sports includes baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, track and field; the 11 women's varsity sports includes basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, indoor track, swimming and diving, outdoor track, tennis, softball and volleyball. The Arkansas Razorbacks compete in the NCAA's Division I (I-A in football) and is currently a member of the Southeastern Conference (Western Division).

Current Sports

Football

Main article: 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

The school's college football team is coached by Bobby Petrino who was introduced as the new coach on December 11, 2007.[1] Petrino follows the nine season tenure of Houston Nutt who resigned November 26 after a year marked by off-the-field turmoil. The team plays its home games either at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, located on the University of Arkansas campus, or at War Memorial Stadium, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1964, the Razorbacks were the only team to go through the regular season and a bowl game undefeated, and they were awarded the Football Writers Association of America National Championship[1] (the University of Alabama, despite losing its bowl game, was named champion by the two most recognized polls — the AP and UPI — since at the time those polls awarded their championships before bowl games were played). The 1969 team, led by legendary quarterback Bill Montgomery, challenged Texas for a national championship in the Game of the Century.

All-Century Team

(selected by fan ballot prior to the 1994 season as part of the UA football centennial celebration)

Basketball

Main article: Arkansas Razorbacks basketball

The current head coach for the men's basketball team is John Pelphrey. [2] On April 2, 2007, Dana Altman was hired to be the men's basketball team coach but announced only a day later his decision to stay with the Creighton Bluejays. [3]

The basketball team play their home games in Bud Walton Arena on the University of Arkansas campus. The Hogs under the coaching leadership of Nolan Richardson won the NCAA tournament in 1994 defeating Duke University, and appeared in the championship game the following year, but were beaten by UCLA. The Razorbacks have been to NCAA Final Four in 1941, 1945, 1978, 1990, 1994 and 1995.

Baseball

The baseball team, led by former Razorback Dave Van Horn reached the 2004 College World Series, joining previous appearances in Omaha in 1979 (finished runner-up); 1985; 1987 and 1989. The team plays home games in Baum Stadium, which finished several major renovations in 2004. Baum is also currently experiencing new renovations, as new skyboxes are being added down the lines.

Track and Field

The most successful program in NCAA history, the Arkansas track and field teams, led by head coach John McDonnell are the most decorated teams in the athletics department. The program has won 40 national titles in cross country and track & field as well as 80 conference titles, including 33 straight cross country titles in the Southwest and Southeastern Conferences. Former members of the team represent a number of countries internationally and have won several Olympic and World Championships medals. The team has a home indoor track at the Randal Tyson Track Center and outdoor field at John McDonnell Field.

Arkansas was required by the NCAA to vacate the 2004 and 2005 Men's Outdoor Track championships because of infractions by a former assistant coach involving sprinter Tyson Gay.[2]

Lady'Backs

Main article: Arkansas Ladybacks

The women's teams at the University of Arkansas are referred to as Lady'Backs. These include basketball, cross country, track, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, and volleyball. The Lady'Back teams have won a combined 17 SEC championships.

Rivalries

The top rivalry for the Arkansas Razorbacks is against the Longhorns of the University of Texas, although today the Longhorns have several other rivalries that they consider more important - notably Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Texas leads the series in football, while Arkansas holds the series lead in basketball. For Arkansas, the rivalry is an emotional experience and Arkansas fans and media go into a frenzy when the two teams play in any sport. The emotional intensity from the Arkansas side in these games overwhelms and bewilders Texas fans at times, including the 2000 Cotton Bowl, where Arkansas fans outnumbered Texas fans by almost 2 to 1 in Dallas. The Razorbacks won that game, 27-6.

File:Golden boot LSU.jpg
The Golden Boot trophy is awarded to the annual winner of the Arkansas-LSU football game.

Since joining the Southeastern Conference the Razorbacks have developed a rivalry with Louisiana State University (LSU Tigers) in football. The game between these two teams usually takes place near the end of the season and has sometimes decided the SEC Western Division Championship. The winner of this game takes home the "Golden Boot" which is a gold trophy in the shape of the two states. Arkansas and LSU have also built a rivalry in baseball, as the two schools have been at the top of the NCAA attendance standings for the past several seasons. In 2001, despite coming into the series in last place in the SEC West, Arkansas swept a three-game series from top-ranked LSU, which won the 2000 College World Series, in Fayetteville.

In basketball, the primary rival for the Razorbacks has been the Wildcats of the University of Kentucky. This rivalry developed during the coaching tenures of Rick Pitino at Kentucky and Nolan Richardson at Arkansas when both teams were competing for a national championship on an annual basis. The two schools also participate in a blood drive during the week of the UA-UK basketball game, with a trophy going to the school that gives the most blood.

Inside the state of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas currently maintains a policy[4] of not competing against other in-state Division I schools[5] There are now four other Division I schools in the state of Arkansas: Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and the University of Central Arkansas 30 miles from Little Rock in Conway. Arkansas State is the only school of the three to compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision; UALR does not have football, while UAPB and UCA compete in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.

History

In 1894, 23 years after classes were first held at the university, a contest was held on campus to select school colors. Cardinal (a shade of deep red) was selected over heliotrope, a shade of moderate purple. The first Arkansas football team was formed that same year and was known as the "Arkansas Cardinals". During the first year the team racked up two wins against Fort Smith High School but took a 54-0 drubbing at the hands of the Texas Longhorns.

In 1909 the football team finished a 7-0 season allowing only 18 points on defense and scoring 186 points on offense. College Football Hall of Fame coach Hugo Bezdek proclaimed his team played "like a wild band of razorback hogs". The name proved so popular that it was changed for the 1910 season. The famous yell, “Woo, Pig! Sooie” was added in the 1920s.

In 1957 Frank Broyles was hired as head football coach and served in that position for 19 years. Broyles team was awarded the 1964 National Championship by the Football Writers Association of America and the Helms Athletic Foundation. At the time, The AP and UPI awarded the designation before bowl games, and gave the award to Alabama. However, Alabama lost their bowl game to Texas, while Arkansas won their bowl game against Nebraska. The FWAA and HAF awarded their National Championship designations to Arkansas, who was the only team to go undefeated through bowl games that year. Both the University of Arkansas and the University of Alabama claim National Championships for the year 1964. However, by the standards of today and by the standards adopted by the Associated Press for the 1965 season (when they adopted awarding the award after bowl games), the University of Arkansas would be recognized as National Champions.

In 1969 Broyles team was ranked #2 and played the #1 Texas Longhorns, coached by Darrell Royal, at Fayetteville. The game, known as "The Big Shootout" is perhaps the most notable football game in Razorback history. President Richard Nixon was even in attendance. The Razorbacks led 14-0 until the 4th quarter. Texas scored 15 unanswered points and won the National Championship 15-14.

After Broyles left coaching and became Athletic Director he hired Lou Holtz to take his former position. Holtz served as head football coach from 1977 through the 1983 season. Under Holtz the Razorbacks lost a National Championship in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama and beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl ending their National Championship hopes.

The basketball team rose to prominence in the 1970s under the coaching of Eddie Sutton and with future NBA star Sidney Moncrief along with Marvin Delph and Ron Brewer, three similarly-sized Arkansas bred guards, known as "The Triplets." The team made a Final Four appearance under Sutton, finishing 3rd by defeating Notre Dame on a last second shot in the now defunct consolation game.

In the 1980s the football team was coached by Ken Hatfield and established itself as a powerful running team. The Razorbacks challenged for the SWC title each year and went to the Cotton Bowl twice. Hatfield's teams established excellent regular season records, but had difficulty winning bowl games.

In 1990 Broyles led the Razorbacks out of the Southwest Conference and into the Southeastern Conference, setting off a major realignment in college football. In 1995 Arkansas won its first SEC Western Division Title in football.

In 1994 Nolan Richardson's basketball Hogs won the NCAA Tournament. Richardson's basketball teams challenged for the SEC and National Championships regularly during the 1990s, making three trips to the Final Four and two trips to the championship game while compiling a record of 389-169 (.697) in his 17 years as the head coach.

On 10 December 1997, Houston Nutt was hired as head football coach for the Razorbacks (1998 season was his first full season) to replace his predecessor, Danny Ford who had been head coach since 1993. Highly sought after as a Little Rock Central quarterback, Nutt had been the last recruit to sign under Broyles, but transferred to Oklahoma State once he didn't fit Holtz's offensive plans.

File:Arkansas Razorbacks logo.png
The "traditional" hog image was changed in 2000 to the newer logo.

The track and field team has been under the direction of John McDonnell for over 25 years (since the 1977-78 academic year). McDonnell's men's teams have won 40 NCAA championships since 1984, including 11 cross country, 19 indoor track and 10 outdoor track along with 37 Southwest Conference Championships, and 38 of 40 SEC titles. The Razorbacks, under his direction, won 5 National Triple Crowns, achieved by winning NCAA titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track in the same school year. Arkansas and the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) are the only teams to have ever won the National Triple Crown. The track and field Razorbacks men completely dominated the sport during the 1990s, winning 24 of the 30 available titles.

On 26 March 2007, Stan Heath was fired as the head coach of the men's basketball team. [6] On April 9th, 2007, John Pelphrey was announced as the new head coach of the University of Arkansas basketball team. Pelphrey replaced Dana Altman, who resigned after 26 hours as the head coach of Arkansas. [7]

Mascots

Tusk, the live mascot for the University of Arkansas.

There are a number of costumed mascots for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks that attend most major sporting events. Big Red (aka the "Fighting Razorback") is the traditional mascot for the University and represents the intimidating fighting spirit of the Razorbacks at all athletic events. Sue E., is the female hog and is famous for her costume changes and dancing ability. Pork Chop is the "kid" mascot. Boss Hog, a nine-foot inflatable mascot, joined the mascot family during the 1998-99 football season.

The live mascot for the University of Arkansas is named Tusk. He is a Russian boar that closely resembles a wild razorback hog and weighs in at approximately 400 pounds. Tusk attends all home Razorback football games, as well as various other events.

National Championships

Famous athletes

Football

The Razorbacks take the field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
2003 Arkansas game at Texas. Arkansas won 38 -28.

Basketball

Baseball

Golf

Track & Field

References

  1. ^ "Bobby Petrino Named Razorback Football Coach". 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  2. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3079118
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