FAYTTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas, home to one of the nation’s longest tenured and most recognizable live mascot programs, will celebrate the debut of Tusk V, the official live mascot of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Born Saturday, April 19, 2018, at the Stokes Family Farm in Dardanelle, Arkansas, Tusk V is the son of recently retired, Tusk IV, a Russian boar which closely resembles the type of “wild band of razorback hogs,” first described by then Arkansas head football coach Hugo Bezdek in 1909. The following year, in 1910, University of Arkansas students voted to officially adopt the new nickname changing the mascot from the Cardinals to the Razorbacks.
Tusk V officially takes over official mascot duties after his father, Tusk IV, who retired at the end of the 2019 Razorback Baseball season.
Tusk V lives on the Stokes Family Farm near Dardanelle, Arkansas. The work of caring for V is shared between Keith and his wife Julie, their daughter Abbey, their son Chip and his wife Lori, five-year-old son (Keith and Julie’s grandson), Colt and two-year-old daughter(Keith and Julie’s grandson), Caroline.
Tusk V will make a two-hour trek up to Northwest Arkansas for every Razorback football game as well as select other Razorback athletics events throughout the year. Beloved by Razorback and opposing team fans of all ages, Tusk is always the center of attention when he makes an appearance at games or other special events. Through the years, he has traveled the state and throughout the region to appear at various locations including at bowl games, Razorback Clubs and even the Arkansas State Capitol.
Arkansas’ first live mascot, Tusk I was selected in 1997 and served as the Razorback mascot for eight years.
After spending four football seasons at the Little Rock Zoo, Tusk I was moved to the Tyson Foods Farm in Springdale in 2001. In 2002, Tusk I became the father to Tusk II. Tusk I passed away in 2004 and his son, Tusk II, was moved from the Tyson Farm to the Stokes Family Farm and served as the live mascot from 2005 until 2010.
Tusk III was the brother of Tusk II and both were second-generation Russian boars. Tusk III served for only one football season in 2010. Tusk IV is the son of Tusk II and took over as the official live mascot during the 2011 football season. He recently completed his seventh season.
In 2008, Razorback Athletics created the Tusk Fund to help provide financial assistance for the maintenance and upkeep of the live mascot program. Donations to the fund provide Tusk with improvements to his facilities and most of all, create a legacy program for guaranteeing the longevity of the Razorback live mascot program. Fans interested in supporting the Tusk Fund, can do so by clicking here.
The tradition of a live mascot predates the Tusk lineage, dating back to the 1960s with a series of hogs that have proudly represented Arkansas.
Razorback fans of all ages will have the opportunity to interact with Tusk V in HogTown beginning four hours prior to kickoff of each home game. Additionally, Tusk V will lead Coach Chad Morris and members of the Razorback Football team through the official Hog Walk which will take place two hours and forty minutes prior to kick through HogTown.
For more information on Tusk V, click here or follow @Tusk_UA on Twitter.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The University of Central Arkansas Bears piled up 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on Thursday night to knock off the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 35-28 in the season opener at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
The FCS Bears downed the FBS Hilltoppers for the second consecutive time following a 28-7 win back in 2009 on the same field. This time, UCA overcame a 28-14 deficit to midway through the third quarter and put together scoring drives that covered 64 yards (7 plays), 80 yards (1 play) and 74 yards (5 plays), the latter with just 6:51 remaining, to pull off the upset again.
Two defensive stands by the Bears, the final one with just 46 seconds remaining, sealed UCA’s third victory over an FBS opponent. The Bears amassed 176 yards on just 12 plays in the fourth quarter and held the Hilltoppers to 140 yards on 24 plays and no points.
“I thought our guys fought, they believed in our plan,” said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. “Coach (Chad) Williams, Coach (Ken) Collums and Coach (Ryan) Howard, our coordinators, did a great job with their plans. Our players trusted them and that’s what it’s about in a big game like this against an FBS opponent. They’re a good football team. They’ve got a lot of good players, some really good length on the D-line.
“We had a lot of new faces that were having to learn on the fly. But man, what a great fourth quarter. And that’s something I told our guys… Last year’s team may have struggled and may have lost (the game), because we lost a lot of close ones in the fourth quarter. But I thought we learned from that and I think our guys paid attention to details and made plays when it mattered.’
The Bears, facing their second 14-point deficit of the night heading into the fourth quarter, cut the margin to 28-21 on the first play of the period when sophomore quarterback Breylin Smith hit sophomore receiver Lujuan Winningham with a 20-yard touchdown pass, his second of what would be three touchdown receptions on the night.
The Hilltoppers then missed a field goal after UCA’s defense held and the Bears pulled off a halfback pass from their own 20 yard line to tie the game. Senior running back Carlos Blackman found a wide open Lujuan Winningham in stride for 80 yards and a touchdown to make it 28-28 with 9:59 remaining.
A quick three-and-out for WKU gave the ball back to UCA at its own 26 with 8:53 left to play. Smith passed 38 yards to junior running back Kierre Crossley and 35 yards to Winningham down to the WKU 1. Blackman went in from there to give the Bears their first lead of the night at 35-28. UCA then turned to its defense, which recorded a pair of interceptions (Robert Rochelle, Duke Upshaw) but had to play the final three quarters without Upshaw, who was injured after his second career interception.
Rochell, a junior cornerback from Shreveport, broke up a pass on fourth down on WKU’s initial drive. After a UCA punt put the Hilltoppers at their own 22 with 2:30 remaining, the Bears allowed the Hilltoppers to reach the 33 before forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down.
“I thought the fourth quarter, we believed,” said Brown. “As soon as we got that game tied, then we got a big stop on the field goal, we knew we were going to take a shot with the halfback pass. Not ideal conditions to be backed up on your own (20), that’t not really where you script it to happen. But Coach Collums looked at me asked if I was good with it and I said let’s go get it. And obviously they bit on it and Lujuan was able to take it down and score.’
Winningham, a sophomore from Humble, Texas, finished with eight receptions for 222 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. He caught 12 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown all of last season. True freshman Tyler Hudson added four receptions for 59 yards and another score.
“Just two amazing athletes, two young guys,’ said Brown. “Tyler and Lujuan made them hurt and Breylin put it where it needed to be. The offensive line gave protection when we needed protection most. We made plays.’
Smith, who was playing for the first time since a broken ankle sidelined him in Game 4 of the 2018 season, was his old efficient self, completing 20 of 28 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. In the first half alone, Smith was 14 of 17 (77.8 percent) for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bears dug themselves an early two-touchdown hole after the Hilltoppers scored on their first play from scrimmage with a 68-yard touchdown run, then made it 14-0 with a 9-play, 56-yard drive at the 6:16 mark of the first quarter.
Two nice completions from Smith to Hudson, and another to Crossley got the Bears down to the WKU 6 at the close of the quarter. However, Blackman was stopped for no gain on fourth down on the first play of the second period to end the UCA threat. The Bears got on the board with 8:59 left in the half when Smith threaded a pass Winningham from 23 yards out on fourth down to close the gap to 14-7.
The Hilltoppers answered UCA’s score with a quarterback keeper from the three with 3:03 left in the half, good for a 21-7 lead. The Bears then worked their two-minute offense to perfection, aided by a pass interference on the Hilltoppers. Passes of 12 and 11 yards to Winningham set up a 4-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Hudson with :23 left, bringing the Bears within 21-14 at the half.
The Hilltoppers pushed their lead to 28-14 six minutes into the second half with a 10-yard touchdown run by Gaej Walker that capped a 7-play, 60-yard drive before UCA put together its dominant fourth quarter.
The Bears finished with 424 yards of total offense, averaging 7.3 yards per play. Defensively, transfer linebacker Malik Wilson had a team-high eight tackles, while Rochell and Isaiah Macklin had seven each.
UCA returns to the road next Saturday, facing FCS Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. Game time is 2 p.m.
Game Stats
UCA
WKU
First Downs
17
22
Total Offensive Yards
424
488
Passing Yards
404
304
Rushing Yards
20
184
Penalty Yards
6-46
6-49
3rd Downs
5-13
9-16
4th Downs
1-2
0-3
Time Of Possession
24:49
35:11
1st Quarter
UCA
WKU
12:45 – WKU – WALKER, G. 68 yd run (MUNSON, C. kick ), 1 plays, 68 yards, TOP 0:12
0
7
06:16 – WKU – SIMON, J. 5 yd pass from DUNCAN, S. (MUNSON, C. kick ) 9 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:47
0
14
2nd Quarter
UCA
WKU
08:59 – UCA – Winningham, Luj 23 yd pass from Smith, Breylin (Ray, Hayden kick ) 8 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:11
7
14
03:03 – WKU – DUNCAN, S. 3 yd run (MUNSON, C. kick ), 12 plays, 83 yards, TOP 5:51
7
21
00:26 – UCA – Hudson, Tyler 4 yd pass from Smith, Breylin (Ray, Hayden kick ) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:37
14
21
3rd Quarter
UCA
WKU
08:54 – WKU – WALKER, G. 10 yd run (MUNSON, C. kick ), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:41
14
28
4th Quarter
UCA
WKU
14:55 – UCA – Winningham, Luj 20 yd pass from Smith, Breylin (Ray, Hayden kick ) 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:33
21
28
09:59 – UCA – Winningham, Luj 80 yd pass from Blackman, Carlo (Ray, Hayden kick ) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:11
28
28
06:51 – UCA – Blackman, Carlo 1 yd run (Ray, Hayden kick ), 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:02
Coach Pickering seeks to Prepare His Team for Game with Hendrix
October 6, 1913
FAYETTEVILLE – The 23 Razorbacks who reported for practice today were put through a grueling scrimmage.
G. A. Vincenheller, star quarterback of the Arkansas team of 1899, took charge of the second team today. He will develop the offensive playing of the scrubs in order that the first team may get practice on defense.
Coach Headrick of Hendrix saw the Arkansas-Henderson game last Friday and no doubt will prepare for the Razorbacks’ attack. However, it is rumored that Coach E.T. Pickering has several surprises for the Conway bunch.
Dan Estes and E.M. Ratcliffe, both first team tackles, were out of practice today on account of injuries. Ford Dubs and Moore played their positions. A.A. Poff, fullback on last year’s eleven, who has been playing guard this year, was at fullback today. With a little practice he should get back in form. Harry Bryan, substitute guard on the 1912 team, reported from practice this afternoon. Coach Vincenheller played Hill at right guard. Night blackboard practice was started again tonight.
Picked Teams Play 11-to-11 Battle – Little Rock College Eleven Fails to Show Up
October 24, 1911
The Little Rock College team failed to show up for scrimmage practice yesterday afternoon at Seventeenth and Main streets, and the Little Rock High School squad had a game between picked teams known as Yale and Harvard, the score resulting 11 to 11. The game bore all of the earmarks of a big battle and some classy forward passes and drop kicks were made.
The squad is working hard for the game with Fordyce High School at Fordyce next Saturday. The Little Rock College team is scheduled to play Hendrix College at West End Park next Saturday afternoon.
The following is the line-up in the game yesterday (October 24) afternoon:
LITTLE ROCK — The Athletics continues to practice faithfully for the coming games. The game with Christian Brothers next Thursday will furnish a thorough line on the speed of the Athletics, as the C.B.C.’s have strengthened very materially and will have a much heavier team than last year. The Athletic admirers are confident their team will win, although the showing the Memphians have made this season justifies the statement that they will come over full equipped with confidence. Hurlburt, the New Orleans Athletic Association guard, is coaching the Christian Brothers. He will be found at that position on the visiting team. The line-up of the Memphis team has not as yet been received, but if their line has many men to equal him as to weight (216 pounds), speed and heavy playing they will have a line that would be invincible on any gridiron.
The maids to accompany Miss Narnee Martin and aid her in championing the visiting team Thursday are Misses Jamie Dunkin and Louise Wright.
Mr. Earle Thompson will handle the reigns for the Memphis sponsors.
Miss Mary Gracie will hold the Athletic colors to the win and will be assisted in championing the home boys by Misses Annie McCarthy, Elsie O’Hair and Mabel Moore.
____
U. OF A. VS ATHLETICS
The University of Arkansas team will contest honors with the Athletics on Thanksgiving Day. The boys from the Ozarks are taking everything before them having won every game they have played this season. This will be the first time the University team has been here for several seasons and they will come en masse to take the town, the girls and the football honors. The alumni of the university in Little Rock, of which there is quite a number, are taking an unusual amount of interest in the Thanksgiving game.
ARKADELPHIA – The Hendrix College Bulldogs, playing against great odds, lost to the Henderson-Brown Reddies here yesterday afternoon (November 17), 19-0. A majority of Coach Bill Headrick’s charges should have been under the care of physicians and trained nurses instead of playing football.
Here is the line on the physical condition of the Bulldogs. Herman Gossett, one of the best ends ever turned out at Hendrix, did not even get into the battle, as he was suffering from a broken shoulder.
Captain Roy Wilson at Center was unable to put up the fight he usually displays as he has a badly sprained ankle.
Hulon Holmes at end was suffering intense agonies throughout the melee from a sprained ankle and four broken toes.
Jim Wahl at fullback was considerably set back on account of muscles in his back being out of commission.
Other members of the team were suffering more or less serious injuries.
Withal, however, it must be said that the Hendrix team staged a stubborn fight. The lads were slow to take advantages of the fumbles committed by the opposing team, which accounts for a least one of the Reddies’ three touchdowns. The first quarter was Hendrix’ in every particular, but during the remaining three periods the Bulldogs played on the defensive most of the time.
Henderson’s first touchdown was made by Boone in the second quarter two minutes after play was begun. The Reddie quarterback circled left end, covering the 42 yards between him and the goal line with “Piggie” Sinclair at his heels. “Piggie” was unable to gain enough on the runner to make a tackle. Goal was missed. Score, Henderson 6, Hendrix 0.
The second half opened with Hendrix kicking, recovering the ball on its 25-yard line when the Reddies failed to make their downs. After gaining seven yards, Hendrix punted. Henderson being downed in midfield where Boone plowed through the line for the second touchdown. Boone kicked goal. Score, Henderson 13, Hendrix 0.
In the fourth quarter, Henderson carried the ball to Hendrix’ five-yard line and fumbled. Three Bulldogs apparently stood by and watched two Reddies jump upon the ball, recovering it for Henderson. On the next play, Gee carried the ball over for a touchdown. Goal was missed. Score, Henderson 19, Hendrix 0.
With the Bulldogs in condition, they probably would have held the Arkadelphians scoreless, but they would have found it difficult to score on the machine of Coach Jimmie Haygood’s. The Reddies played a charging game, very little open work being displayed. The Hendrix line crumbled under the onslaughts of the Reddies, and it was through this medium that a majority of their gains came. The Henderson backs formed an excellent interference for the runner.
The home team was penalized frequently for holding, tripping and offside plays, while Hendrix sustained few penalties, all of which were for off-sides.
Yesterday’s score was the same by which the Bulldogs defeated the Reddies at Conway last year. The teams will meet year on Russell Field at Conway.
Editor J.J. Harrison of the Hendrix Bulldog publishes in this week’s edition of that journal an all-Hendrix football team, selecting the best men who have served in the team since intercollegiate football was begun. His article on the subject appears below:
We were asked the other day to name our selection of an all-time Hendrix team. In making the following choices, we have picked a combination with a a view more to their team play than to their individual worth.
The list contains four former captains:
Left End: Charles
Left Tackle: Cunningham
Left Guard: Bishop
Center: Shinn
Right Guard: Jack Johnson
Right Tackle: Young
Right End: Harton
Quarterback: Gal Harrison
Right Halfback: Holmes
Left Halfback: Staples
Fullback: Bill James
Bill James gets the call over McCormack because of superior speed, though there is little choice even then. No one disputes the selection of Holmes and Staples. Gal Harrison gets his place by virtue of being the greatest passer and punter Hendrix ever had as well as a great field general. Young’s nerve gets him his place just as Bishop’s “head” gets him a place at guard. Most everyone will agree on the other selections. Harton would do the place-kicking and part of the punting. Charles is a great passer and his left hand shots would confuse the enemy on formation passes.
(Editor’s Note: If you are aware of first names from the story, please leave comment below. Comments are unpublished for corrections.)
Henderson-Brown and Hendrix Clash for Honors November 15
October 20, 1913
Conway Log Cabin Democrat
CONWAY – “Ole Miss,” the gridiron team which is dreaded by all southern colleges, will arrive in Conway, Saturday, November 8, for a battle with the Hendrix College football aggregation. The record on the scalping path made by “Ole Miss” this season, as well as past seasons, is a source of much pleasure to their fellow students, while on the other hand, they invariably leave many mourners behind them.
The University of Mississippi, whence “Ole Miss” hails, is one of the leading educational institutes of the south. With thousands of students from whom the coaches select the varsity’s squad, it is certain that the team will be chosen which can ably defend the uprights of their alma mater.
Hendrix continues to go through practice antics every afternoon, but there is a noticeable lack of pep and ginger among the squad, said to be caused from a dearth of scheduled games. One one game has been played by the “Bulldogs,” while other teams in the state have played several. The authorities are endeavoring to arrange a contest between the “Bulldogs” and the University of Arkansas Reserves, to be played on Hendrix field tomorrow afternoon.
Friday, the Hendrix warriors leave for Jonesboro, where they will battle with the “Aggies.” The latter team is playing excellent ball this season, and is a strong contender for the state championship honors. While Hendrix entertains no fears of being licked, the team admits it will have to look sharply to keep the “plow jockies” from “slipping one over on them.”
On the following Monday, October 27, the “Bulldogs” take on Arkansas College at Batesville. The Batesvillians have lost several games this season, but Hendrix will not go into the affair overconfident. They expect to win the battle, but at the same time, expect to have to fight for every inch.
On November 15, the most important games of the season will be played on Hendrix field, when the long time rivals, Henderson-Brown of Arkadelphia and Hendrix of the his city will entertain probably 1,500 spectators with a battle royal. This is the decisive game of the season, so far as the state championship is concerned. It is with this game in view that both the “Reddies” and the “Bulldogs” are training. The keenest possible rivalry exists between these two institutions, making the game all the more interesting from the spectators’ viewpoint. Henderson will charter a special train, bringing the entire student body, as well as a large number of townspeople with them, to cheer their pets on to victory.
State Normal Football Aggregation Defeat Catholics, 50 to 0
October 18, 1913
Conway Log Cabin Democrat Weekly
CONWAY – On the Normal ground Saturday afternoon, the State Teachers clouted the Catholics from Little Rock College by the score of 50 to 0. Never was the Normal’s goal in danger. From the kickoff, it was seen that the Pedagogues had their opponents clearly out-classed in every particular.
The Normal made its first touchdown three minutes after the referee’s whistle blew. The visitor’s line was very weak, the stocky backs of the locals ploughing through it for substantial gains.
Singleton, Goza and T. Moore starred for the Normal, while Carr and E. Mahoney were the visitors’ best players.
The line-up:
Normal
Left End – O. Wray, Gammill
Left Tackle – Foreman, H. Moore
Left Guard – West
Center – Harris
Right Guard – Hackler
Right Tackle -E. Wray
Right End – Thorp
Quarterback – T. Moore
Left Halfback – Webb
Right Halfback – Singleton
Fullback – Goza
Little Rock College
Left End – Gaines
Left Tackle – Lousch
Left Guard – Bell
Center – Mehaffey
Right Guard – Smith
Right Tackle – H. Mahoney
Right End – Wayne
Quarterback – Younger
Left Halfback – E. Mahoney
Right Halfback – Poe
Fullback – Corr
Summary – Touchdowns, Singleton 3, T. Moore 2, Webb, Goza, O. Wray; goals from touchdown, T. Moore 2; referee, Harrison of Hendrix; umpire, Wilson of Hendrix; linesman, Stubbs of Hendrix and Clark of Conway High School; timekeepers, Ehrenberger of Little Rock College and Cunningham of Hendrix; time of periods, 10 minutes each.
