In the SEC, tradition runs deep. The legendary conference has some of the richest history in collegiate athletics, with almost every school in the conference honoring its own long-standing rituals.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are no strangers to traditions, and many of the most iconic moments in the school's history are steeped in these practices. These traditions give Arkansas the distinct identity that defines the Hogs, which is why they each deserve credit for their role in shaping the Arkansas Razorback culture.
No. 5 - Running Through the A
Running through the A, it’s in the game! @EASPORTSCollege #CFB25 🐗🅰️ pic.twitter.com/U1tMyeCkI7
— Arkansas Football 🐗 (@RazorbackFB) June 26, 2024
Every college football team has its own pre-game tradition, and for the Arkansas Razorbacks, that tradition is Running Through the A. Composed of Arkansas' Best in Sight and Sound Marching Band members, the A forms a tunnel for the players to run through at the start of every home game -- a striking image that has become an essential part of the game-day experience at Razorback Stadium.
Like many long-time Arkansas traditions, the origin of Running Through the A is not well-documented, but it's been a part of Arkansas football games for decades at this point. While it may lack the cultural significance or inclusivity of Arkansas' best traditions, it's a must-have part of the Arkansas football experience.
No. 4 - Tusk
In most sports, live mascots aren't very common; however, if there's one exception to this trend, it's the SEC. The majority of the teams in the SEC have a live mascot, of which few are more recognizable than the Russian boar seen on the sideline of Razorback home games.
Arkansas' live-hog mascot tradition dates back decades, while the Tusk name has become synonymous with Razorback football for modern generations of fans. Over the years, generations of Hog fans have interacted with the massive porcine creature before games, making Tusk much more than just a cool visual.
No. 3 - The Battle for the Golden Boot
The Battle for the Golden Boot is a relatively new tradition in the history of the Arkansas Razorbacks, having been introduced in 1996. That said, in only 30 years, the Arkansas-LSU rivalry has gone from a longtime tradition to one of the most exciting rivalries in college sports, let alone SEC football.
Over the past three decades, the Razorbacks and the Tigers have played a long list of exciting games, many of which had direct ramifications on the SEC championship. Hopefully, first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield can bring the Battle for the Golden Boot back to its former glory -- especially considering the SEC's resident supervillain, Lane Kiffin, recently took over as LSU's new head coach.
No. 2 - Senior Walk
Many University of Arkansas traditions stem from the school's various athletic programs. Of the school's non-athletic traditions, none are more essential to the Razorback identity than the Senior Walk.
More than 230,000 Arkansas graduates have their names engraved into miles of campus sidewalks, with the tradition dating back to the university's first graduating class in 1876. The Senior Walk might seem like a small detail to those who didn't attend the University of Arkansas, but it's a major part of the atmosphere that gives the school its small-town feel.
No. 1 - Calling the Hogs
When it comes to Arkansas traditions, nothing comes even close to calling the Hogs. The "Woo Pig Sooie!" call is ingrained in Arkansans as young as they can speak, and on college gamedays, it's one of the most unique chants in sports. Nothing brings together an Arkansas crowd quite like the Hog Call, which has been a part of Razorback tradition since at least the 1920s (although no one is quite sure how the chant started).
The Razorbacks might not have the most students, the most fans, or the most funding, but if there's one thing the University of Arkansas has going for it, it's that the college has remained proud of its Arkansas roots since Day 1. Few colleges are as unabashedly unique as the Razorbacks, and in many ways, it's only fitting that the origin of Calling the Hogs remains unknown over a century later. The chant was born from the people of Arkansas, which is why it's still the most prominent tradition in school history.
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