calsfoundation@cals.org
Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas
This Day in Arkansas History
October 30, 1909
Hugo Bezdek, football coach at the University of Arkansas (UA) in Fayetteville (Washington County), was greeted by a crowd of excited students at the Fayetteville train station. His underdog team had scored a major victory on the road, defeating Louisiana State 16-0. Coach Bezdek shouted to the delighted crowd that their team had performed “like a wild band of Razorback hogs.” The crowd loved the comparison to Arkansas’s ferocious wild boar, with its ridged back and fierce fighting ability, and, in 1910, the students voted for the official university mascot to be changed from the Cardinals to the Razorbacks.
Browse the Encyclopedia
Entries
Media
About the Encyclopedia
The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.
Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!
See Overview