Why Fayetteville Rules: The Hog Call
Lots of colleges have unique traditions. Dotting the I at Ohio State. Hook ‘em Horns in Austin. Perennially sucking at Ole Miss.
But of all the unique traditions in college athletics, there is no tradition more unique / slightly awkard / totally awesome than the Hog Call at the University of Arkansas.
While the Hog Call really belongs to all of Razorback nation, the Hog Call capitol of that nation would be Fayetteville Arkansas, and no matter where you stand on the great stadium debate, the Hog Call is primarily performed at Reynolds Razorback Statium, Bud Walton Arena, and Baum Stadium and all three of those places are in Fayetteville, so as far as we’re concerned, the Hog Call is another reason Fayetteville rules.
Since the 1920’s, Razorback fans have been weirding out opposing teams and their fans with the unique cheer, and firing up the Razorbacks at the same time. According to the Arkansas Alumni Association, the cheer stated with a group of farmers back in the 20’s, who started performing the chant to encourage the team. It caught on pretty fast, and before long it was organized, modified, perfected, and now you can catch about 75,000 people doing it in unison every Saturday during the fall.
The Hog Call is performed all over the world. A quick search for it on youtube will find people doing the hog call all over the place, including one video of kids calling the Hogs in Nkwanta, Ghana.
There are three stages that someone growing up a Razorback goes through with the Hog Call.
- The beginning stage: As a kid, you think it’s probably the coolest thing ever. During that stage, your parents make you do the Hog Call at parties and family gatherings. Your out of state relatives think it’s weird, but they go with it. Your parents’ friends think it’s awesome.
- The Middle Stage: This stage is akin to adolecence. During this stage, you realize how ridiculous you must look doing the Hog Call. You don’t raise your arms all the way up, and you just kind of lip-synch the “woo” part. During the middle stage, you feel a little self conscious of the weird looks you get from opposing fans. You also have really bad acne, and your voice cracks, and your hormones are all out-of-whack. Also, your parents don’t understand you at all.
- Full Hog Call Acceptance: This is the final stage of doing the Hog Call. At this point, you are probably losing some of your hair. You are a Razorback freak. You check scores on your phone at weddings. You think it’s awesome when your friends’ kids do the Hog Call at parties. And you scream all three rounds of “Woo Pig Sooie.”
No matter what stage of acceptance you’re in when it comes to the Hog Call, if you live in Fayetteville or you’ve lived here at some point, you have to admit that the Hog Call is absolutely the most unique cheer in sports, and one of the many reasons that Fayetteville rules.
Comments
The Fayetteville Flyer doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy.
By Duke McDingo on December 9th, 2008
So true, Steve. There was a time when I was in that “adolecence” stage, too. But what is important to know about the hog call is there’s no half way; you have to commit. You either look like a completely confident raging idiot (totally cool), or a self-conscious nancy boy. You have to sell it.
Side note: another “tradition” at Ohio State besides dotting the i is losing to SEC schools.
By jones on December 9th, 2008
I guess I would be considered in the Middle stage, if I am in a stage at all. I don’t do the hog call, it makes me feel like a dumbass. Question my love for the razorbacks all you want, I don’t care. I am glad other people have a good time with it, but I choose to cheer for my team in other ways.
By George on December 9th, 2008
Hog Call at Razorpig Sporting Events = Awesome! I’ll admit I think it’s a little goofy. But the look of annoyance on opposing fans’ faces is truly priceless. That makes it all worthwhile for me.
Hog Call at Events Other Than Razorpig Sports = Douchebaggery! That’s right, I’m talking to you D-bag McGees who did the Hog Call to get the Foo Fighters to come back on stage for an encore. Apparently the same thing happened at the John Mayer concert. From what I hear, Grohl took it in stride, but Mayer was kind of freaked out. That’s effing embarrassing. I neither condone nor understand such activity.
By Lankford on December 9th, 2008
While I could care less what other people think I look like while doing a hog call (especially D-bag McGee himself, John Mayer), I definitely think that 90% of hog calls are done at the wrong time. One example is at a basketball game, there’s one minute left, we’re down by 1 point, and the opposing team is shooting a free throw. We need noise in general and lots of it, not Gregorian farm chants. It’s just my opinion that we need to save the hog calls for pre-game, half-time, timeouts, etc.
By Beebs on December 9th, 2008
Lankford I totally agree. They have to happen at the right time for me to get involved. In the heat of the game when the team needs a boost: bring it on. I’m calling. In a bar, at a church, or in a meeting: not so much. Why people think that out-of-towners will enjoy the woo noise and fingers flying in the air is beyond me.
By Nisc on December 15th, 2008
I think there are very few celebratory moments where Hog Calling is not appropriate: games, weddings, at the bar, at J. Mayer concerts (although you should be more ashamed of being at a J. Mayer concert versus calling the Hogs).
Ohio State fans absolutely do not worry about impropriety when doing their annoying “O-H-I-O”. Texas fans (Longhorns or otherwise) never tire of shamelessly promoting their teams. Gators fans are some of the most die-hard extremists I’ve ever had the privilege of being at the bar with.
The Hog Call is part of the personality of Fayetteville and Arkansas, gives us a sense place within the wide variety of University traditions, and is a reflection of the agricultural basis of Arkansan society and economy.
I absolutely love me some Hog Callin’.
By George on December 15th, 2008
Let it be known that I was NOT at the John Mayer concert. Just using a secondhand example.
Maybe I’m being too hard on the Hog Call. I truly am a diehard Razorpig fan. Perhaps I just need to get off my proverbial high horse and embrace it in all its goofiness.
By Farrah on December 17th, 2008
The Knights of Ni called the Hogs during Spamalot last night. It was not, I repeat NOT, audience induced. We all clapped like crazy after they did it though.
Trackbacks