Arkansas announces live mascot, Tusk V, passed away over the weekend

Devastating news out of Fayetteville, as the city’s premier pig was laid to rest this weekend. According to the University of Arkansas, the school’s live mascot, Tusk V, passed away at his home in Dardanelle, Arkansas, due to natural causes.

Tusk V went out with a bang, with his final appearance at a live Razorback sporting event coming at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Kansas, where the Hogs won 55-53 to end Tusk V’s reign in exhilarating and victorious fashion.

The Tusk legacy goes back to 1997, when the original Tusk was brought in to serve as a live mascot. He lasted seven years, until 2004, when Tusk II took over. Tusk II lasted just six years and his brother, Tusk III, took over the job for just one year, when in 2011, Tusk II’s son, Tusk IV, was promoted. He lasted the longest of any Tusks, nine years, and was noted for his great behavior with humans. He retired in 2019 and passed away in 2020, after Tusk V had already taken over. Just a couple years later, Tusk V has passed and now it is Tusk VI’s mantle to bear.

Here is some more background on the late great Arkansas mascot, via the school website:

“Born April 19, 2018, Tusk V served as the official live mascot of the Razorbacks from 2019-22. Within that span, Arkansas turned in the two most successful years in the history of the program, including a pair of top-10 finishes in the Learfield Directors’ Cup and 18 combined SEC Championships, more than double the championships of the next closest SEC program (7).

“In addition to leading the Hog Walk and appearing on the sidelines at home football games, Tusk V made numerous annual appearances at a variety of Razorback sporting events and other functions throughout the state. During his reign, Tusk V also participated in two One Razorback Roadshows across the state of Arkansas, connecting and interacting with fans of all ages, including eating grapes from the hands of his adoring fans.”