College Sports Established
1915
Location
Fayetteville, Arkansas
College Name
University of Arkansas
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1915 - 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
1991 – Present / SEC Conference
1915 - 1991 / Southern Conference
Nickname
Razorbacks - Regarding college sports, few teams have a more iconic nickname than the Arkansas Razorbacks. But where did this name come from? It’s an exciting story with roots that go back hundreds of years.
The origin of the “Razorback” moniker dates back to 1809 when James K. Polk was elected President of the United States and founded what would become known as The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. During his campaign for the presidency, he promised Arkansans that he would bring wild hogs into their state so they could hunt them for food and sport alike - hence why these feral swine became known as “razorbacks."
From there, it wasn't until 1909 when fans began referring to their beloved football team by this same name; however, its use didn't become official until 1910 when then-coach Hugo Bezdek declared his squad "played like a wild band of razorback hogs" after beating LSU 9-0! Since then, not only has “Razorbacks” been used by athletes on campus but also throughout various NCAA sporting events across America - making it one of the most well-known nicknames in all collegiate athletics today!
So next time you cheer on your favorite Arkansas Razorback team or catch up with friends about some NCAA action, make sure you take pride in knowing exactly how this iconic nickname came about: through hard work and dedication from early pioneers who wanted nothing more than success for their beloved university (and state).
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 1
1994
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1964
- 1978
- 1979
- 1991
- 1994
- 2021
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The Arkansas Razorbacks football team wins national championship
In 1964: The Arkansas Razorbacks football team wins its first and only national championship, finishing with an 11-0 record and defeating Nebraska 10-7 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. -
The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team reaches the NCAA Division I
In 1978: The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team reaches the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four for the first time in school history, losing to Kentucky 64-59 in the semifinals. -
Razorback – Sidney Moncrief
Moncrief, Marvin Delph of Conway, Arkansas, and Ron Brewer of Fort Smith, Arkansas (“The Triplets”), along with head coach Eddie Sutton and assistant coach Gene Keady, resurrected the University of Arkansas basketball program in the 1970s from decades of modest success and disinterest and helped lay the foundation for what became one of the country’s premier college basketball programs through ... -
Arkansas Razorbacks join the Southeastern Conference
In 1991: The Arkansas Razorbacks join the Southeastern Conference for all sports except men’s basketball, which joins in 1992. -
NCAA Basketball Champions in 1994
The 1994 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men’s NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1994, and ended with the championship game on April 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina, played at Charlotte Coliseum. A total of 63 games were played. The Final Four ... -
Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team finishes as the No. 1 team
In 2021: The Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team finishes as the No. 1 team in the nation for the regular season and wins its second SEC regular season title and first SEC tournament title.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Razorbacks
The University's first football game was played against Fort Smith High School on November 3rd, 1894, with an impressive 12-0 victory setting them off on a path towards greatness that continues today. The team quickly gained traction, and by 1901 they were admitted into what would become known as "the Southwest Conference," which included such powerhouses like Texas A&M and Baylor, among others. This conference saw great success from Arkansas, who went on win several titles, including back-to-back national championships in 1964 & 1965, under legendary head coach Frank Broyles who is still revered by many fans today for his accomplishments during this period at UA.
In 1992 The Razorbacks joined up with other schools from around the region, forming what is now known as Southeastern Conference or SEC, where they compete annually against some of college football's best programs like Alabama, LSU, Auburn, etc. While not having much recent success since joining this prestigious league (the last championship came back in 2006), there remains plenty of optimism amongst Hog faithful about returning soon enough atop once again, thanks mainly due to high caliber coaches such Bret Bielema being hired recently.
It's safe to say that no matter how good or bad things get, you can count on Arkansans continuing to support their beloved Hogs, both past, present, and future!
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