Random Observation on a Saturday Afternoon

This is a rhetorical question, right? ;^)

I certainly can’t think of one right off, John.
Then again, the reason behind that is probably because there isn’t one.
That’s probably why the rest of the so-called civilized football world puts us down with names like “hillbilly”. What other defense do they have?

Here’s a question:

Where is the most unusual or unexpected place that you have called the Hogs?

In my case, it was at the Waterfall Ball in Suva, Fiji. I was in Fiji on business with a former Arkansas State football player who was an ardent Hog fan. In fact, he gave the bartender a Hog Hat and we would occasionally takes turns wearing it while at the bar. The Waterfall Bar prides itself on its wide selection of beers and has a Wall of Shame that you get your picture on by drinking one of each type of beer they have, 36 brands in all representing about 20 different countries. When he got inducted in the Hall of Shame, an assorted group of Fijians, Aussies, Kiwis and Americans called the Hogs. Later, when I made it, I had my picture taken wearing the Hog Hat.

Whit, that’s a fantastic story! You’ve got me beat, that’s for sure.

John

I agree – the Hog call is the best in the world.

But, it pains me to admit it as a Chelsea fan – Liverpool’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is truly special.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xvegPH_Lw&feature=related

I’m not trying to be argumentative, but I wouldn’t really consider “You’ll Never Walk Alone” a cheer. Plus, it’s not even original; it’s from some old Rodgers and Hammerstein musical from the ’40s.

Oh, and the Hog call is awesome. You’re right, Gonzohog; the only defense people have against it is that it’s “hillbilly”.

The Hog Call is the greatest. I would put in a second place vote for the Rock Chalk Jaywalk chant at KU basketball games.

I always hear Rock Chalk, Jayhawk brought up when I make this argument.

While it does sound cool, I’ve never understood the appeal of turning a basketball arena into a monastery.

I can’t think of anything better than the Hog Call. Of course, I am biased, to say the least! The other cheer in sports that I always thought would set me on the edge if I were an opposing player is the tomahawk chant they do at Florida State.

We’ll if we’re going to bring up soccer chants/cheers, my favorite is Millwall (currently a 3rd division team).

No one likes us, no one likes us, no one likes us, we don’t care, we are Millwall, Super Millwall, we are Millwall, from the Den.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-4ce7bfvIk

The Hog Call is by far the best cheer in sports, college, professional or international. And it is a hillbilly/redneck cheer. But then again, we um…ARE hillbillies. ;)

Okay, even with my KU blood lines, I am willing to put Rock Chalk in second place behind Woo Pig.

Now, I haven’t done any research, and I am sure this is out there, but how, when, and who came up with the Hog Call as we know it today? (By the way, I was at the LSU game this year and I thought the War Memorial crowd was rusty, at best, on the Hog Call.)

I don’t think it was rust. I think it was the cold wet conditions that helped to contribute to the lack of enthusiasm while calling the hogs. I was there also, and the alcohol didn’t kick in until half time when half the crowd left due to what looked like was going to be a 2nd half melt down. I have to confess, I was one of the ones who left at half time only to watch it in a downtown bar with hundreds of other fans. They were calling the hogs every 10 minutes and sounded in practice. Maybe they should have been at the game, but the bar was as loud as the stadium. Great game!!

This is from the Alumni website:

“Razorback fans have been “Calling the Hogs” since the 1920s. It is said to have begun when a group of farmers attending a game began issuing hog calls to encourage a lagging Razorback football team. The encouragement worked and the attending crowd took notice of the farmers’ calling. By the next game, a group of men had organized to cry “Wooo, Pig, Sooie.” Since then this rallying cry has grown to become the school yell that unites Arkansas fans everywhere.

As with many traditions, the Hog Call has been altered and refined over the years into the rousing chorus that is so well known today."

what did it say on the Alumni website about the “root hog”?

Nothing I could find, DB.

In his book “More Tales from Hog Heaven,” Nate Allen recalls the reaction of a Honolulu bus driver to first hearing the Hog Call. Nolan Richardson’s Razorbacks had just won the 1994 Rainbow Classic when a charter bus full of Razorbacks suddenly started calling the Hogs. The driver wheeled off the road in the nighttime traffic, turned off the lights and cowered in his seat. He had to be gently presuaded that he wasn’t about to become a sacrifical victim of some occult rite before the bus rolled again.