Arkansas unveils pig on wheels to promote school

The “Razorbug” is a street-legal Volkswagen Beetle modified to look like an Arkansas Razorback. The hood turns upward into a snout, and the tail curls above the license plate. A bristle arcs along the roof line.

And, of course, it’s red.

“We had a van that our recruiters were traveling in and it had the logo on it, but it was still rather plain,” said Dawn Medley, the university’s director of admissions. “With the Hogmania that exists in Arkansas, I thought it would be really neat if we could have a driveable mascot.”

The idea eventually reached administrators of the Fayetteville school, and faster than you can say “SOOEEE!!” an area dealership donated the car and the university paid about $12,000 to add the hooves and hide.

While the Razorback logo is generally used in support of Arkansas athletic programs, the Razorbug will be used by the admissions office in its effort to attract the best students.

“I thought this would be something fun and exciting for our recruiters to pull up at high schools in and I thought that prospective students would enjoy it as well,” Medley wrote in an e-mail exchange.

She said she could perhaps see other schools try to match the car.

“We’re the only college Razorbacks in the nation which is what makes the Razorbug so cool,” Medley wrote. “Hmmm, maybe the Maryland Terrapins but it still wouldn’t be as neat as the Razorbug.”