Notre Dame travels to Arkansas in a rare clash between opponents of completely different college football cultures.
When Razorbacks fans start their iconic “Hog Call” at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27, Fighting Irish fans will realize they’re a long way from home.
The two programs have never played, but will meet on Sept. 27 and again in 2028 as part of home-and-home scheduling agreement between both schools in 2017. The first game of the series was originally scheduled for 2020, but the agreement was re-done due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The matchup between schools from different regions of the country – and the college football landscape, for that matter – is no doubt one that has been much-anticipated by fans.
Here’s an explainer on Arkansas’ “calling the hogs” tradition, which bellows throughout its stadium on gamedays.
What is Arkansas’ ‘Hog Call’ tradition?
Notre Dame fans might notice Arkansas fans start doing a series of arm movements and chants that is quite unique. It’s called “calling the hogs,” and it’s one of the most well-known college football chants, at least in the South.
It’s unclear how the tradition started, but it’s believed to be created sometime in the 1920s when a batch of fans started squealing like hogs to cheer on the team.
Here’s how the chant goes, according to Arkansas’ website.
Here’s a video of the hog call chant:
What does ‘Woo Pig Sooie’ mean?
It’s unclear the origin of “Woo Pig Sooie,” although it started being said after Arkansas fans gathered to cheer on the team in the 1920s. It has since become the school’s flagship rally cry.
The chant extends to four consecutive “Hog Calls” after wins.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: What is Arkansas’ ‘Hog Call’? Explaining Razorbacks’ iconic chant
Reporting by Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
