Adams hoping Tusk beer sales lead to more increased talent & success for Razorbacks

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON



FAYETTEVILLE – As a former mascot and graduate of the University of Arkansas, successful Northwest Arkansas businessman Bill Woodie Adams is like most Razorback sports fans in that he simply wants his favorite team to win as much as possible.



That takes money, which Adams is helping raise via sales of his beer Tusk, the official craft beer of the Razorbacks and whose proceeds go directly to athletes.

Tusk, available in Razorback concession stands and retail stores across the state, will be sold at Friday night’s 8 p.m. Arkansas-Kansas charity basketball at Bud Walton Arena and next Saturday’s home football game with Ole Miss.

“We all want a championship team and feel the way we did when the Basketball Hogs dominated in 1994, or for those who might have a few more grey hairs than me, when we were the football champions in 1965,” Adams said of an honor that came after the 1964 season.
 
“Championship teams are no longer made from just the students in the school’s state, they are made with great recruiting, a strong promise of time on the field or court and the true chance of a shot at the pro level.  

“Well, that isn’t as true as we’d like for it to be anymore, because now great blue chip student athletes are also looking to make a few dollars while in college.  And rightly so.  There was a time student athletes weren’t allowed to have jobs and this led to many students not being able to make ends meet if they were playing sports in the NCAA.”

Adams said Arkansas and its fans thus have to be all in on the new college landscape to have successful teams.
 
“So whether or not you are a fan of the Name/Image/Likeness rules, or NIL as it is referred, it is here to stay and now it is the number one discussion point when students are being recruited to play for a school,” Adams said. “Raising NIL funds has become an aspect of every university’s athletic program.  The U of A’s organization for the NIL is called The Edge.

“This year they did something that only 8 other schools in America has dared do – teaming up together to get an NIL beer. With every purchase of the Tusk Beer, the proceeds go to the U of A NIL foundation and ultimately to the student athletes.  

 
“It is selling statewide well. People are buying it just to support the Razorbacks. Everywhere they buy it, be it an Arkansas game or in a store, it supports the Razorbacks.”

Adams semi-joked that drinking a Tusk is proof of your Arkansas fanship.

“When people purchase a Tusk then your Razorback team says thank you,” Adams said. “When they buy other beers the other team says thank you. Tusk is your beer, it’s the beer you buy to say you support your team.”

Adams met with the University of Arkansas’ beer team and Razorback athletic director Hunter Yurachek and deputy athletic director Rick Thorpe to get the process rolling.


“Our goal with Tusk beer was to first make a really good beer and then let it benefit the Razorbacks,” Adams said. “So we met with Hunter and met with Rick and said ‘we have this great beer and we would like to let it benefit the students.’”


Adams loves bringing his passion for the Razorbacks and beer together with Tusk.



“I have always been a Razorback fan and I did everything I could to become a Razorback student back in 1985,” Adams said. “I transferred from Arkansas State, where I was a mascot with the hopes of just becoming the Razorback mascot. That’s how much I love this school. 



“I have enjoyed what the University of Arkansas and does for the people to give them hope at certain times. I was here in ’94 when we won the national championship, which was great and should have won it again in 1995. Hopefully with this partnership we can help bring about success like that again.”