The smell of sizzling bacon travels through the air, accompanied by the sound of popping grease, which can be heard beneath the heavy laughter of students. On Sept. 19, 2025, student organizations across Texas High School banded together in the courtyard to host the annual Bacon Fry.
The first Bacon Fry took place in 1994 on the day of the Texas versus Arkansas football game. Texas High students cooked bacon as a spirited metaphor to describe the anticipated defeat of the Arkansas High Razorbacks.
This event serves as one of the most celebrated traditions at Texas High, described by students and staff as a gathering to look forward to.
“Each year on the morning of the Texas High versus Arkansas High football game, we would fry bacon in the student parking lot before school while the Arkansas High kids drove down Summerhill Road with their Arkansas flags in the backs of their trucks and cars,” class of 1998 graduate Rendi Wiggins said. “We would fly our Texas flags, and sometimes a piece of bacon would get thrown towards the road.”
However, the rivalry between Texas and Arkansas High eventually escalated into violence. As a result, the Fayetteville High School Bulldogs replaced the Hogs. This decision kept the Texas and Arkansas tradition alive while ensuring the safety of all students involved.
“Arkansas High [students] would drive down Summerhill Road and shoot their [school] colors [out of a paintball gun] at the opposing [team],” class of 2000 graduate John Franklin said. “[We had] cross-traffic of people who had nothing to do with it, [and they] got hit with paintballs, [which] caused minor problems.”
Despite the changes, the Bacon Fry remains an exciting and spirit-filled event for Texas High students and faculty. No matter the location or time of day, everyone joins together to cheer on the Tiger football team.
“What I love most is that everyone loves food, and we build a healthy rivalry against another state,” assistant principal Dr. Adam Bell said. “We invite everyone to be a part of the school spirit, [including] students who aren’t athletes and students who are athletes. We all get together to have some fun, eat some bacon and grow our Texas High spirit.”
