University of Arkansas super fan Canaan Sandy is undergoing tests in White River Medical Center in Batesville after suffering a stroke on Thursday afternoon.
Sandy, 36, who holds a cherished status among Razorback fans, gained nationwide notoriety after being selected to the ESPN Fan Hall of Fame in 2013 and having the opportunity to run for a touchdown during a break in the Red-White Spring game in 2014.
His mother, Ginger, messaged the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday night, “Tell everyone he loves them. Hoping for a full recovery. Will look for a cause. And it wasn’t the Hogs’ fault he had a stroke but he sure tried to help them win!”
The reference was to the Arkansas basketball team’s 66-50 loss to Florida in the noon game at the SEC Tournament.
Sandy was in attendance at the Razorbacks’ first spring scrimmage last Saturday, pausing to take a picture with former Hog Drew Morgan among others and greeting fans with his normal energy and enthusiasm.