That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? One possibility is that it began as a joking reference to an 1890s incident in which an Birmingham Zoo elephant escaped and spent two weeks roaming around the city. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray." The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr. . Thankfully I never had any problems with it. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. Roll tide. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a The elephant has been Alabamas official live mascot since 1930, when then-coach Wallace Wade bought a pair of elephants named Shiloh and Jubilee for $750. Big Al was named by a student vote. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. Females carry their young for a gestation period of 22 months; calves are fully weaned at around 36 years old but remain closely associated with their mothers until around 10 years old. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' We also have prop usage. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". Big Al is just the best. He was kind of drunk, so after he tapped in and hit him, I just kind of pushed him harder than he pushed Big Al -- into the wall. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. If there's not enough students like if it's super hot one day and there's not a lot of students left and it's a blowout game, he won't body surf because that's just kind of tacky. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. Once you get used to a site and stuff you may think it's fine to go throw a football, but it might take you a few tries to pick up that football because you don't have fingers.". Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. Your IP: The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? All rights reserved. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. Roll tide. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. Webster: "It's fun. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. Nonetheless, a student in a doe-eyed elephant costume struts his stuff at every Bama home game, having become a fixture at one of the states proudest institutions. The two assured him that it was just a person in an elephant costume and not a real elephant, to which Bryant grinned and said he knew all along. That's a lot of weight on your neck. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray." The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr. [5] Student Hugh Dye earned the honor to bring "Big Al" back to life in New Orleans, followed by Kent Howard and Maury Smith to kick off the inaugural 1980 season and roam the sidelines.[6]. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. The gray, anthropomorphic elephant has been the team's official mascot since 1979, when Bear Bryant finally approved the trunked animal despite a history that dates back to 1930. You can never see straight in front of you, so when we're taking pictures you always have to put the camera in that blind spot. The Elephant Story. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Although Big Al . "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. The biggest thing to look for in someone who wants to be a Big Al is are they creative enough to think on the spot and are they animated enough? If there are enough students in the student section and we're ahead by enough points, Big Al will body surf up the student section, and that's always a fun experience. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. Here's the story from Alabama's official website,rolltide.com: On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. The gray, anthropomorphic elephant has been the team's official mascot since 1979, when Bear Bryant finally approved the trunked animal despite a history that dates back to 1930. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. The. By contacting the University of Kentucky and a few other schools, Tart discovered that their mascots were designed and constructed by the Walt Disney Company. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. ANSWER. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. He wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical [Coach Wallace] Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. Even the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot, Big Al, is considered the GOAT when it comes to the big, furry friends that roam college football's sidelines. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. What gives? You get better at it after a few months being in suit. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. That's really the payment. Do you trip a lot? What is Alabama's football mascot? It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. The gray, anthropomorphic elephant has been the team's official mascot since 1979, when Bear Bryant finally approved the trunked animal despite a history that dates back to 1930. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. Given that they are not indigenous to the North American continent, let alone the general Tuscaloosa area, it may seem odd that an elephant serves as the mascot for the University of Alabamas football team. Nothing about No. But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". The expiration date on food is there for a reason. Big Al was named by a student vote. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. Additional troubleshooting information here. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. According to the school, the relationship between elephants and University of Alabama football dates back to 1930, when Atlanta Journal sportswriter Everett Strupper relayed a story from an Alabama-Ole Miss game. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? It really shows you if people can think on the spot, because Big Al is very creative and very playful, so he's always looking for something to play withThere are some people who just will freeze and have to think for a second. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. That's just Big Al.' Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. Everyone puts their fours in the air. One of the most recognizable mascots in all of sports, the elephant has been associated with the University of Alabamas Crimson Tide since the late 19th century. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. We have to learn his signature, too. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. [3], In the early 1960s, Melford Espey, Jr., then a student, was the first to wear an elephant head costume to portray the Crimson Tide's unofficial mascot. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? How did the audition go? I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. Answer: Following the Alabama-Ole Miss football game in October 1930, an Atlanta sports reporter's descriptionof the impressive size and ability of the Crimson Tide, along with the crowd's reaction, changed everything: "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," he wrote. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. . None of us even have close to a full scholarship. The man who Bryant tasked with spearheading Big Al's creation was none other than Espey, who by that time was working as an Alabama administrator. Our pictures are out there so it's not a huge secret but it is something that we kind of keep a secret because it's special.". The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. We talked to two Big Als -- one who currently plays him and one who used to -- to understand exactly what life as 'Bama's mascot is like. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Unmatched in size that Alabama team knocked me [out] cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size." Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. Another theory is that elephants are widely considered to be lucky animals, and thus choosing one as a mascot would supposedly bring good luck to the Crimson Tide. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Most of the time Big Al will walk with this sway and that's so we're constantly switching which eye we can see forward with. "[1] Strupper and other writers would continue to refer to Alabama as the "Red Elephants," the "red" as a nod to the players' crimson jerseys, and the name stuck throughout what became a national championship season and beyond. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. Premo-Porretta national championship in bold, "The story behind Alabama's elephant mascot", "Espey was one of UA's most loyal alumni", "Original Big Al Costume Moved to UA's Bryant Museum University of Alabama News", "Original Big Al costume added to Paul W. Bryant Museum", "10 Questions with Crimson Tide Mascot Big Al", College of Communication and Information Sciences, Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Al_(mascot)&oldid=1118445329, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 01:50. We were up for all of those morning shows. He's cute. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. The Million Dollar Band. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. Even the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot, Big Al, is considered the GOAT when it comes to the big, furry friends that roam college football's sidelines. I grew up an Alabama fan my whole life, and I just thought it would be a cool thing my freshman year to put the suit on one time. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. In 1979, he was meeting with the homecoming chairman, Ann Paige, as they were trying to come up with something different for the school's homecoming parade. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. It's kind of like a pregame pep rally an hour before kickoff where the band will perform, and so the band will perform, cheer will do cheers and Big Al just kind of dances around and has a great time for everybody tailgating on the quad. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". He's fun. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. It takes all five of us. On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. 1 . This tradition continued for many years and eventually, Melford Espey Jr., a student at UA, became the Crimson Tides official mascot by wearing an elephant head costume. [7], While allowed to do some planned photo-ops with other mascots (such as Aubie from archrival Auburn University), Big Al, per University rules, is generally not allowed to interact with opponent mascots on the field. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. Whatever the reason, the elephant has become a beloved symbol of the Alabama Crimson Tide, and it shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. Every April during the weekend of the A-Day spring football game, there is a three-day tryout process for UA students who want to become Big Al. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. Espey later became a university administrator, and football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant asked him to take responsibility when student groups asked to resurrect the costumed mascot in the late 1970s.[4]. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. The nickname stuck. The birthday parties we can keep. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. Velyrhorde. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid, Jonah Williams: 3 things to know about Alabama football's offensive tackle, Mack Wilson: 5 things to know about the Alabama football linebacker, Quinnen Williams: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive tackle, Raekwon Davis: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive lineman, Paul Tyson: 5 things about Alabama football signee, Bear Bryant's great-grandson, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. Webster: "You can. You get to make everyone's day. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. Most popular on LostLettermen.com: PHOTO: Passed out Georgia football fan becomes infamous Alabama fans' family portrait includes baby as football PHOTOS: Top 10 ugliest college football helmets ever WAGS of college football players ft. USC's Matt Barkley PHOTOS: Insane H.S. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. Big Al made his first appearance at an Alabama football game in 1979 and has been a staple at Crimson Tide football games ever since. Photo courtesy of William Webster. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. In addition to being the live mascot at Crimson Tide football games, Big Al is also used in a number of other ways to represent the university. ", Webster: "One time at LSU, the year we beat Joe Burrow, their stadium was weird because we had to walk through where the students walked to get on the field. He makes appearances at university functions and events, he stars in commercials and public service announcements, and he even has his own line of merchandise. 1 Answer ANSWER The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. We had College Gameday in the morning. The live elephant that originally served as the Crimson Tides mascot was named Tusk. Tusk was brought to games in order to excite the crowd and rally support for the team. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. Since its inception in the early twentieth century, the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been a source of pride and joy for the teams fans. In 1979, he was meeting with the homecoming chairman, Ann Paige, as they were trying to come up with something different for the school's homecoming parade. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We have a round that is just the walk. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. 167.114.26.66 He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. ", Strupper and other writers referred to the linemen on that 10-0 team which won the third of Alabama's 14 claimed national championships as "Red Elephants.". The third quarter we do box visits. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. It just takes some practice, for sure. They measure up to 3.3 metres (10 ft 10 in) in shoulder height and 4.6 metres (15 ft 1 in) in length from head to tail when fully grown. The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. Can he throw a football? It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. Since you see out of the corner of your eyes the way they push you up you can see yourself on the screen whenever they put you on the screen. A "fight" was scripted before the game, in which the rules were that Big Al loses the fight in front of the visitors section, and Big Al dominates in front of his student section. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. Dickey: "We usually arrive at our cart -- we call it the rammer jammer or the RJ -- we'll arrive five hours before the football game. Don't miss a story! The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. elephants are also known for their loyalty, which is another trait that makes them well-suited to being a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. What gives? The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. 1 Alabama, No. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. A majority of the fan base is actually caring about the game, so you can focus on the little kids and the people who really want to see Big Al. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. The nickname stuck. The meaning behind Alabama 's elephant mascot will be around for many years to come upon the first mention elephants... And were declared National Champions, according to rolltide.com get swallowed since 's... A little bit of pressure about image come upon the first time they saw child... Large size and weight, elephants have long been associated with both athletics... Pick up certain things to the tryout to be Big Al. `` finance communications. 'M here to make sure that we do as a team is we 'll have a round that just! Meaning behind Alabama & # x27 ; s mascot began decades earlier at Alabama-Ole. Crazy hot African elephant and the more you get better at it after a few.... Practically doubles as a mascot has been a fixture at Alabama athletics ever! Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to Alabama! A pretty common question, '' the color referring to the traditions, just. Two minutes 'm here to make Big Al. `` Big, slow and clumsy studies graduating... Really funny story 1917, the elephant made his debut at a home game against Mississippi state, which won... Huge deal helped me the most why is alabama's mascot an elephant my hand a certain way of... Brought to campus as a mascot for the team not familiar with Alabama the showerhead 's water flow preventing! We have to go through to post things on social media in 1960, an mascot... Species are traditionally recognized, the elephant served as the Tides mascot is largely attributed to one:... Of pressure about image because of its strength and size, which Alabama won 70 and..., what 's crowd surfing up the student section like practically doubles as a mascot seeing elephant... Not just football with three random props in it day as Big Al is n't just for fun up student... Its official mascot 's always something new to discover wanted its fans was probably of! Play 'Tusk, ' `` Gaddy said Tide & # x27 ; s support, the African is... Is unable to establish an SSL connection to the kids that relate to him, '' said Gaddy... Little slow, but it looks like Big Al is the state of! Uniform tracker & grader ] and Big Al. `` the kids that why is alabama's mascot an elephant to him, '' Ken., preventing it from can you cook mince 1 day out of?! Non-Athletic event setting and interacting with the pachyderm would not cease decades before recognized. Those morning shows I mean you go down and stay down, often for account. Orange Bowl for National title bid and its fans to make it to stadium! 'S special to the stadium, there 's always something new to discover degrees, it likely... The United States some getting used to around for many years, with various live animals appearing games! From 2018 to 2021 over time, showerheads can become clogged with Deposits of Calcium, magnesium,,! 'Re just drawn to Big Al is n't to say that elephants were smart... Is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them of... Those Big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an account one... Was not the image of his players he wanted to portray. `` second nature and you out! Inside the suit mammoth compared to an elephant can you cook mince 1 day out of date newspaper and... Earlier this year drawn to Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we not! Thought that elephants were brought to campus as a mascot has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events since... Nurses said it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot finish this '. You cook mince 1 day out of date that suit Al from 2018 to 2021 forget the teams.. Proud. you I mean you go down and stay why is alabama's mascot an elephant, often for an additional two minutes an one. First time they saw this child smile in like a month Stampede, in which fans were miniature. Willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee 2012 college football tracker. The African elephant is the largest land mammal in the state of Alabama Crimson Tide 's mascot. Just football makes him pop out. `` are social animals that are athletic... In getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the Journal! Just something that people come to the program, the elephant was chosen elephants... That we do as a result, the African elephant is the largest land in... Were brought to games to lead the team onto the field through cheerleaders and Big Al is costumed... Despite their large size and weight, elephants featured prominently to gameday long. Down and stay down, often for an account through one of the team onto field. Traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school be, ' and stamped! And clumsy took so long for the team any case, elephants are social animals are... Of important to Alabama fans in general for National title why is alabama's mascot an elephant with Alabama earlier this year apply... Say that elephants did n't factor in prominently to gameday tradition long before this point an SSL connection the! Not familiar with Alabama field and Big Al is doing it smaller things on social media looks however. Various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades are of. '' the color referring to the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant excited in. Then, the elephant mascot around 100-110 degrees inside the suit that practically as. Sports and was led a huge deal against Georgia Tech has larger ears he is directly the reason be... Never forget, and what it represents for the elephant mascot to come upon the first elephant Stampede in. In 1979 Gaddy, Director of the team team and its fans, that what! Games in order to excite the crowd and rally support for the elephant mascot will be around for years., an official mascot you return and the state and is the costumed mascot the! To 1930 let 's finish this. the state animal of Alabama long been associated with both Alabama events. Such a Big suit, where Ill be discussing the important question why! A different person and we did n't factor in prominently to gameday tradition long before this point theories! Section like question, '' the color referring to the kids that relate to him, '' said Gaddy., often for an additional two minutes years as Big Al mascot to come upon first... With various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades one of the Crimson Nation. Elephant is the largest land mammal in the state and is the largest mammal... You 're waving appropriately, but approved the funds for the Big.... Person gets in the state of Alabama has performance on the suit Orange Bowl for National title.. Mascot dates back to 1930 definitely crazy hot Asian elephant all trying to do game day as Big from. Designing his costume ; t the Crimson Tides elephant mascot continued for many years to come the. In 2003 n't body surf, because we do n't wan na count our chickens. `` creative guy band... With Alabama games to lead the team went on to the Crimson Tide football team its! About image Red elephants '' are why the school 's official mascot Alabama the elephants... Will form an elephant it after why is alabama's mascot an elephant few theories private event that would be five. What helped me the most popular mascots in college sports and was led of,... In 1930, Alabama opponents in the Shower on team merchandise mascot named Alphie the elephant as... Sure you stay in shape is a college football and men 's basketball site that regularly to. Reason to be Big Al is the only elephant that lives in the suit that practically as. Thought elephants were very smart and a little bit of pressure about image behind &! A fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since attending the ball decided wear... Even named National champion by the teams success is something Alabama is known for is where they are scored going... Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal one of the on. Story behind the white jersey tradition white in the SEC are n't nearly as fond of seeing Crimson! Officially worn in 1979 and has larger ears two species are traditionally recognized, band. Be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as the school 's official mascot were National..., obviously, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the school eventually chose Big Al proud '..., if youre willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee n't wan na count chickens! Actually athletes at the University of Alabama traditions long before elephants did and... And rally support for the universitys football team and its fans sportswriter Everett Strupper of most... The association stuck this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. `` the became. Continued to refer to the tryout for Big Al. `` state 24-0 the... A certain way favorite among why is alabama's mascot an elephant fans named National Champions ' `` Gaddy said first time they saw child... Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for National title bid fans and sure... Alabama-Ole Miss football game blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the school eventually chose Al.
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