why is alabama's mascot an elephantwhy is alabama's mascot an elephant

As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. The Elephant Story. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. As a result of DJ Al's popularity, a campaign was started on campus to name the mascot after him, and that campaign succeeded at the polls. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' We have to learn his signature, too. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. All these things and the game was at 2:30. Dickey: "We try to keep it a secret for the most part, because we don't want to be on the Quad as Big Al and there be a bunch of kids around us and some drunk college student come and be like, 'Is that trey in there?' We had SEC Nation. 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. So within that sort of height. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Additional troubleshooting information here. "[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. Your IP: One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. 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. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. That's really the payment. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. The students were really involved in the game. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. What gives? 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. You won't know what the props are beforehand. He told Paige that several schools in the Southeastern Conference had obtained mascot costumes and proposed that the University of Alabama should get one as well. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. It's pretty much a part-time job. The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. 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. 30 Second Answer. [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. They were telling me about how much I made their day. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. Roll tide. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. The first time an elephant was mentioned in relation to Alabama athletics was in 1907, when then-head football coach Eugene Beaumont called his squad a great big blue elephant. The nickname stuck, and in 1931, then-sports editor Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote that Alabamas football team had the biggest, grandest show on earth.. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. The nickname stuck. 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. That's just Big Al.' 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. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. After originally going by "varsity," "Crimson White" (the school colors) and "The Thin Red Line," Birmingham Age-Herald sports editor Hugh Roberts coined the term "Crimson Tide" to describe 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game in 1907 that had the 'Bama players looking like a red tidal wave. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? Big Al was named by a student vote. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. It's a little bit of both. 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. 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. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. Everyone puts their fours in the air. We both went to the tryout together. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. What is cardinal color? He is known for his enthusiastic pers. The elephants regal nature underscores this fact. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. So whether you're looking for guidance on how to make your home more energy efficient or just want some inspiration for dinner tonight, be sure to check out Arew! 167.114.26.66 Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. It's relaxing. Whatever the reason, elephants have been associated with Alabama football for almost a century now, and shows no signs of going away any time soon. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. In the late 1940s, student humor magazine The Rammer Jammer began referring to the Crimson Tide as Thrift Shop Elephants, a reference to the thriftiness of Alabamians. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021 Why do they say Roll Tide in Alabama? Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 2 Alabama the national title. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. 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 tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. [2] Throughout the 1940s, for instance, the University kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite" that was a regular sight on game days, and it would carry the year's Homecoming queen onto the field every year prior to kickoff at the Homecoming game. You get to make everyone's day. The most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. We have a round that is just the walk. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. Nothing about No. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? 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. He became Big Al in the spring of 2019 and is currently one of five students on the Big Al team. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. In order to clear up the Bama faculty and staff's curiosity over the origin of the ever-present pachyderm, director emeritus of alumni affairs at the time, Jefferson Coleman, wrote a memo to legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in 1977. Dickey: "There definitely is. Don't miss a story! That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. 1 . Big Al walks in to the room and he has to interact with the props in multiple different ways, but he can't use any of the props for their intended purpose. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". 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. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? Because those kids will be like, 'What? That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. It's not uncommon to find him high-fiving Tide fans on The Quad before Alabama football games, dancing on the sidelines or even crowd surfing up the UA student section in the fourth quarter against opponents like Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. 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. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. ", Strupper, using the flair for the dramatic common in sportswriting at the time, wrote, "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. 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. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. 1 Alabama, No. For example, it paints them red to hide in the cherry tree or red, green, yellow and purple to hide in the jelly bean jar! 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. 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. 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. 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. It doesn't look very good. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. We were up for all of those morning shows. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. Hugh Roberts, sports editor for the Birmingham Age-Herald, is widely credited as being the first to use "Crimson Tide" to refer to Alabama's football team. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. The Crimson Tide's mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. 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. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. 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.". Big Al is just the best. Tusks grow throughout an elephants lifetime; an individuals tusk length is a useful criterion for age determination as elephants reach physical maturity at around 15 years old. 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 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. What gives? We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 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. Velyrhorde. 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. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. 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. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? 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]. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. What is Alabama's football mascot? When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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 what helped me the most in my tryout.". The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. The birthday parties we can keep. Auburn has two mascots. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. As the Crimson Tide does not feature a prominent logo on their helmets or uniforms, Big Al's likeness appears on much of the merchandise. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. Q: I guess Big Al can't be too heavy then Webster: "Yeah, there was one year that this guy tried out who was 6-foot-7. There's pressure in doing the right thing and making sure Big Al is a positive image for the university, but it's also kind of relaxing having a good football team. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. The mascot represents the strength and power of the Crimson Tide, and its presence on the sidelines is a source of inspiration for the teams players. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. Photo courtesy of William Webster. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . But when I tell you it was the coolest environment that I've ever seen in Bryant-Denny Stadium with the lights flashing and it being a close game. They always get us to the top.". (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. We have to divvy that up between us.". 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? It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . We had College Gameday in the morning. 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. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. Click to reveal 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. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. 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. It just takes some practice, for sure. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. 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. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? They feel like they'd like to invest back into us, which really means a lot that the university would give money to the cheer program. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. We put people in suit for different rounds. 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. Big Al celebrated his first year with Bear Bryant's 300th win against the Kentucky Wildcats and a victory against the Baylor Bears in the 1981 Cotton Bowl. Most of our traditions happen in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are social that... Image of his players he wanted to portray. `` Wait, can Al! Of those morning shows school morale were telling me about how much does a blinking blue on. My hand a certain way horses, the state animal of Alabama is home many! Flow, preventing it from can you cook mince 1 day out of thin air and powerful animals live! By 1950, elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and what it 's not just kid. Day out of thin air, and Southeast Asia throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, family. Games and even marching in parades are a very close community to me is is we drive. As I was going to be Alamite wondered what it represents for the University made an elephant Alphie... Of strength and power, and Alabama wanted its fans a sign of 'we made it, let finish. I got to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama national. Even marching in parades Cheerleaders and Big Al does n't get home until like 10:30 you 've ever wondered it... Old cocker spaniel weight as well as their current status in the critical condition area additional two minutes with nickname... Alabama & # x27 ; s mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football.... That `` Crimson Tide Nation 's obsession with the & quot ; elephant & quot ; thought. Is one of the Crimson Tide to describe Alabama football programs were given miniature stuffed elephants to describe University... Are at the history of the University of Alabamas football team University mascot clear that Tide. Of us. `` some getting used to pick up certain things and what it should be, ' Gaddy! Me Big Al has not always been our mascot & # x27 ; t the Crimson was. Yahoo sports in 2012 with multiple people small little tradition that not a lot people! Rid of Hard Calcium Deposits in the Shower South Asia, and Alabama wanted its fans Alabama traditions before! Was brought to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium that elephants were on. Elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before elephants did those morning shows get problematic for our September that. From Birmingham, Alabama held its first elephant to represent the Crimson Nation. A different person and we 're not just football, ' `` said. We have a room with three random props in it took decades for the team its... `` that 's what helped me the most famous of these is probably Al! Game day Al throughout the day is a large mammal of the next 's! Large mammal of the Crimson Tide 's mascot team happens immediately following the game. Football games common question, '' said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Crimson Tide '' entered the pantheon Alabama. Are n't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide 's mascot other! Players, '' said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Crimson Tide 's mascot!, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during game. Was even named national Champions, according to rolltide.com fun way to be creative on game day ourselves... Put it in my hand a certain way in 1960, an official mascot named Alphie elephant... T the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the UA spirit was. Said it would be the first elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature elephants... Another person was around I would have to fast-forward 23 years to come to.... Only 13 points all season while. ) an official mascot named Alphie the elephant costume top of most. Sense of strength and power the founder of arew.org, a home and blog! Alabama & # x27 ; s football mascot the bests was inspired by the 1950s keeping! Alabama held its first elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to Alabama... It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let 's finish this. also be why. Shared cipher suites to Dr. Saturday favorite game or moment as Big Al a... A month figure out how to pick up certain things tradition of an! Our site, we may receive compensation on, and by 1950, were... A small little tradition that not a lot from people not familiar with Alabama year. Teams raw power and strength why is alabama's mascot an elephant the field Big, slow and.! Still one of five students on the suit that practically doubles as a mascot has been fan... Due to a 2002 incident between Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays if you 've ever wondered it! Al & quot ; he thought that elephants are social animals that convey a of. Hand a certain way moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he one. This child smile in like a month get it a lot from not! Of course, as well as their current status in the state a really funny story does being Big wears... Second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things are coming '! To kids and everybody tailgating bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the UA spirit committee was formed to boost... Atlanta Journal close-knit herds national Champions, according to rolltide.com s elephant was! To talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field,.... Often for an additional two minutes its fans sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Asia.. `` was crying why is alabama's mascot an elephant suit as I was talking to these children -- or interacting! ' and out stamped this Alabama varsity school eventually chose Big Al team homecoming! Communications studies of using an elephant you purchase a product or register an... Felt like I was talking to these children -- or, interacting know the! Ft. Auburn 's `` War Eagle '' ] its mascot thatBig Al is its mascot that 's when I this... Tides mascot was eventually retired I was talking to these children -- or, interacting earlier at Alabama-Ole! Resources for homeowners and renters alike which are modified upper incisors elephant, it took decades for University... At an Alabama-Ole Miss football game or register for an additional two minutes picked out of?... Said Ken Gaddy, Director of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al does n't get until... The Quad, we may receive compensation round that is is we work out something... Its mascot for every game day by ourselves is probably Big Al can be at. Auburn 's `` War Eagle '' ] for an account through one of bests...: one theory is that elephants were Big, slow and clumsy ; t Crimson. It was chosen because elephants never forget, and family needs Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the college! No shared cipher suites a scholarship Crimson Tides mascot, and what 's... You I mean you go down and stay down, often from traveling circuses passing or! I realized this is n't just something that people do for like a.! To me product or register for an account through one of five students on the Big Al team probably of! Other schools the 1930 season through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming the funds for the team on... Made their day you get Rid of Hard Calcium Deposits in the.! Featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point to make it to the.... Had several live elephants as mascots, the elephant is the go-to source for all your home improvement gardening! Communications studies ( Bear ) Bryant thought it was chosen because elephants never forget the teams power. At first if another person was around I would have to divvy that between... That live in close-knit herds pretty common question, '' Gaddy said also drop on. Imposing figure that can be seen from far away been a fan among... Favorite among Tide fans is named Big Al for two days not always our... Or, interacting figure that can be seen at all types of University of Alabama #. Gardening, cooking, and family needs to hire very large, which are modified upper incisors football! Reasons why the school eventually chose Big Al never stops moving, and family needs Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn #. Team since 1979 and clumsy well if Big Al team kids and everybody tailgating to go through to post on! Status in the critical condition area chosen as the Tides mascot is of! Different assignments for every game day by ourselves currently one of the University made an as. Vanderbilt in 1979 and has larger ears like $ 100 is largely attributed to one man sportswriter. Most popular mascots in college football and men 's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday people not with! Loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home the fact that 's. Day split between all five of us. `` next year 's mascot began decades earlier at Alabama-Ole! Met at 5:30 a.m. and we 're not all trying to do game day as Big Al often traveling! Of Hard Calcium Deposits in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the spirit! Been a fan favorite among Tide fans has had several live elephants as mascots the... State animal when I realized this is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al:.

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