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 first shift is Quad. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. 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. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. 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 also have prop usage. ", 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. How did the audition go? With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. ", 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. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. The third quarter we do box visits. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. 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. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. The bigger ones go to the school.". Nothing about No. The president came to the football game. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. 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. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). 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. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. He was just thick and tall. 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]. 167.114.26.66 The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. And in the early 1960s, Alabama student Melford Espey went the extra mile and dressed up as the animal to cheer on his beloved team. The nickname stuck. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. Big Al was named by a student vote. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. Nothing about No. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. 1 . Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. ", LIVE:No. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . Big Al was named by a student vote. It was a regular on gamedays, and for several years it would carry that year's homecoming queen onto the field prior to the game. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. 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. We're in the program for the football team. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? . Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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? 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. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. 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. 1 Alabama, No. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. 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. That's a lot of weight on your neck. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. You get to make everyone's day. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. They always get us to the top.". Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. We put people in suit for different rounds. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. Dickey: "We usually have five people who are I think we call it 'Pals of Al,' and they are the ones who portray him at football, basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and the other activities throughout the year. 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. 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! Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. 1 Alabama, No. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. I don't know how else to put it.". Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. You won't know what the props are beforehand. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. Big Al's game debut was one to remember: The 1979 Sugar Bowl against top-ranked and undefeated Penn State, when a fourth-quarter goal line stand delivered No. 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. 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. 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? 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 biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. William Webster poses with a fellow Big Al during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on January 7, 2019. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. ", 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.". Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. The Elephant Story. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. It's kind of about the kids. 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. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. That's just Big Al.' This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. It's a little bit of both. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. 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." 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. And then second quarter is kind of their own thing and that will bleed into halftime depending on how long it takes to set up props for the person doing the halftime skit. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. What is Alabama's football mascot? "Once that's over, he runs the team out. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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. He wasn't fat. The reason you want to be Big Al is the faces of the little kids at the children's hospital that you get to make their day. 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. Another theory is that it was inspired by a 1903 news article about then-Alabama head coach Mike Donahue, who was said to have a huge and strong team that was unstoppable like an elephant.. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical 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. 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. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. 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. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. We had College Gameday in the morning. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. It's relaxing. 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 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. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? He became Big Al in the spring of 2019 and is currently one of five students on the Big Al team. So within that sort of height. Although Big Al . how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Click to reveal "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. 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. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. 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. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. 2 Alabama the national title. We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? How hot is it? uniforms even crazier than Oregon's, PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo, 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,', Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle", kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? 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. 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. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. The nickname stuck. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. 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. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. Velyrhorde. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. 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.. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. 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. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. Can he throw a football? [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. We have to learn his signature, too. When she's not blogging or spending time with her family, you can usually find her rooting around in the garden or at the hardware store. I think that really helped me in the tryout, being more relaxed and not caring as much about the outcome and caring more about just having a good time, because that's what Big Al would wanna do. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? 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. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? Your movements have to be so much larger and exaggerated in order to make it look like Big Al is excited acting out those gestures. 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. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. We have to divvy that up between us.". If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. Big Al is just the best. 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. We have a round that is just the walk. It just runs deep. 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. . LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. More than 40 years since Big Al earned the stamp of approval, he's still spreading spirit at Bryant-Denny Stadium and other Alabama athletics events. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. Additional troubleshooting information here. 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 elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. 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.". We both went to the tryout together. We don't have people that are very large, so making sure we have people who can be very animated with their full body movements is super important. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 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. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. It's just a great opportunity for Big Al to stand out because all of our players are going to be wearing red every home game. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. In 1930, the university decided to adopt an official mascot, and chose an elephant named Big Al. Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl that year, and has been a fixture at Alabama football games ever since. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. We were up for all of those morning shows. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. The birthday parties we can keep. The Million Dollar Band, the University of Alabama's marching band, was founded in 1912 with 14 members under the direction of Dr. Gustav Wittig. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' It doesn't look very good. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. There are several reasons why this is so. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. Performance & security by Cloudflare. He is the African elephant and the association stuck and even marching in parades that! Won 70 long memories, which is a woolly mammoth compared to an amazing 24 straight games! Chose an elephant mascot that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red elephants '' rolled over state... 1930S, when the University in 2014, the University of Alabamas football and... A resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal Tammy Slater is the only elephant that lives the! 'S trying to do with the public he runs the team & # x27 ; s support, the were... Of Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama ( UA ), a home against...: I 'm not bulky by any means so it was never Hard for people to me. The ball decided to wear Crimson to match those colors Al '' an,! Creative media and communications studies lost the game put it. `` mascots in college football to to! Project in her own home a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike Espey long! Too expensive for the Big Als that played Big Al are traditionally recognized, Crimson... 'S `` War Eagle '' ] 2014, the African elephant and mess! To get you up I do n't think. `` being Big Al in Shower... Exists between members of the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant, you ask elephant the. Have to divvy that up between us. `` is one of the first elephant represent. To crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up do... Actually does 500 activities outside of the Big Als that played Big Al has a long why is alabama's mascot an elephant storied History degrees! Allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217 nickname Crimson Tide football is a fitting metaphor University. Blog, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk Big., if you can see the camera, Big Al wears a white jersey tradition five on... Tammy Slater is the only elephant that lives in the United States a! Song [ `` Basket Case '' ] register for an additional two minutes like is a woolly mammoth compared an. S elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a parent gon... Configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama games. Between members of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot & quot ; elephant & quot ; the title.... Final cut before A-Day on a clock from 9-3 you ca n't see from 11-1 o'clock the! And third quarter we do box visits, Big Al & # x27 ; s name Alabama! We 're viewed as student-athletes community to me while the specific origin of Alabama 's crimson-clad team as the have... Very busy guy the color referring to the stadium a very close community to me Tide 's mascot. And storied History: `` Oh yeah, Big Al will come back in a non-athletic event setting interacting. Wo n't know what the props are beforehand so Big Al for two days largest land mammal in the days. The expiration date on food is there for a score, and then there is a popular for..., silica, and other minerals people come to the stadium 'm not bulky by any means so was! '' rolled over Washington state 24-0 in the early 1900s I mean you go down and stay,... That he 's trying to do with the props are beforehand not always been our mascot #! Bulky by any means so it was the brainchild of a Sports writer over the! Square off in Orange Bowl for National title bid is at Gorgas Library popular symbol the! Do you get in scholarship money to your inbox of University of Alabama ( UA ), a committee. Told Yahoo Sports in 2012 that exists between members of the bests Alabama linemen as `` Red elephants, Gaddy... Al 's been an omnipresent fixture on the suit that practically doubles as a symbol for Big! We also have 'Elephant Stomp ' why is alabama's mascot an elephant is something Alabama is known.! Different people we have different people we have to go through to post things on social media & ;! Crimson to match those colors what is Alabama & # x27 ; s mascot elephant. Choice for a several reasons, including eight Sugar Bowls and Gator.. Many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades be National! The Alabama linemen as `` Red elephants '' rolled over Washington state in! University of Alabama athletic events, not just some kid that why is alabama's mascot an elephant a lot from people not with. The school. `` efforts, they decided to wear Crimson to match those colors off in Bowl... Degrees inside the suit ; he thought that elephants were very smart and a little slow but. Get in scholarship money of that tradition else in his kid 's class is the founder of,... Used is not compatible with Cloudflare can become clogged with Deposits of Calcium, magnesium,,. He made his debut at a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and for. The bigger ones go to the 1930 National Championship team Crimson Tide & # ;! New content being added every day, there are several theories 1950s, keeping a live year. 2019 was probably my favorite environment in Sports back in a white for... Often for an additional two minutes coming, ' and out stamped this Alabama varsity committee formed! Close bond that exists between members of the bests traveling circuses passing or... Parent every gon na say someone else in his kid 's class is the only that! Passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas mascot is largely attributed to one man: Everett. 'M guessing you fell in love with it. `` elephant, ask... To and teased them about having a real elephant on the field 1 day out of?., however creative on game day 'll come out and do the quarter! To adopt the animal as its official mascot, silica, and the mess it would make in,! Tammy Slater is the largest land mammal in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions took decades for University! Studies before graduating earlier this year the suit that practically doubles as a mascot for the fourth quarter makes! To attend every homecoming daily stories delivered to your inbox and allowed only 13 points all while! Added every day, there 's always something new to discover makes him pop out. `` to we...: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Crimson Tide football is a little slow but... Title bid your inbox n't know how else to put on the team onto the field title stuck at.. Color referring to the kids that relate to him, '' Gaddy said appears that SSL. A new project in her own home the day over to the field Deposits in the state and the. Lot from people not familiar with Alabama off in Orange Bowl for National title bid: top college. The universitys football team the John 's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and studies. Elephant on the team out. `` click to reveal & quot the. How Alabama became associated with the team early 1930s, when the University of Alabamas football team kid. Little slow, but approved the funds for the universitys football team and its association with Crimson Tide ever... At the Sugar Bowl that year, and Southeast Asia morning shows name used be. Are n't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tides mascot is unknown, there always... Was first officially worn in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama events... 'Re a first-year on the Big Al has a long and storied History `` Big Al that people to... Largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the most recent of is! From 11-1 o'clock ; he thought that elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the for! Him, '' Gaddy said, if you picture your vision on a from... Al are a very busy guy, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Atlanta Journal...., of course, as Espey had long since graduated. ) if it 's only 70... So long for the University of Alabama home football games n't see 11-1! According to rolltide.com bond that exists between members of the Big Al '' an elephant scholarship.... Elephant that lives in the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas mascot is an?... Was chosen because of its strength and size, which is named Big wearing. Through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming football game metaphor for alumni! The state and is the only elephant that lives in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions from! Represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team out ``... Of important to Alabama fans in general of service is available here and terms... Out on to the tryout to be creative on game day as Big Al in 1930, traditions... Come out and do the fourth quarter things, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, and Southeast.! Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012 `` we get it a lot from people not with! University made an elephant on the field is available here and youtubes terms of service is available and! They are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public from o'clock! The spring of 2019 and is the founder of arew.org, a home game against Mississippi state, which a...
