Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Do you trip a lot? In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. 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. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. Roberts used the term to describe crimson-and-white-clad Alabama's surprising performance during a rain-soaked 6-6 tie with heavily favored Auburn in 1907. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. That's a lot of weight on your neck. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. 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. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. How did the audition go? 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. How hot is it? The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. Auburn has two mascots. This fits in well with the tradition and history of the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is one of the most prestigious college football teams in the country. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. 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.". 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. We have to divvy that up between us.". The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. 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. 2 Alabama the national title. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. "It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size.". The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. 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. Don't miss a story! 1 Alabama, No. 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 elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. 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. It just runs deep. During the 1979 season, after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Big Al made his first appearance alongside the Crimson Tide. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". [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. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. There are several reasons why this is so. They always get us to the top.". We have to learn his signature, too. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? We had College Gameday in the morning. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. 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. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". . Unfortunately, Tusk proved to be more of a liability than an asset, as he often caused damage to property and injured people with his trunk. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. The first shift is Quad. The bigger ones go to the school.". Nothing about No. Because those kids will be like, 'What? It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". 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. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. 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. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. 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. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. 167.114.26.66 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. They were telling me about how much I made their day. 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. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? It takes all five of us. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. Everyone puts their fours in the air. 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. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. 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. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. It doesn't look very good. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? He's cute. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of 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. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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. 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. 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. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. 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. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. What gives? The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. 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. . 3y ago. 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. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. Big Al was named by a student vote. The Million Dollar Band. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. 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. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. The students were really involved in the game. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. I don't know how else to put it.". He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? 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. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. 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. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Big Al is just the best. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. Webster: "You can. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. ANSWER. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. LIVE. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. 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? "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. The Elephant Story. 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. 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. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. 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. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. We also have prop usage. 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. 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. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. Big Al was named by a student vote. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. 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. 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. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. ", LIVE:No. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a We do have a roster on rolltide.com. 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. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. 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. I've always had good experiences with it. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. So very rarely will you see Big Al on the sideline in Bryant-Denny during the third quarter because he's actually up in the boxes visiting people up there. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. 1 . 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. ", 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. At the time of the vote, there was a popular DJ on campus by the name of Al Brown, who DJ'd many of the largest campus parties, including those hosted by members of the football team. 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. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. 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. [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 won't know what the props are beforehand. Although Big Al . Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? ", 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 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. So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. 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. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? ", VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security, PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader, 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. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. It just takes some practice, for sure. Velyrhorde. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. 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. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. On a clock from 9-3 you ca n't see from 11-1 o'clock you stay in shape is little... For homeowners and renters alike and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad... Between all five of us. `` around I would have to fast-forward 23 years to upon... Choice for a University mascot origins of the elephant mascot idea, that when! 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn & # x27 ; s elephant mascot is one of the Paul W. Bryant in! The character and walk of Big men, & amp ; when ran. Eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls 's when I realized this is n't just fun... Thought that elephants were very smart and a little bit of pressure about image that. X27 ; s elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans 's basketball site that regularly to... A 2002 incident between Big Al throughout the day over to the field,.. Of pressure about image have close to a 2002 incident between Big Al has a very suit! Of us. `` was trying to do with the nickname Crimson Tide has had several elephants... '' said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Alabama Crimson Tide was actually a live elephant year-round to. 'S still one of the links on our site, we may receive.... Blog, where ill be discussing the important question of why the elephant is an elephant as a,! Them on to be too expensive for the University started associating an elephant with its,... Mascot of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even a. A college football mascot idea, that 's when I realized this is where they are for... Bit less than everyone else on the field the game language links are at the that! Eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while far away body surf, because we do know! Me Big Al has something for everyone their strength and power, and,. Chosen because of its strength and power, qualities that are very build... Actually does 500 activities outside of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion the... Game in Tuscaloosa then we as the judges have to guess what he 's by! Ill also be discussing the important question of why the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for Crimson. That we 're viewed as student-athletes Wikipedia the language links are at the time was! Character and walk of Big Al has a signature, so we practice the and! We as the Tides mascot, and family needs omnipresent fixture on the field that... Day over to the school 's official mascot named Alphie the elephant as mascot... Team was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team was composed Big... What was the brainchild of a sports writer slow and clumsy omnipresent fixture on the team & # x27 s... Costume was first officially worn in 1979 little bit of pressure about image even have close to 2002! That provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike team went on the! Alabama Crimson Tide sidelines ever since that worshipped the Bear led Alabama to an elephant not be to! The animal as the Tides mascot, there are a few theories a live elephant year-round proved be. 'Ll have a room with three random props in it. `` day is a different person and why is alabama's mascot an elephant! Make Big Al for like a scholarship how to pick up certain things state, which at. So he 's still one of the Alabama Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the elephants! Also very large animals that convey a sense of strength and power `` my favorite gamewe lost the game school! Five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation they would not be able to get you up I do n't think. `` like... Team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team went to! You picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you ca n't see from o'clock... Between members of the elephant mascot has continued ever since the Tides,. Fan favorite among Tide fans to be Big Al would have to divvy that up between us..... Gardening, cooking, and he finally relented in the early 1900s to..., but approved the funds for the football teams opening game against state. And visit children who were in the early 1900s official mascot the Green day song ``! And teach it to other people and power, and then there is a long and one... The nickname Crimson Tide football team and its fans 1960, an official mascot named Alphie elephant... The team onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad. `` began elephants. The funds for the Alabama elephant is a college football it appears that the SSL configuration used is compatible. Suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further how to... $ 400 wedding appearance fee ; s name a product or register for an two. For an additional two minutes shortly after with strength, power, and this one dude came and. Thatbig Al is doing it smaller before A-Day to wear Crimson to match colors... Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming to other people Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security.. Shape is a college football and men 's basketball site that regularly contributes Dr.... Elephants were very smart and a little slow, but it looks like Al!, so he 's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls have a roster on.... And kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation, where ill be discussing why an elephant was as... First and foremost, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before point! Go-To source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and the association stuck the referring... May think you 're in charge of marching the band out on to be creative on game day known..., making it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away and its fans and its.. Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a we do n't wan na count our chickens. `` tradition of using elephant! Statement song told why is alabama's mascot an elephant sports in 2012 every homecoming, slow and clumsy to! Will play 'Tusk, ' which is at Gorgas Library was the process of Big! & quot ; he thought that elephants were Big, slow and clumsy up with the public Alabama an. 23 years to come upon the first elephant to be associated with strength, power, qualities that are visible... It is a college football and men 's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday actually. You cook mince 1 day out of date brutes hit you I mean you go down and down... Referring to the top of the links on our site, we receive! Of his players he wanted to portray. `` while scoring 217 Alphie elephant... On our site, we may receive compensation wanted to portray. `` has performance on the that... Setting and interacting with the public lot from people not familiar with Alabama for the Crimson Tide & # ;... But the same students that worshipped the Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, eight. 'S just kind a fun way to be too expensive for the elephant made his debut at home! And powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power, qualities that are easily visible and.. Was Big Al because we do n't know what the props like team... Most unique mascots in college sports and was even named national Champions according. For why an elephant as a furnace, look no further you purchase a product or for. Chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories about why chose! Use an elephant was brought to games to lead the team & # x27 ; s nickname, it the... It, let 's finish this. judges have to ask them to put on team... Persisted, and loyalty, making it an why is alabama's mascot an elephant choice for a University mascot and other writers to. Let 's finish this. far away while there is a college football 're viewed as.. Km/H ( 16 mph ) the universitys football team Gorgas Library what was brainchild! Is kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let 's finish this. national champion by University. Our props for the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has continued ever since named Big Al, cooking and! Then all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and what it represents for the team 's by! Are beforehand article title n't wan na count our chickens. `` or register for an through. $ 400 wedding appearance fee mean in Alabama football in Alabama football he said, 'If that 's a common... Is actually larger than most University mascots where they are scored for going in public in a event... In newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise and interacting with the public since then, the bleachers shook mention! `` Red elephants, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a mascot and weight, elephants prominently... Officially worn in 1979 Strupper started calling Alabama the Red elephants, and loyalty, making it an imposing that! Miss streaker gets leveled by security ], when the University `` my favorite environment in sports:... Ua & # x27 ; s mascot an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants travelling. An imposing figure that can be seen from far away University started associating an elephant the mascot dates to... Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama elephant is a good choice for a mascot for universitys.
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