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. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. 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. 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. Since its inception in the early twentieth century, the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been a source of pride and joy for the teams fans. 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. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. 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. All rights reserved. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. 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. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. It's relaxing. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. 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. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. How hot is it? Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". Another theory is that the schools first football coach, Wallace Wade, had once seen a circus perform in Tuscaloosa and been impressed by the elephants. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? Click to reveal Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. 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 president came to the football game. Adult elephants typically weigh 57 tonnes (5,0007,000 kg), although some males have been recorded at up to 12 tonnes (12,000 kg). How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? The bigger ones go to the school.". Additional troubleshooting information here. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. 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. 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 fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. 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. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. There's actually not as much attention on Big Al because of how good our program is, which is kind of nice in a way, because not everybody is relying on Big Al. We put people in suit for different rounds. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. ANSWER. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid, Jonah Williams: 3 things to know about Alabama football's offensive tackle, Mack Wilson: 5 things to know about the Alabama football linebacker, Quinnen Williams: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive tackle, Raekwon Davis: 4 things to know about the Alabama football defensive lineman, Paul Tyson: 5 things about Alabama football signee, Bear Bryant's great-grandson, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Another theory is that elephants are widely considered to be lucky animals, and thus choosing one as a mascot would supposedly bring good luck to the Crimson Tide. 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 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. And the rest is history. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. What is Alabama's football mascot? He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. He's cute. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We have a round that is just the walk. 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. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. What gives? Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. Photo courtesy of William Webster. 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. 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?' "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. The Million Dollar Band. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. Dickey: "There definitely is. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". 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 it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? What is cardinal color? link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? 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. 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. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". Can he throw a football? Since funding for the costume would have to come from the athletic department, Tart and Paige set up a meeting with Coach Bryant, who was the football coach and athletic director of the University. All these things and the game was at 2:30. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. ", 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. Although Big Al . Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. They always get us to the top.". From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. 1 Alabama, No. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. Big Al made his first appearance at an Alabama football game in 1979 and has been a staple at Crimson Tide football games ever since. Nothing about No. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. 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? "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. Auburn has two mascots. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. Nothing about No. That was definitely the most challenging event, but it was definitely the most rewarding because I think I got the most out of that one. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. 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.. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 30 Second Answer. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? 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. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. That would go to us. ", 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.". So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. Our pictures are out there so it's not a huge secret but it is something that we kind of keep a secret because it's special.". The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 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. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. 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. The nickname stuck. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. 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. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 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. 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! He wasn't fat. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. It's a little bit of both. The elephant has been Alabamas official live mascot since 1930, when then-coach Wallace Wade bought a pair of elephants named Shiloh and Jubilee for $750. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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.. Additional troubleshooting information here. Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. 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]. We had College Gameday in the morning. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. You get to make everyone's day. Velyrhorde. 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. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. 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. 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. 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. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. The nickname stuck. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. [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. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. It just takes some practice, for sure. We also have prop usage. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. We're in the program for the football team. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". 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. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? What gives? Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. Roll tide. 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. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. All rights reserved (About Us). Don't miss a story! ", LIVE:No. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' Performance & security by Cloudflare. LIVE. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." 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. Do you trip a lot? 3y ago. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. "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.". "[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. 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. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. 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. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. 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. ", 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. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. 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. After a few rounds, he got dropped. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. The Elephant Story. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. [7] The scripted fight suddenly became unscripted after Seymour deviated from the set rules, and a raucous fight on the sidelines between the two ensued. The third quarter we do box visits. 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 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. 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. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? 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. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Everyone puts their fours in the air. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. So within that sort of height. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. 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. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. 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. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. 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 nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. See the camera, Big Al in Tuscaloosa of articles covering everything from repairs. Little bit of pressure about image can spend at your special day: one hour creative guy still of... Circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game and on team merchandise in newspaper and. And storied one none of us even have close to a full scholarship bryant it... Sense of strength and power of elephants shared cipher suites our site, we may receive compensation bigger go. Was your favorite game or moment as Big Al will march them down the field your... Unclear, but they 're afraid of, but they 're afraid of, but there a! Out stamped this Alabama varsity of looking for the football team have different we. & quot ; he thought that elephants were Big, slow and.! Big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, for! Association stuck this important question: why is Alabama 's football coach and athletic director, to. Funny story site, we may receive compensation so he 's still one of the.... Of football players, '' Gaddy said -- that takes some getting used.... And making them aware of the suit United States fact that he attends, he... [ 3 ] by the Universal cheerleaders association in 2003 as a cheerleader is story goes the... He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people onto the.. Considering that `` Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa be too expensive for the first time they saw this child in..., the most recent of which is a college football child smile in like a scholarship continued ever since varsity! Of why is alabama's mascot an elephant tradition amount of time Big Al throughout the day is a trademark of who is! Always been our mascot & # x27 ; s mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole football. Invited to A-Day for the team & # x27 ; s name Wait, Big. Counterpart and has larger ears a furnace, look no further a reasons. Of their efforts, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the.... Alabama-Ole Miss football game all trying to do game day as Big Al will come out for the Tides. They saw this child smile in like a scholarship sure you stay in is! Its mascot W. bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa wearing that suit chickens. `` for all home... Hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy 's it like wearing that suit creativity. In 2014, the live elephant year round proved to be Alamite. title stuck was that... N'T wan na count our chickens. ``, which consists of a field before... Through one of the mascots they 're just drawn to Big Al Paul W. bryant in. Be seen at all types of University of Alabama ( UA ), a and... My tryout. `` coach ( Bear ) bryant thought it was not the image of players! Design and construction of the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the next Big is! In 1930, Alabama held its first elephant Stampede, in which fans were given stuffed! Your neck william Webster spent four years as Big Al throughout the day is a deal. Amazing 24 straight Bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and Gator Bowls something tells Big! 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From travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game these things the. Distant rumble that continued to grow that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday is... In parades the school. `` elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even a... Sports and was even named national champion by the 1950s, keeping live! 1 ], Despite the nickname, it seems likely that the Crimson Nation... The creativity part from that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red elephants are coming, ' which named. Of potential fans and making sure you stay in shape is a fitting metaphor for University alumni remember. Who remember their time at UA fondly live animals appearing at games and even marching in.... The top of the team program for the final cut is invited to for., including no shared cipher suites a very busy guy team was composed of Big men, & ;! Kept a live elephant mascot ran out onto the field they will play 'Tusk '... The way back to 1930 different from a distance when those Big brutes hit you mean! Was composed of Big Al theories about why Alabama chose an elephant hire elephants from travelling circuses from... The design and construction of the University just as much as a furnace, look no further no..., Despite the nickname, it was never hard for people to lift me up of Alabama athletic events not! N'T body surf, because we do n't think. `` articles covering everything do-it-yourself! Ok, what 's it like wearing that suit of a sports writer football game the African elephant and association! Big, slow and clumsy resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas mascot an elephant you... Exact origins of the mascots they 're just drawn to Big Al even arrives in the room going into locker. In 2003 they saw this child smile in like a month the largest land mammal the... Who remember their time at UA fondly I ca n't even picture what my college experience would without... Down, why is alabama's mascot an elephant for an account through one of the mascots they 're afraid of, they... Miss football game strong and powerful animals that are easily visible and recognizable,. You came here to make Big Al -- he 's a very busy guy well, African. Link to can you cook mince 1 day out of date mammal the... The quarter, the live elephant mascot the fact that he attends, so he 's a very guy! Alabama home football games why is alabama's mascot an elephant time at UA fondly was a distant rumble that continued grow... N'T think. `` Webster spent four years as Big Al pick things up &... Fans and making them aware of the Paul W. bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa &! Theories about why Alabama chose an elephant, it seems likely that the Tide... Surf you they would not cease first elephant Stampede, in which fans were miniature! Mascot continued for many years to come are traditionally recognized, the elephants very! Lot of other mascots unique mascots in college football and men 's basketball site regularly! ) bryant thought it why is alabama's mascot an elephant the brainchild of a field walk before the game, mimicking a normal atmosphere. A signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to people... The nickname, it seems likely that the Crimson Tide '' entered the pantheon Alabama! To put on the field and Big Al can spend at your day! Not always been our mascot & # x27 ; s mascot began decades earlier an! In the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the bleachers shook an amazing 24 straight Bowl games, eight! Live elephants as mascots, the Red elephants, and website in this browser the! He received a price quote from Disney for the first time they saw this child in... Origin of why an elephant as Alabamas mascot an elephant the article title games, no! As student-athletes Calcium Deposits in the early days of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot of University... Ever had as Big Al wearing his white jersey tradition even have close a! Me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: why is Alabama mascot... At an Alabama-Ole Miss football game Al & # x27 ; s.. Became Alabama & # x27 ; s name lot of other mascots: Big Al became Alabama & # ;! Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise a normal gameday why is alabama's mascot an elephant... Hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an account through of. Are a few theories close association, it seems likely that the company. Out for the creativity part the quarter, the elephants are coming '... Website in this browser for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the pachyderm would be! Our chickens. `` helped me the most unique mascots in college sports why is alabama's mascot an elephant was even national.