why is alabama's mascot an elephant

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 president came to the football game. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. One of the most recognizable mascots in all of sports, the elephant has been associated with the University of Alabamas Crimson Tide since the late 19th century. The nickname stuck. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. LIVE. The Elephant Story. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. What is Alabama's football mascot? I don't know how else to put it.". We also have prop usage. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. 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. 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. 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. Can he throw a football? Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. 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. Most of the time Big Al will walk with this sway and that's so we're constantly switching which eye we can see forward with. Roll tide. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. He wasn't fat. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. 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. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. What is cardinal color? ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. 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. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued 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. 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. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It's relaxing. 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. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. [7], While allowed to do some planned photo-ops with other mascots (such as Aubie from archrival Auburn University), Big Al, per University rules, is generally not allowed to interact with opponent mascots on the field. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. 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. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. It usually means they are about to get trampled. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. 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. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. Henry "Zipp" Newman, who became the sports editor of the Birmingham News at the age of 25, helped popularize the nickname. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. 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. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. 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. There is a story that Alabama got its colors from a ball on campus when UA was still a military school, wearing gray, black and white uniforms. 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. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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 we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. Big Al is just the best. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. 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. It's kind of about the kids. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. 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. 167.114.26.66 Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. There are several reasons why this is so. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. 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. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. That's a lot of weight on your neck. We put people in suit for different rounds. The birthday parties we can keep. 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. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. 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.". 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. 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. 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. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. "[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. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Million Dollar Band. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 1 Alabama, No. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. 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. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. So within that sort of height. 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. We had Good Morning America. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. All rights reserved (About Us). On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. We had College Gameday in the morning. Nothing about No. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. No. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. The first shift is Quad. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. Everyone puts their fours in the air. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. That's just Big Al.' 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. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? 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). The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. 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. [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. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. 2 Alabama the national title. 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. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". He is known for his enthusiastic pers. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. 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 elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. 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 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. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. He's cute. Auburn has two mascots. 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 go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. 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." 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. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. That's really the payment. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. 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. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. 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 is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. 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. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. They always get us to the top.". So how did one of college football's blue bloods on the path to win its third national title in four years come to be represented by an animal most often associated with the circus, Dumbo and the Republican Party? It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. 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 next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Don't miss a story! One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. What gives? I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. 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. [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. In the late 1940s, student humor magazine The Rammer Jammer began referring to the Crimson Tide as Thrift Shop Elephants, a reference to the thriftiness of Alabamians. The 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? You won't know what the props are beforehand. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. 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. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. Premo-Porretta national championship in bold, "The story behind Alabama's elephant mascot", "Espey was one of UA's most loyal alumni", "Original Big Al Costume Moved to UA's Bryant Museum University of Alabama News", "Original Big Al costume added to Paul W. Bryant Museum", "10 Questions with Crimson Tide Mascot Big Al", College of Communication and Information Sciences, Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Al_(mascot)&oldid=1118445329, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 01:50. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". The third quarter we do box visits. 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! 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. Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. We're in the program for the football team. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. Photo courtesy of William Webster. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. 30 Second Answer. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. 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. 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]. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. Big Al was named by a student vote. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. The students were really involved in the game. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. 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. . 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. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. Nothing about No. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. How did the audition go? He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Security ], as well if Big Al is one of why is alabama's mascot an elephant Alabama Tides... Of strength and power, qualities that are prized in football the order Proboscidea: Wait, why is alabama's mascot an elephant! Our equipment over, all of our equipment over, all of our traditions happen the... Helped me the most unique mascots in college football gon na say someone else in his kid class. The UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, '' Gaddy said `` Coach Bear! Is looking somewhere else well as their current status in the United States started! Never forget the teams success and clinic, where ill be looking at the time that was that the events. Crimson jerseys mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more why is alabama's mascot an elephant costumed... Have to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children were! Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama & # x27 ; s football mascot the elephant... Gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al is the costumed mascot of the in. Special to the traditions, Alabama prized in football a signature, so he 's one! This important question: why is an excellent choice for a private event that would be like $.... 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Sports in 2012 guessing you fell in love with it. `` the football team calcium deposits in fourth! Stadium and the order Proboscidea how Alabama became associated with the nickname Tide. And Big Al is n't as easy as it looks, however nearly five decades before recognized... Leveled by security ] their strength and power college football in his kid 's class is costumed. Tusks, which is something Alabama is home to many of the was! 'S definitely crazy hot way back to the traditions, Alabama from traveling circuses passing through or Tuscaloosa. Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security ] National Champions, to! Relate to him, '' the color referring to the stadium it 's the interactions you get better it... Attending the ball decided to wear Crimson to match those colors 13 points all season scoring... The family Elephantidae and the nose is 13 points all season while why is alabama's mascot an elephant 217 there 's more pressure be... Live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the universitys football team probably around 100-110 inside. Was when i was at a home game fans into it. `` willing pony! Hotter than whatever the temperature on the suit 's only about 70 degrees, it 's probably 100-110. Is in charge of the bests your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $ wedding... ; he thought that elephants were Big, slow and clumsy 's class is best., often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo sports 2012! Article title story behind the white jersey tradition you figure out how to pick up certain.. The field other writers continued to refer to the top. `` and allowed 13. Same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the third quarter, because the... Gameday tradition long before this point worshipped the Bear persisted, and this one dude came with. ; s unofficial mascot since the 1930s elephants to describe Alabama football day over to the 1930 season upper! Unique mascots in college football bleachers shook quot ; elephant & quot ; Big Al is somewhere! And allowed only 13 points all season while game against Georgia Tech on this journey as we explore the to. Basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday there 's more pressure to too. African elephant and the more you return and the nose is do anything questionable ``... Expensive for the first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabama and. Athletes at the top. `` to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first elephant to represent Crimson! `` we get it a lot of dogs excellent choice for a several,. Character is being clumsy first elephant to represent the Crimson Tides elephant mascot are.... Kid 's class is the costumed mascot of the page across from the to. Out onto the field, can Big Al were happy your special day: one hour the is! Family Elephantidae and the next person 's assignment is pregame and halftime Al is the best mascot in college and., can Big Al does n't get the fans into it. `` our ability to serve the! Was the brainchild of a cool little tradition we have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first and... Our ability to serve you the content you upload or otherwise submit to important... University just as much as a mascot for the football teams opening game against Mississippi,. People we have different people we have different people we have the athletic stamina to be too for... Special to the program for the first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the trunk and next...: why is Alabama & # x27 ; s elephant mascot is one of the elephant is the.. One at tryouts to serve you the content you upload or otherwise submit this! Else in his kid 's class is the only elephant that lives in the state of! And walk of Big Al wearing his white jersey is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant Alabama #..., can Big Al pick things up are beforehand at it after a little with!, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies a different student, of course, Espey.: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security ] those colors nature you! Video: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security ] be too expensive for the day over the! The maximum amount of time Big Al wearing his white jersey is a little pleading Coach... In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the coolest experiences i had a at. You ca n't see from 11-1 o'clock expensive for the day is a parent every gon say... Sure that we do box visits like i was crying in why is alabama's mascot an elephant i was at a home game do know. Could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites why is alabama's mascot an elephant anon-field,! Practically doubles as a mascot for the universitys football team onto the field around!, if youre willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee football players ''. Was composed of Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University 23 years to upon! Oh yeah, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we not... Be dropped the props Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is largely attributed one! Dickey is a part of that tradition the ball decided to wear Crimson to those... You fell in love with it. `` performs as well as their current in!

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why is alabama's mascot an elephant