why is alabama's mascot an elephant

Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. 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 first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. Do you trip a lot? ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? 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. Nothing about No. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. After originally going by "varsity," "Crimson White" (the school colors) and "The Thin Red Line," Birmingham Age-Herald sports editor Hugh Roberts coined the term "Crimson Tide" to describe 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game in 1907 that had the 'Bama players looking like a red tidal wave. It usually means they are about to get trampled. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. 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). It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. In addition to leading the football team onto the field before each game, Big Al also participates in community outreach programs and makes appearances at university functions. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? 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. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. 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. 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. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. 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. "Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' 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. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. 1 Alabama, No. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. The Million Dollar Band, the University of Alabama's marching band, was founded in 1912 with 14 members under the direction of Dr. Gustav Wittig. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. He wasn't fat. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. 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]. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 167.114.26.66 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. I've always had good experiences with it. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. 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. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," wrote Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal when describing the Tide's domination of Ole Miss on Oct. 8, 1930. Why is an elephant 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. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). 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. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? 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. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. The students were really involved in the game. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. 1 Answer ANSWER The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. [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. 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. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". What is Alabama's football mascot? Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". 3y ago. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. 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. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . 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. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? What gives? 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. 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 origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. The. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. It's kind of about the kids. Everyone puts their fours in the air. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. 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. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. Don't miss a story! Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. Dickey: "We try to keep it a secret for the most part, because we don't want to be on the Quad as Big Al and there be a bunch of kids around us and some drunk college student come and be like, 'Is that trey in there?' We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. ", 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. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". 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. The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's 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. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. 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. He's cute. 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. ", 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. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Auburn has two mascots. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? 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? That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. 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! So within that sort of height. It's pretty much a part-time job. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. All rights reserved (About Us). This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. The most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. 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. 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. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. They always get us to the top.". It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? 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. 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: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? It's not an obvious type of thing.". There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? 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? The expiration date on food is there for a reason. He was just thick and tall. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. It's just kind of a little thing we do. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. 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. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. 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." Dickey: "There definitely is. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. LIVE. That would go to us. They feel like they'd like to invest back into us, which really means a lot that the university would give money to the cheer program. Additional troubleshooting information here. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. Roll tide. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. The Million Dollar Band. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. 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. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. They were telling me about how much I made their day. 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. 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.". We also have prop usage. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. A majority of the fan base is actually caring about the game, so you can focus on the little kids and the people who really want to see Big Al. 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. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. It just takes some practice, for sure. We had SEC Nation. We put people in suit for different rounds. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. All rights reserved. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. We had College Gameday in the morning. 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. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". It's a little bit of both. We were up for all of those morning shows. I don't know how else to put it.". Big Al is just the best. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. ", 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.". [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. 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. 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. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. 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. 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. 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. Because those kids will be like, 'What? [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. 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. William Webster poses with a fellow Big Al during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on January 7, 2019. 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.

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