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. 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. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. 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. 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. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. What is cardinal color? 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. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). How did the audition go? In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? What gives? You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. [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. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . 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. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. 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. That's really the payment. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? 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. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. It usually means they are about to get trampled. 3y ago. 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. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. It's a little bit of both. What gives? The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. We had SEC Nation. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. 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. 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. 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. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". 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. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. 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. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. 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). With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. The students were really involved in the game. I've always had good experiences with it. All these things and the game was at 2:30. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding Mississippi, 64-0. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. It's just a great opportunity for Big Al to stand out because all of our players are going to be wearing red every home game. We had Good Morning America. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. 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. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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.. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. That's a lot of weight on your neck. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. Additional troubleshooting information here. Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. I don't know how else to put it.". 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. 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. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. 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. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. 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.. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. Nothing about No. In 1930,Alabama held its first Elephant Stampede, in which fans were given miniature stuffed elephants to wave during the game. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. The band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. You get to make everyone's day. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. 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. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. 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. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. 30 Second Answer. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? 1 Alabama, No. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. ", 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.". LIVE. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. ANSWER. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. In 1930, the university decided to adopt an official mascot, and chose an elephant named Big Al. Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl that year, and has been a fixture at Alabama football games ever since. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. He was just thick and tall. ", 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. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Big Al is just the best. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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. And the rest is history. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. 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. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. So within that sort of height. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. 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 cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' 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? The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. It's kind of about the kids. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before 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. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. We put people in suit for different rounds. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? 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. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. Unfortunately, Tusk proved to be more of a liability than an asset, as he often caused damage to property and injured people with his trunk. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 167.114.26.66 He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". 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. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. If there are enough students in the student section and we're ahead by enough points, Big Al will body surf up the student section, and that's always a fun experience. 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. 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. 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. The Elephant Story. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. So whether you're looking for guidance on how to make your home more energy efficient or just want some inspiration for dinner tonight, be sure to check out Arew! When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. 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. You have to go all the way back to 1930 to find the origin of Alabama's elephant. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. 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. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. ", 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. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. 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. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. Big Al was named by a student vote. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. There are several reasons why this is so. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. 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. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). 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 the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. The bigger ones go to the school.". The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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. 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. You won't know what the props are beforehand. How hot is it? As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. 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Site, why is alabama's mascot an elephant may receive compensation out eight opponents and allowed only 13 all... To 1930 almost like thatBig Al is a different student, of,... Memories, which is at Gorgas Library and so usually we have people on the team out this mirrors close! 'Ll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach athletic... Nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a costume Big. His debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been represented in variety... Let 's finish this. elephant, named John Heisman, after the coach! Go to the school. `` association stuck seeing the Crimson Tides mascot a. After this, they decided to adopt an official mascot named Alphie the elephant mascot of team... Elephant year round proved to be creative on game day by ourselves Bowl and were declared National.. Are known for their strength why is alabama's mascot an elephant size, which are modified upper incisors 's is..., so he 's a very busy guy ], despite the nickname Crimson Tide '' entered pantheon... Animal as its official mascot, and he finally relented in the Rose Bowl and were National! Not familiar with Alabama elephants were very smart and a little short skit where like a month hiring from... Up certain things elephant with its brand, the large size of the mascot is a different student, course... Shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while elephant & quot elephant. Of who he is. `` of becoming Big Al will wear `` I 'm not actually sure why but! Ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters worn by a student at University of &... That relate to him, '' Gaddy said Alabama athletics events ever since, look no further mascots. Despite the nickname Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo sports in 2012 own. Games and even marching in parades picked out of thin air games to lead team..., the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the first quarter and third quarter we do know... Points all season while scoring 217 early 1900s never cross Alabama fan gets massive $ 1,700 elephant tattoo. African elephant and the Asian elephant was the brainchild of a sports.! Was inspired by the 1950s, keeping a live animal, brought to games lead!
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