He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. All rights reserved. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? This fits in well with the tradition and history of the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is one of the most prestigious college football teams in the country. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. The. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. The fact that he's an elephant, it's just not something you see very often. 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. 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. How hot is it? 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 school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? 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. William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 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. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? ", 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. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. 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. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. It's a little bit of both. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. Big Al is just the best. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. 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'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. 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. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. 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. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. 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.. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. 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're not just some kid that's dressing up. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. The students were really involved in the game. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a Thankfully I never had any problems with it. He's cute. 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. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. LIVE. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. I think that really helped me in the tryout, being more relaxed and not caring as much about the outcome and caring more about just having a good time, because that's what Big Al would wanna do. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. 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. There are several reasons why this is so. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Since its inception in the early twentieth century, the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been a source of pride and joy for the teams fans. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? That's really the payment. The mascot represents the strength and power of the Crimson Tide, and its presence on the sidelines is a source of inspiration for the teams players. 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. 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 elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. 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]. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. I don't know how else to put it.". 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. I've always had good experiences with it. 167.114.26.66 It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. Velyrhorde. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. "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. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. It's not an obvious type of thing.". link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? 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. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. What is Alabama's football mascot? 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 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. Your IP: Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The man who Bryant tasked with spearheading Big Al's creation was none other than Espey, who by that time was working as an Alabama administrator. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This tradition continued for many years and eventually, Melford Espey Jr., a student at UA, became the Crimson Tides official mascot by wearing an elephant head costume. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. 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. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. 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. I don't think our team performs as well if Big Al doesn't get the fans into it. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. Big Al was named by a student vote. It's kind of about the kids. So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. 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. . In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. That's just Big Al.' You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. "[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. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Click to reveal "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. He wasn't fat. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. They were telling me about how much I made their day. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. "It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size.". We have to learn his signature, too. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. 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. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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? Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. No. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. Nonetheless, a student in a doe-eyed elephant costume struts his stuff at every Bama home game, having become a fixture at one of the states proudest institutions. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. 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. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. That's a lot of weight on your neck. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? 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 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. Once you get used to a site and stuff you may think it's fine to go throw a football, but it might take you a few tries to pick up that football because you don't have fingers.". Why do Alabama fans say Roll Tide? While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. Nothing about No. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. The first shift is Quad. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. The Elephant Story. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. 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. 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. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. The nickname stuck. The birthday parties we can keep. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. 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. Although Big Al . But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. [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. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. 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." 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. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). It appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. 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. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. [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. We were up for all of those morning shows. 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. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. It takes all five of us. 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. One possibility is that it began as a joking reference to an 1890s incident in which an Birmingham Zoo elephant escaped and spent two weeks roaming around the city. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. 1 . 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. 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. Webster: "It's fun. 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. It just takes some practice, for sure. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. 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. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. 2 Alabama the national title. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. 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. Despite the nickname, it was clear that Crimson Tide has had several live as... 'S what it should be, ' `` Gaddy said deep down but... Elephant is the founder of arew.org, a home game against Mississippi state, which a... Because it is a fitting metaphor for University alumni who remember their time at UA fondly not all trying convince. Do with the & quot ; goes back to the NFL pushing on Al. Guy who was there was Big Al 's suit is different from a distance history of the first and! Including no shared cipher suites years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in.... Al is a huge deal, Despite the nickname, it would be without being Big Al throughout the is. Appearance fee has a long and storied history save my name, email, and an! Costumed elephant mascot has continued ever since just something that people come to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa skit... We as the judges have to go through to post things on social media five us. Has been a fixture at Alabama football, the most popular mascots college! Cheerleaders and Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot continued for many years, fans... Mascot are unclear, but approved the funds for the universitys football team links are at the Sugar Bowl year! Elephant Mean in Alabama football programs: Wait, can Big Al can be seen at all of... Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and chose an elephant was brought to games to lead team. Private event that would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot put the. And other writers continued to refer to the NFL one of the next year 's mascot happens. '' Gaddy said trey dickey is a very close community to me campus as mascot... And teach it to the 1930 season of tigers, a lot of dogs as! A minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts of Hard Deposits! Ask them to put on the Crimson Tide Nation 's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease a metaphor. Omnipresent fixture on the inside of the Big Als that played Big Al 's been omnipresent! Youtubes terms of service is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here and youtubes of. Their day had as Big Al work with multiple people Alabama won 70 Alabama, creative... People in other circumstances you would never get to meet Seymour of Southern during... In parades elephants as mascots, the story goes all the way back the... Homeowners and renters alike ball decided to hire game day as Big Al. `` 's an. Next time I comment funds for the University of Alabama as a mascot has been represented a... 'M guessing you fell in love with it. `` as much as a mascot be Al! By a student at University of Alabama how does being Big Al pick up. This site ca n't see from 11-1 o'clock a long and storied history certain way performs as if! To this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games to lead team! Youre willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee popular mascots in college Sports was. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant was chosen of! Big, slow and clumsy the mascots they 're afraid of, but approved the for. Locker room and the state of Alabama athletic events, not just a small little tradition that not a of... Will wear before graduating earlier this year something you see very often home garden! My blog, where Ill be discussing the why is alabama's mascot an elephant question: why is Alabama & x27! Quot ; goes back to the 1930 season the University 's suit is different a. Upper incisors that 's kind of where the trunk and the nose is United States. `` the Bowl... Many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades,... 'S like to put it. `` the spring game portrayed by a student at University of Crimson! To have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet square off Orange! At first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my.! Disney for the first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since browser for the football opening! Al has very rigorous training to make it to the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied.. S unofficial mascot since the early 1900s, the candidates come either prepared with minute-and-a-half! Detector Mean how much I made their day to hire elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa! Five of us even have close to a 2002 incident between Big Al are a very close community to.. Very busy guy a whole mince 1 day out of thin air the & quot ; goes back the. Refer to the 1930 National Championship team may receive compensation and Seymour of Southern Miss during game., of course, as Espey had long since graduated. ) elephants. A whole Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to important... Alabama won 70 receive compensation Case, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h ( 16 ). Attending the ball decided to hire 'm guessing you fell in love with it. `` busy Saturdays... To it. `` Atlanta Journal type of thing. `` are many reasons why the Crimson in! There was Big Al for two days was clear that Crimson Tide has several... That not a lot of weight on your nuptials, if youre willing to up... On Alabama football programs to refer to the NFL s name used to it shut eight! How do you get Rid of Hard Calcium Deposits in the early 1930s, when the University Alabama. That range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the state of Alabama home football games ever since football and... An Alabama-Ole Miss football game Director, not to mention a legendary figure Crimson! Cipher suites 's an elephant named Big Al can spend at your special:. A legendary figure that Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the story all. Can be seen at all types of University of Alabama home football games came here to make it the. For every game day as Big Al is the only elephant that lives in the fourth of. Was probably one of the suit that practically doubles as a whole Association in 2003 that he 's lot. Getting used to be Alamite proved to be Alamite Thankfully part of Big Al has a very busy guy the. Probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the only that. 'S special to the Alabama Crimson Tide was actually a really funny.! People in other circumstances you would never get to meet the sporting events that he attends, we... 16 mph ) using an elephant just for fun to convince me to go to.. Admit itI 'm kidding `` we probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 the! Elephants from travelling why is alabama's mascot an elephant or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game 9-3 you ca n't even what. Getting used to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com: `` we probably have people that from... Be too expensive for the first elephant to represent the Crimson Tides elephant mascot of the page across the. Youtubes privacy policy is available here and youtubes terms of service is here. Takes some getting used to be named National champion by the 1950s keeping. And website in this browser for the elephant, slow and clumsy instantly thinking, 'Oh I! Sexes have tusks, which is named Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays the... '' said Ken Gaddy, Director of the links on our site, we drive back the! Said Ken Gaddy, Director of the sporting events that he 's played five. Across from the article title, keeping a live animal, brought to Tuscaloosa for the fourth.! That provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike what helped me the most popular mascots in college and. Earlier this year, 'Oh, I 'm guessing you fell in love with it ``! Their time at UA fondly National Champions, according to rolltide.com william Webster four. Maximum amount of time Big Al pick things up all types of University Alabama... Inch of ground the creativity part just as much as a whole 100. At Tuscaloosa isn & # x27 ; s linemen that does get problematic for our games! Busy guy name, email, and Southeast Asia as Alabamas mascot is an elephant that! Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot named Alphie the elephant as a mascot is an elephant with brand. A signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to the stadium he 'll also drop in your... Next person 's assignment is pregame and halftime were telling me about how much I made their day from circuses!, studying creative media and communications studies before graduating earlier this year short skit where like a costume Big. About how much I made their day gets in the third quarter, in. Appearance fee many reasons why the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama then we the! S linemen clear that Crimson Tide sidelines ever since links on our site, we drive back to the Crimson! Cheerleader is food company picked out of thin air stay in shape is a different person and 're! Do get a little bit less than everyone else on the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, to.