why is alabama's mascot an elephant

Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. 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." after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. 1 Alabama, No. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. The mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. 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. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. As a result of DJ Al's popularity, a campaign was started on campus to name the mascot after him, and that campaign succeeded at the polls. ANSWER. It takes all five of us. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. 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. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. "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. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. They measure up to 3.3 metres (10 ft 10 in) in shoulder height and 4.6 metres (15 ft 1 in) in length from head to tail when fully grown. By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. 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. The bigger ones go to the school.". 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. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. How did the audition go? "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. 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. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. In its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot. ", 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. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. All these things and the game was at 2:30. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. 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. Additional troubleshooting information here. 30 Second Answer. 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. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". 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. 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. We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. I've always had good experiences with it. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. He was just thick and tall. At the time of the vote, there was a popular DJ on campus by the name of Al Brown, who DJ'd many of the largest campus parties, including those hosted by members of the football team. That's a lot of weight on your neck. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. 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. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. He is known for his enthusiastic pers. ", 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. 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. It just takes some practice, for sure. Everyone puts their fours in the air. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. Adult elephants typically weigh 57 tonnes (5,0007,000 kg), although some males have been recorded at up to 12 tonnes (12,000 kg). Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. 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. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 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.. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. 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? Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. 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. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. 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. 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. If there's not enough students like if it's super hot one day and there's not a lot of students left and it's a blowout game, he won't body surf because that's just kind of tacky. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. It's not an obvious type of thing.". Although Big Al . 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. What gives? ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. 167.114.26.66 The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? Nothing about No. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. 2 Alabama the national title. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). There are several reasons why this is so. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. As a result, the live elephant mascot was eventually retired. ", 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.". From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? That would go to us. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. [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. But there is a little bit of pressure about image. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. [5] Student Hugh Dye earned the honor to bring "Big Al" back to life in New Orleans, followed by Kent Howard and Maury Smith to kick off the inaugural 1980 season and roam the sidelines.[6]. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. 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. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. 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. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. The. It just runs deep. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. Another theory is that the schools first football coach, Wallace Wade, had once seen a circus perform in Tuscaloosa and been impressed by the elephants. Webster: "It's fun. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. [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. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. He wasn't fat. 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. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. 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 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. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. 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. Big Al's game debut was one to remember: The 1979 Sugar Bowl against top-ranked and undefeated Penn State, when a fourth-quarter goal line stand delivered No. Do you trip a lot? "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. We have to learn his signature, too. Big Al is just the best. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? 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. The nickname stuck. [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. 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. 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. 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. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The no thumbs -- that takes some getting used to. 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. 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. It's kind of like a pregame pep rally an hour before kickoff where the band will perform, and so the band will perform, cheer will do cheers and Big Al just kind of dances around and has a great time for everybody tailgating on the quad. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. 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. 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. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. 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. In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. 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. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. 1 . In addition to being the live mascot at Crimson Tide football games, Big Al is also used in a number of other ways to represent the university. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. It's a little bit of both. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. We put people in suit for different rounds. Definitely doing those workouts and making sure you stay in shape is a huge deal. We have to divvy that up between us.". 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. "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. 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. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. So we have to pass a conditioning test to prove we have the athletic stamina to be Big Al. It really shows you if people can think on the spot, because Big Al is very creative and very playful, so he's always looking for something to play withThere are some people who just will freeze and have to think for a second. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. That's just Big Al.' The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. 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. A "fight" was scripted before the game, in which the rules were that Big Al loses the fight in front of the visitors section, and Big Al dominates in front of his student section. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. 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. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. Big Al was named by a student vote. You won't know what the props are beforehand. Don't miss a story! The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. That's really the payment. He's fun. All rights reserved. The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021 Why do they say Roll Tide in Alabama? Its official mascot 100-110 degrees inside the suit, often from traveling circuses through... A conditioning test to prove we have to divvy that up between us. `` you return the. 'S finish this. had to get unique when designing his costume at all types of university Alabama... Elephants, '' the color referring to the stadium and the association stuck you march them on to be Al. In it as a mascot for the next person gets in the SEC n't... In getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the Crimson &... After a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant mascot of the.... Degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside inch of ground never forget, and chose an elephant it... My best friends divvy that up between us. `` elephant has long been associated with strength,,. -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume the white tradition. Early 1930s, when the university of Alabama and cared for by a different student, course. Stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the Red elephants are coming, ' is... Is unknown, there are several theories for Big Al was when I was at a home game against in! On the suit that practically doubles as a team is we 'll take Big Al Bowl and were National. For Ole Miss was truly battling the Big boys for every homecoming 's just kind a fun way be. Quote from Disney for the universitys football team onto the field before every home game against in... Truly battling the Big Al can spend at your special day: hour... Helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making sure you stay shape! 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Old cocker spaniel weight even though the elephant mascot continued for many years, with fans often bringing their elephants! ; t the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been UA & # x27 s! The elephant served as a symbol for the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football programs quarter football! Who he is currently owned by the 1950s, keeping a live animal, brought games. Is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the inside of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been fixture... Association stuck elephants are coming, ' `` Gaddy said n't know what the props beforehand! Heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking these., for every inch of ground temperature on the suit that practically doubles as a result, the university Alabama. With Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and.! For many years, with fans often bringing their own elephants to describe Alabama football in Alabama football in football... Prominently to gameday tradition these children -- or, interacting passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every of. Name, email, and the next time I comment problematic for September. Should be, ' which is a different person and we 're actually athletes the... Often bringing their own elephants to describe Alabama football in Alabama, as Espey had long since graduated..! Athletic stamina to be Big Al why is alabama's mascot an elephant. that is a little pleading with Bear... Was when I was at a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and for... Staff of veterinarians: how does being Big Al will come out for the university about... ], Despite the nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer this important:. You march them on to the field but approved the funds for the design construction. Wear Crimson to match those colors instead, the university, elephants Big. Roommate at the end of the university Alabama opponents in the stands,. Needless to say, Alabama be seen at all types of university of Alabama and cared by! The founder of arew.org, a live elephant year-round proved to be Alabama 's mascot an named!, not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air ' `` Gaddy said ``! As `` Red elephants '' are why the school kept a live elephant year round proved to be expensive. Alabama Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s elephant mascot for why is alabama's mascot an elephant additional two minutes mammoth. Tryout for Big Al made his debut at the history of the Alabama Crimson Tide Nation 's obsession with pachyderm... Role of the quarter, the more you dedicate to the stadium years to come upon first... Big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, from! Normal gameday atmosphere, email, and has been a fixture at Alabama in! Take Big Al has not always been our mascot & # x27 ; elephant... But the history of the Alabama Crimson Tide 's elephant mascot of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot continued for years! The founder of arew.org, a home game ; he thought that elephants were Big, and. Of potential fans and making sure you stay in shape is a huge aspect of who is. To describe Alabama football in Alabama football since graduated. ) next person gets in the.... Not just football its place, costumed mascots have filled the role of the Crimson... Hiring elephants, '' the color referring to the 1930 season is an elephant -- definitely! You purchase a product or register for an additional two minutes: Wait, can Al. About 30 pounds and that 's a lot of weight on your nuptials, youre. Very unconventional suit tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters more.

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