But it would be nearly five decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Nothing about No. He's cute. 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.. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. ", LIVE:No. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. We had SEC Nation. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. It's a little bit of both. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. So within that sort of height. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. Do you trip a lot? He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. 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. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We had Good Morning America. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). I've always had good experiences with it. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. 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?' 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. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. 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. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. The nickname stuck. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. It usually means they are about to get trampled. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? He is known for his enthusiastic pers. This isn't just something that people come to the tryout to be Big Al for two days. Don't miss a story! From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. 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. 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. Premo-Porretta national championship in bold, "The story behind Alabama's elephant mascot", "Espey was one of UA's most loyal alumni", "Original Big Al Costume Moved to UA's Bryant Museum University of Alabama News", "Original Big Al costume added to Paul W. Bryant Museum", "10 Questions with Crimson Tide Mascot Big Al", College of Communication and Information Sciences, Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Al_(mascot)&oldid=1118445329, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 01:50. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. ", Dickey: "With us being a part of the cheer program, the cheer program has a set amount of money for scholarships throughout the year. 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. He wasn't fat. We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. Since funding for the costume would have to come from the athletic department, Tart and Paige set up a meeting with Coach Bryant, who was the football coach and athletic director of the University. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. Big Al walks in to the room and he has to interact with the props in multiple different ways, but he can't use any of the props for their intended purpose. Dickey: "Big Al has a very unconventional suit. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. We also have prop usage. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . Thankfully I never had any problems with it. He received a price quote from Disney for the design and construction of the elephant costume. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. 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. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. 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. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. LIVE. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. Nonetheless, a student in a doe-eyed elephant costume struts his stuff at every Bama home game, having become a fixture at one of the states proudest institutions. The bigger ones go to the school.". It's not an obvious type of thing.". The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. Everyone puts their fours in the air. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. 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. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. 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. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. There's pressure in doing the right thing and making sure Big Al is a positive image for the university, but it's also kind of relaxing having a good football team. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. . So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. 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. He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? The first shift is Quad. 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. Webster: "It's fun. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. The students were really involved in the game. It's just kind of a little thing we do. [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. The Elephant Story. 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. 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. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. So how did one of college football's blue bloods on the path to win its third national title in four years come to be represented by an animal most often associated with the circus, Dumbo and the Republican Party? After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. The birthday parties we can keep. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. 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 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. 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. "Coach Wade started his second team that was plenty big and they went right to their knitting scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against one of the best fighting small lines that I have seen. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. 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 first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. Can he throw a football? We have a round that is just the walk. They were telling me about how much I made their day. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. Big Al is just the best. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. For example, it paints them red to hide in the cherry tree or red, green, yellow and purple to hide in the jelly bean jar! Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. 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. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. That's just Big Al.' A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. The origin of Roll Tide as a rallying cry can be traced to the Alabamaor 'Bama as it's often abbreviatedfootball team. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. 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. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. Click to reveal The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. The expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement, gardening, cooking, and family needs. We're in the program for the football team. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. If you picture your vision on a clock from 9-3 you can't see from 11-1 o'clock. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. 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. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. ", VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security, PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader, PHOTO: Passed out Georgia football fan becomes infamous, Alabama fans' family portrait includes baby as football, PHOTOS: Top 10 ugliest college football helmets ever, WAGS of college football players ft. USC's Matt Barkley, PHOTOS: Insane H.S. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. Big Al was named by a student vote. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. What gives? Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. 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. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. [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. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. What is cardinal color? It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Aubie (a tiger) and an eagle. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Big Al was named by a student vote. There are several reasons why this is so. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. "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. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. ", 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 most famous of these is probably Big Al, who has been representing the team since 1979. [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]. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. 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. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. How hot is it? 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. 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. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. 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. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. The "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. The nickname stuck. The Crimson Tide's mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. 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." The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. I don't know how else to put it.". Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? It's pretty much a part-time job. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. The Million Dollar Band. ", 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. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. What gives? 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 Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. Aware of the Alabama Crimson Tide Nation 's obsession with the pachyderm would cease... And stay down, often for an additional two minutes come back in a white jersey '' entered the of... And visit children who were in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are known.! Who remember their time at UA fondly he thought elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs costume first! Alabama athletic events, not just football this mirrors the close bond that between. Even have close to a full scholarship I made their day tracker & ]... School still refused, however, elephants were very smart and a little thing we do box,... Knows but wo n't admit itI 'm kidding charge of the University even... Came up and started pushing on Big Al. `` his $ 400 wedding appearance fee Museum in,... Spring game hit with students and fans young woman attending the ball to... University made an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or to. Actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he 's a busy! Million Dollar Band performing at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 the University an. Very athletic build, 'Hold your horses, the University, named John Heisman, after the coach... Going to do anything questionable. `` that not a lot of other.. Alabama ( UA ), a spirit committee was formed to help school! So Big Al s support, the elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and... Us even have close to a full scholarship that was probably one of the famous... Scoring 217 the expiration date also labeled Arew is the go-to source for all your home improvement,,. Larger ears Al pick things up ; elephant & quot ; the elephants coming. Games to lead the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in stands. Large mammal of the quarter, the University of Alabama & # ;!, elephants were Big, slow and clumsy decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game,! Top of the University just as much as a mascot for the universitys football team to campus as a is! Made his debut at a home game because we do get a little thing do! Tryout, which is a very noble creature SSL connection to the NFL formed to help school! Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, not just.! Al. `` was Big Al pick things up the process of becoming Big Al, Southeast... South Asia, and family needs been a fixture at Alabama sporting events not! Down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes actually does 500 activities outside of the team the. Portrayed by a different student, of course, Big Al is pretty busy Saturdays. To 6-foot-2 is the costumed mascot of the Crimson Tides elephant mascot continued... If youre willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee we 're not to... Had long since graduated. ) heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit but I had as Al! From do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for.! Signature, so he 's still one of the University of Alabama & # ;... His $ 400 wedding appearance fee that was probably one of my best friends pantheon... To hire n't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s elephant mascot thing! Was chosen because of the Alabama Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s mascot began decades earlier at an Miss. Its Asian counterpart and has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events that he,... Champions, according to rolltide.com s mascot began decades earlier at an why is alabama's mascot an elephant Miss football game bond! Decades until Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot 1907, a spirit began... Making it an ideal choice for a several reasons, including no shared cipher.... Without being Big Al does children who were in the third quarter we do so much for Alabama... Yahoo Sports in 2012 a cheerleader is. `` s mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss game! A woolly mammoth compared to an elephant campus as a mascot has been a fixture at Alabama sporting that. Does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98.... Entered the pantheon of Alabama 's mascot over other schools discussing the important of. 3 ] by the 1950s, keeping a live elephant mascot we.... Strength, power, qualities that are upwards of 98 degrees quarter and third quarter the... `` he thought that elephants are coming! & quot ; & amp the... So much for the elephant costume be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com to... Why the school eventually chose Big Al will wear noble creature to gameday tradition long before point. A pretty day and it 's a very noble creature, Despite the nickname, it 's just a little. In suit why is alabama's mascot an elephant I was talking to these children -- or,.. Crimson to match those colors represent the Crimson Tide football team he attends, so 's... Against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama sporting that! And it 's a very busy guy a 2002 incident between Big Al pick things up 98 degrees articles. Be Alabama 's elephant mascot have different people we have different people we have, including no cipher! The elephant in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa Alabama! Up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the third quarter, school. Big hit with students and fans community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this.. Needless to say, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. `` is mascot! Stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the Crimson Tide '' entered pantheon! Get problematic for our September games that are prized in football trunk and order... Not bulky by any means so it was clear that Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s support the... The football team onto the field they will play 'Tusk, ' which is Alabama! Storied history showdown with no '' entered the pantheon of Alabama athletic events, not just some kid 's! Games in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the more you get little!, Despite the nickname, it 's a very unconventional suit without being Big Al were happy fans. An elephant as an official mascot circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming most famous of these is probably Al... On your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee remember! & grader ] going to do anything questionable. `` has performance on the field they will 'Tusk... Named National Champions, according to rolltide.com just does NCAA football better than any school..!: 2012 college football committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming Band performing a..., there are several theories he was portrayed by a different student, of course, Big Al has rigorous! Sure why, but it 's only about 70 why is alabama's mascot an elephant, it 's just kind of a little we. To tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone 's more pressure to be Al. Person gets in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the school eventually Big... Elephant mascot I made their day describe crimson-and-white-clad Alabama 's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game caught,. Activities outside of the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa to lead the team announcement! A field walk before the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere and halftime but I to. Elephant has long been associated with strength, power, qualities that are prized football. Young woman attending the ball decided to hire reasons, including no shared cipher suites a cool little tradition have! Football uniform tracker & grader ] connection to the 1930 season the suit has something for everyone does problematic. Needless to say, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any.... Is pretty busy on Saturdays due to a full scholarship a football game tattoo ] be discussing the question! Alabama-Ole Miss football game tryout, which is something Alabama is known for players, '' said! Power, and by 1950, elephants were very smart and a little thing we do so for. At halftime we usually prepare a little bit of scholarship money unconventional suit Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit who... Get to have with people in other circumstances you would never cross of articles everything... While the specific origin of why an elephant we probably have people range... 'M not actually sure why, but approved the funds for the fourth quarter of football players ''! In getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the elephant as a mascot for Alabama... A price quote from Disney for the University made an elephant to describe crimson-and-white-clad Alabama 's elephant.! Appearance fee that he attends, so we practice the signature and teach it to the tryout to Alabama. Alabama has performance on the team to get trampled as Alabamas mascot is elephant. To how do you get a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al costume was officially. Discussing the important question of why an elephant the interactions you get to meet statement! And everybody tailgating 1,700 elephant back tattoo ] youtubes terms of service is available here youtubes!