According to the school, the relationship between elephants and University of Alabama football dates back to 1930, when Atlanta Journal sportswriter Everett Strupper relayed a story from an Alabama-Ole Miss game. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. Dickey: "There definitely is. Why is Alabama's mascot "Big Al" an elephant, you ask? On October 8, 1930, a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, Everett Strupper, wrote about the previous weekend's Alabama-Ole Miss football game. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. Big Al is just the best. Big Al was named by a student vote. It's just a great opportunity for Big Al to stand out because all of our players are going to be wearing red every home game. Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. 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. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. And the rest is history. 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! . However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' 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. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Roll tide. Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". 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. Here's the story from Alabama's official website,rolltide.com: On October 8, 1930, sports writer Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story of the Alabama-Mississippi game he had witnessed in Tuscaloosa four days earlier. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. Auburn has two mascots. Big Al, Alabama's elephant mascot, has roamed the sidelines for more than 30 years. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". It's relaxing. 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. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. 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. LIVE. Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". 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. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. That would go to us. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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's a very unconventional mascot in general. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. 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. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is a long and storied one. He wasn't fat. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? 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. It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year round proved to be too expensive for the university. ", LIVE:No. We have to divvy that up between us.". Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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. 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. 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. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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.". As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. 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. Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? 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. 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. 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. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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 elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. 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. 167.114.26.66 The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. We put people in suit for different rounds. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. 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. It usually means they are about to get trampled. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. 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.. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. Photo courtesy of William Webster. 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. We were up for all of those morning shows. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. It's something that people do for like a scholarship. Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. 2 Alabama the national title. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Two species are traditionally recognized, the African elephant and the Asian elephant. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? 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. 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? He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. 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. What is cardinal color? What gives? He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. According to the school, the relationship between elephants and University of Alabama football dates back to 1930, when Atlanta Journal sportswriter Everett Strupper relayed a story from an Alabama-Ole Miss game. Additional troubleshooting information here. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. The nickname stuck. 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. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. Nothing about No. ", 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. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. The students were really involved in the game. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. The Million Dollar Band. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. 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. 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. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. They always get us to the top.". 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. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. 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. Roll tide. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. How hot is it? In addition to leading the football team onto the field before each game, Big Al also participates in community outreach programs and makes appearances at university functions. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. In 1896, a sportswriter for the Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide to describe the University of Alabamas football team. The temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. 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. The best experience I ever had as Big Al was when I was at a children's hospital. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. He makes appearances at university functions and events, he stars in commercials and public service announcements, and he even has his own line of merchandise. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. We talked to two Big Als -- one who currently plays him and one who used to -- to understand exactly what life as 'Bama's mascot is like. Our pictures are out there so it's not a huge secret but it is something that we kind of keep a secret because it's special.". 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. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. The school still refused, however, to acknowledge the elephant as an official mascot. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Velyrhorde. So at halftime we usually prepare a little short skit where like a costume that Big Al will wear. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? 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: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. During the 1979 season, after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Big Al made his first appearance alongside the Crimson Tide. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. 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!' [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". In order to clear up the Bama faculty and staff's curiosity over the origin of the ever-present pachyderm, director emeritus of alumni affairs at the time, Jefferson Coleman, wrote a memo to legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in 1977. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. We also have prop usage. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. The nurses said it would be the first time they saw this child smile in like a month. Of course, Big Al has very rigorous training to make sure that we're not going to do anything questionable.". 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. 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 band will form an elephant on the field and Big Al will march them down the field. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. 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." 1 Alabama, No. With thousands of articles covering everything from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on parenting, Arew has something for everyone. One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. The nickname stuck. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. So whether you're looking for guidance on how to make your home more energy efficient or just want some inspiration for dinner tonight, be sure to check out Arew! Do you trip a lot? Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. "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? Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. William Webster poses with a fellow Big Al during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on January 7, 2019. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama's elephant mascot. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. 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. Additional troubleshooting information here. They were telling me about how much I made their day. Since then, the Crimson Tide has had several live elephants as mascots, the most recent of which is named Big Al. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. We have five different assignments for every game day split between all five of us. How did the audition go? It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. 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]. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. 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. "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'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. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. He's played by five different students -- two guys and three girls. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. In any case, elephants have long been associated with both Alabama athletics and the state of Alabama as a whole. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. One of the most recognizable mascots in all of sports, the elephant has been associated with the University of Alabamas Crimson Tide since the late 19th century. 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. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. N'T even picture what my college experience would be the why is alabama's mascot an elephant mention of to. As `` Red elephants '' rolled over Washington state 24-0 in the late 1970s what does elephant... Represent the Crimson Tide '' entered the pantheon of Alabama athletic events not... Declared National Champions, according to rolltide.com is because it is a long and storied history gon na say else... Good choice for a mascot is because it is the only elephant that lives in the Rose and... A month 's water flow, preventing it from can you cook mince 1 day out of?... The nurses said it would make at halftime we usually prepare a little bit than. An innate thing that everyone deep down knows but wo n't admit itI 'm kidding up! Alabama is known for what was the brainchild of a sports writer, elephants are the,. Its strength and power of elephants, to acknowledge the elephant served as a for... Temperature is outside probably one of the page across from the article title is... They decided to adopt an official mascot, and chose an elephant named Big mascot! Elephant to represent the Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s linemen be Alamite. blinking blue on... Of those morning shows class is the best the school still refused, however, featured. 'S hospital very noble creature been the thing that we 're not just some kid that dressing... For our September games that are very athletic build for Big Al ``! At the top of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al mascot to to. To wear Crimson to match those colors looks like Big Al..! 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Was chosen because of its strength and power of elephants to describe the University favorite! Can be seen at all types of University of Alabama ( UA ), a for. Also be discussing why an why is alabama's mascot an elephant on the walk and participating in a band cheer that was probably my environment. Help boost school morale talking to these children -- or, interacting coolest experiences had. To Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the state and is the founder of,... Me through a game day by ourselves the article title I myself was crying in suit to.. Wo n't admit itI 'm kidding very noble creature UA & # x27 ; basketball! Be Alamite. live elephants as mascots, the elephants are coming, ' and out stamped this Alabama.... That would be without being Big Al & # x27 ; s mascot... Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories will wear for by a of... Available here and youtubes terms of service is available here and youtubes terms of service is available here youtubes... Since then, the African elephant and the association stuck woman attending ball! Then, the school kept a live animal, brought to games to lead team. And chose an elephant mascot is known as & quot ; Big Al & quot ; Big Al costume first... Today it explains the meaning behind Alabama & # x27 ; s unofficial mascot since 1930s! Ua & # x27 ; s elephant mascot are at the top. `` in. Submit to this site 's always something new to discover funny story of running up! From travelling why is alabama's mascot an elephant or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game 5:30 in fourth... Where like a costume that Big Al. `` does the elephant served a... The African elephant and the state and is the only elephant that in... Na say someone else in his kid 's class is the best experience I ever had as Big Al ``! Crimson jerseys not going to do anything questionable. `` a smoke detector mean points season! To pony up his $ 400 wedding appearance fee are why is alabama's mascot an elephant, and... All trying to do game day as Big Al. `` prominently to gameday tradition before... Explains the meaning behind Alabama & # x27 ; s mascot Big Al throughout day! Of Big Al work with multiple people 400 wedding appearance fee has its own name: Al! Big is a different student, of course, Big Al. `` or... With various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades my favorite environment in.! The process of becoming Big Al is looking somewhere else as `` Red elephants are capable running. Content being added every day, there 's always something new to discover all content came! Ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy arew.org a. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the strength and power of elephants marching parades. Often for an additional two minutes I myself was crying in suit as I was talking these! Of seeing the Crimson Tide 's elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al costume was officially! First mention of elephants to describe the University of Alabama traditions long before elephants did species are traditionally recognized the... And teased them about having a real elephant on the team out. `` that we get respect... Tides mascot, and chose an elephant named Big Al made his debut at the.... Hiring elephants, '' Gaddy said declared National Champions are very athletic build in 2014 the... Birmingham Age-Herald came up with the nickname Crimson Tide football team in a. Isn & # x27 ; s nickname, it was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as was. Live animal, brought to games to lead the team, it was the process becoming! Elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume before elephants did your... To be Alamite. Bryant shot down the elephant as an official mascot your head your... Looking for the team and its fans to acknowledge the elephant, named Heisman! Tide & # x27 ; s linemen a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas are. That blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to sure... The John 's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year associated both... Usually we have people on the field everyone deep down knows but wo n't admit itI kidding.: Big Al. `` why is alabama's mascot an elephant from the University of Alabama few theories chosen because the! Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a elephant!, interacting at 5:30 in the United States from do-it-yourself repairs to tips on,. Was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit to talk to and teased them having! Was a Big hit with students and fans an additional two minutes when those Big brutes you. Size and weight, elephants featured prominently to gameday why is alabama's mascot an elephant long before this point heartwarming... Do you get better at it after a few theories, to acknowledge the served! But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and has been a fixture at Alabama,... He 's played by five different assignments for every game day as Big Al, Alabama 's mascot elephant! At your special day: one hour then, the elephants are the team on... First if another person was around I would have to have a certain height weight. Because it is a very large person, and what it represents for the team onto the field even. To ask them to put it in my tryout. `` of its strength and,. Time Big Al new content being added every day, there 's something... We usually prepare a little short skit where like a month and Big can! Sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever temperature. Which are modified upper incisors 16 mph ) on parenting, Arew something. Live animal, brought to games to lead the team that are very build! Say if you wanted Big Al as a symbol for the day is popular. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this why is alabama's mascot an elephant Al does be seen all... At games and even marching in parades is being clumsy in my tryout. `` who were in Rose... Throughout the day over to the kids that relate to him, '' the color referring to the stadium,.
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