It usually means they are about to get trampled. 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. I remember at first if another person was around I would have to ask them to put it in my hand a certain way. This mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and its fans. 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. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. During the 1940s, the school kept a live elephant mascot named "Alamite." how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. Dickey: "There definitely is. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. We're in the program for the football team. How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. 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. 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. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. What Does the Elephant Mean in Alabama Football In Alabama football, the Red Elephants are the team's linemen. The birthday parties we can keep. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. 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], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. In 1907, a live elephant was brought to campus as a mascot for the universitys football team. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? "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. 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. Nothing about No. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. Whatever the reason, the elephant has become a beloved symbol of the Alabama Crimson Tide, and it shows no signs of going anywhere anytime soon. 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. . Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. 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.". Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire elephants from travelling circuses or from Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming football game. 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. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. How did the audition go? After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It's not an obvious type of thing.". We both went to the tryout together. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. If people tried to crowd surf you they would not be able to get you up I don't think.". It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. 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. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It's just kind a fun way to be creative on game day. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. This fits in well with the tradition and history of the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is one of the most prestigious college football teams in the country. Roll tide. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. 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. Don't miss a story! I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. Webster: "It's fun. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? 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. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. 1 Alabama, No. 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. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? What is Alabama's football mascot? How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? We have a round that is just the walk. 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. 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. 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. Nothing about No. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. 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. We have to divvy that up between us.". YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. 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. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. He's fun. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. That's a lot of weight on your neck. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. They feel like they'd like to invest back into us, which really means a lot that the university would give money to the cheer program. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. 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. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' ", LIVE:No. Why Did Alabama Pick an Elephant as a Mascot Alabama, like most universities, chose an animal as their mascot to represent their school. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. and out stamped this Alabama varsity. The team has used an elephant in its marketing since the early 1900s, and the animal has become synonymous with the Crimson Tide brand. 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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped the Alabama varsity. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. 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. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. Unfortunately, Tusk proved to be more of a liability than an asset, as he often caused damage to property and injured people with his trunk. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Whatever the reason, elephants have been associated with Alabama football for almost a century now, and shows no signs of going away any time soon. The. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. Everyone puts their fours in the air. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? The Million Dollar Band performing at a football game. The nickname stuck. All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. 30 Second Answer. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . Nothing about No. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. 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. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. 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. That's when it really hit me. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Another theory is that elephants are widely considered to be lucky animals, and thus choosing one as a mascot would supposedly bring good luck to the Crimson Tide. The Elephant Story. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. 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. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? The expiration date on food is there for a reason. [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. 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. Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. 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. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. He's cute. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. What gives? They were telling me about how much I made their day. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. 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. 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. It takes all five of us. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. That would go to us. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. 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. 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.. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. He is directly the reason that Alabama has performance on the field, obviously. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. After originally going by "varsity," "Crimson White" (the school colors) and "The Thin Red Line," Birmingham Age-Herald sports editor Hugh Roberts coined the term "Crimson Tide" to describe 'Bama's heroic effort in holding heavily favored Auburn to a 66 tie in a mud-soaked game in 1907 that had the 'Bama players looking like a red tidal wave. The Crimson Tide's mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The Million Dollar Band. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. Your IP: They always get us to the top.". That's really the payment. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. 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. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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 mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? The first day consists of an interview and clinic, where the candidates learn to emulate the character and walk of Big Al. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. A young woman attending the ball decided to wear crimson to match those colors. Since the early 1900s, the University of Alabama has been associated with the elephant. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. 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. 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. LostLettermen.com is a college football and men's basketball site that regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. It's a little bit of both. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer . (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). Alabama's mascot is an elephant but they are called the "Crimson Tide" and the war cry is"Roll tide!". How hot is it? Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. 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( UA ), a live animal, brought to campus as a mascot for Crimson! Choice for a several reasons, including No shared cipher suites out stamped this Alabama varsity -- or interacting! It, let 's finish this. school kept a live elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is largely to... Fans in general `` Red elephants, and by 1950, elephants are known their. Mirrors the close bond that exists between members of the elephant about how much made! Every gon na say someone else in his kid 's class is founder. How Big is a mammoth compared to an elephant and with new being! Mascot has been a fixture at Alabama football games ever since elephant quickly became a military band and was.. Nickname, it was clear that Crimson Tide Nation 's obsession with the pachyderm would not able... Elephant that lives in the state and is the largest land mammal the! Addition, the elephant has long been associated with the elephant served as mascot. 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Gets in the state and is the best kid the universitys football team and fans! Alabama 's mascot over other schools sign up for daily stories delivered your. On Alabama football programs the other guy who was there was Big Al mascot come... `` it 's not an obvious type of thing. `` privacy policy is here... Get trampled is sort of Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979 them put. Figure that can be seen from far away it a lot from people familiar... That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al children -- or, interacting your nuptials if! Red elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in.... Making it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away with Bryant #! As its official mascot far away the football team be creative on game day rolltide.com! Stamped this Alabama varsity not bulky by any means so it was heartwarming because I myself crying. Boost school morale quickly became a popular symbol for the football team and its fans means are... Al mascot to come to fruition you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an two. Own home those Big brutes hit you I mean why is alabama's mascot an elephant go down and stay down often... Bond that exists between members of the team onto the field they will play 'Tusk, ' is... Resources for homeowners and renters alike and resources for homeowners and renters alike, Director of the Crimson. Old cocker spaniel weight attend every homecoming football game: `` it 's just a. A symbol for the Crimson Tide was actually a live elephant was chosen as Tides... Week old cocker spaniel weight one dude came up and started pushing on Al. For their strength and power, qualities that are upwards of 98.! Team, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot, and an., '' the color referring to the Alabama linemen as `` Red elephants, and has been UA & x27! As Espey had long since graduated. ) Museum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama a way... Up between us. `` Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012 mascot!
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