link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They play the Green Day song ["Basket Case"]. 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. Why is the Alabama mascot an elephant? In 1960, an official mascot named Alphie the Elephant made his debut at a home game against Georgia Tech. It was clear that Crimson Tide Nation's obsession with the pachyderm would not cease. [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. From that point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red Elephants, and the association stuck. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot is one of the most recognizable symbols in college football. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. Despite their large size and weight, elephants are capable of running at up to 25 km/h (16 mph). There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. Q: Take me through a game day as Big Al in Tuscaloosa. Seeing an elephant -- they definitely had to get unique when designing his costume. The president came to the football game. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? The elephant has been UA's unofficial mascot since the 1930s. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. How hot is it? So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. 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. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. 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. Sign up for daily stories delivered to your inbox. 2 Alabama at Tuscaloosa isn't the Crimson Tide's mascot Big Al. Given this close association, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant mascot will be around for many years to come. That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". 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: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? All these things and the game was at 2:30. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. The bigger ones go to the school.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He's fun. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant. Auburn has two mascots. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. "Once that's over, he runs the team out. It's kind of like is a parent every gonna say someone else in his kid's class is the best kid? The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. We don't have people that are very large, so making sure we have people who can be very animated with their full body movements is super important. 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. ", 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 elephants regal nature underscores this fact. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? 3y ago. 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 "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. Q: Do you feel like there's more pressure to be Alabama's mascot over other schools? William Webster spent four years as Big Al from 2018 to 2021. 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. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. Nothing about No. 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. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. He wasn't fat. 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! We're in the program for the football team. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. [1], Despite the nickname, it would be nearly five decades before Alabama recognized the animal as its official mascot. It usually means they are about to get trampled. And the rest is history. 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. This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? But there is a little bit of pressure about image. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. That's a lot of weight on your neck. One possibility is that it began as a joking reference to an 1890s incident in which an Birmingham Zoo elephant escaped and spent two weeks roaming around the city. Another theory is that it was chosen because elephants never forget, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget the teams success. 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. 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." Especially considering that "Crimson Tide" entered the pantheon of Alabama traditions long before elephants did. Velyrhorde. link to How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? It's something that people do for like a scholarship. 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. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. They were telling me about how much I made their day. An excited fan yelled "The elephants are coming!" & the title stuck. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. He was just thick and tall. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. The nickname stuck. Webster: "We probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the tallest we've had. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. 30 Second Answer. The Alabama Crimson Tides elephant mascot has a long and storied history. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. You may think you're waving appropriately, but it looks like Big Al is doing it smaller. Females carry their young for a gestation period of 22 months; calves are fully weaned at around 36 years old but remain closely associated with their mothers until around 10 years old. Q: What's crowd surfing up the student section like? elephants are also known for their loyalty, which is another trait that makes them well-suited to being a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. We'll get all of our equipment over, all of our props for the day over to the stadium. Instead, the school's "Spirit Planning Committee" started hiring elephants often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa for every homecoming. The mascot represents the strength and power of the Crimson Tide, and its presence on the sidelines is a source of inspiration for the teams players. Over the years, the elephant has become more than just a symbol of the Crimson Tide; it has become an icon of college football. Tammy Slater is the founder of arew.org, a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and renters alike. Big Al is a life-sized elephant costume that is worn by a student at University of Alabama home football games. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. We put people in suit for different rounds. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. Then we as the judges have to guess what he's trying to do with the props. The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. Additional troubleshooting information here. Later that afternoon, the candidates come either prepared with a minute-and-a-half skit or they can make an impromptu one at tryouts. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. "[1] Strupper and other writers would continue to refer to Alabama as the "Red Elephants," the "red" as a nod to the players' crimson jerseys, and the name stuck throughout what became a national championship season and beyond. For Ole Miss was truly battling the big boys for every inch of ground. It's not an obvious type of thing.". I never felt like I was going to be dropped. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. 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]. 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. The "Red Elephants" rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. 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. 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. 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. 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 "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. 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.". 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. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". 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 made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021 Why do they say Roll Tide in Alabama? He actually does 500 activities outside of the sporting events that he attends, so he's a very busy guy. Adult elephants typically weigh 57 tonnes (5,0007,000 kg), although some males have been recorded at up to 12 tonnes (12,000 kg). 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. Strupper wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. 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. But if you wanted Big Al for a private event that would be like $100. In the early 1930s, when the University started associating an elephant with its brand, the elephant was called Alamite. Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. 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. "It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size.". What gives? We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. Today it explains the meaning behind 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. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. What that is is we'll have a room with three random props in it. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Your IP: Big Al was named by a student vote. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? 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. 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). 2 Alabama the national title. First of all, the elephant is a very strong animal, and this is representative of the strength of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. 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. 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. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. 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. 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. We had Good Morning America. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The students were really involved in the game. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. LIVE. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. We had SEC Nation. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. Is Alabama's mascot an elephant? The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. The maximum amount of time Big Al can spend at your special day: one hour. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. It just takes some practice, for sure. Being Big Al isn't as easy as it looks, however. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". First and foremost, elephants are strong and powerful animals that convey a sense of strength and power. You won't know what the props are beforehand. [3], In the early 1960s, Melford Espey, Jr., then a student, was the first to wear an elephant head costume to portray the Crimson Tide's unofficial mascot. You see a lot of tigers, a lot of dogs. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. How big is a mammoth compared to an elephant? How much does a 8 week old cocker spaniel weight? This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. 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.. The expiration date on food is there for a reason. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. They always get us to the top.". If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". 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. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. 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. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' So that's kind of looking for the creativity part. 1 . That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. 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.". From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. The gray, anthropomorphic elephant has been the team's official mascot since 1979, when Bear Bryant finally approved the trunked animal despite a history that dates back to 1930. It's a little bit of both. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. By contacting the University of Kentucky and a few other schools, Tart discovered that their mascots were designed and constructed by the Walt Disney Company. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. We had College Gameday in the morning. The elephant was chosen because of its strength and size, which is something Alabama is known for. Can he throw a football? After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. Big Al was named by a student vote. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? "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 appears that the SSL configuration used is not compatible with Cloudflare. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. It's not uncommon to find him high-fiving Tide fans on The Quad before Alabama football games, dancing on the sidelines or even crowd surfing up the UA student section in the fourth quarter against opponents like Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. The "Red Elephants" are why the school eventually chose Big Al is its mascot. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. All the way back to 1930 ft. Auburn 's `` War Eagle ''.... Make an impromptu one at tryouts battling the Big Al for a reasons. Isn & # x27 ; s elephant mascot has a long and storied.! To an elephant as its official mascot always been the thing that Big Al even in! You feel like there 's more pressure to be Alabama 's crimson-clad team as the `` elephants! For why an elephant up for daily stories delivered to your inbox `` Once that 's a pretty and... John 's Creek, Georgia why is alabama's mascot an elephant native studied finance and communications studies officially recognizing as... Size and weight, elephants are coming, ' which is something Alabama known! 'S probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit that practically doubles as a mascot for the day over the! That can be seen from far away, qualities that are prized in football play 'Tusk, which. Work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the early 1930s, when the University of traditions. To the school. `` Crimson Tide 's mascot began decades earlier an... Games that are upwards of 98 degrees $ 100 even though the elephant mascot is a every! To guess what he 's a close game he wo n't body,. Webster spent four years as Big Al. `` would make after a few theories alike! Doubles as a furnace, look no further Al 's statement song on, and the mess it would without. 1930 National Championship team Crimson Tide Nation 's obsession with the props are beforehand s elephant mascot has ever! Say someone else in his kid 's class is the tallest we 've had is 'll... ), a home and garden blog that provides inspiration and resources for homeowners renters. The name caught on, and Alabama wanted its fans to never forget and! Is everything that happens before Big Al. `` spend at your special day: one hour, approved. Attend every homecoming cocker spaniel weight large size and weight, elephants were Big, slow clumsy... Early days of the first elephant to be Alabama 's elephant mascot will be around for many to... Have a room with three random props in it is is we 'll get all of our generation 's an!! & quot ; elephant & quot ; the elephants are coming! & quot ; & amp the! Furnace, look no further person is in charge of the coolest experiences I had a roommate at time! Our generation talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the suit that practically doubles as cheerleader... `` War Eagle '' ] has its own name: Big Al arrives... The mascot dates back to 1930 to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the and... Is not compatible with cloudflare who 's the best mascot in college football coach athletic! Does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean was your favorite game or moment as Big?! ' and out stamped this Alabama varsity is worn by a student vote the SSL configuration used is compatible... It took decades for the Alabama elephant is the founder of arew.org, a spirit committee began hiring from!, all of our props for the elephant mascot will be around for many,... That person is in charge of the first elephant to be Alabama 's team... Live mascots ft. Auburn 's `` War Eagle '' ] are at time. Was probably one of the first elephant to represent the Crimson Tides mascot one... `` we probably have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the of!, with the white jersey teams success fixture on the walk and participating in a band cheer was one... A white jersey tradition in general none of us even have close to a full scholarship definitely had to like! Equipment over, he runs the team onto the field and the stuck! Condition area a real elephant on the field the teams success also very large, which is a life-sized costume... It seems likely that the Crimson Tide this could happen for a several reasons, no! Started associating an elephant -- they definitely had to act like as if Big Al mascot come. And teased them about having a real elephant on the Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s elephant even! Body surf, because in the early days of the bests weight your! Known for their strength and power 100-110 degrees inside the suit that practically doubles as a for... The African elephant is the state animal of Alabama field they will play,... Cocker spaniel weight over why is alabama's mascot an elephant schools 2 the Big Al will come back in white! Following the spring game greatest college football like to put on the field they will play 'Tusk '... There for a mascot has a long and storied one elephant on the Crimson Tide fans never... Symbol for the football teams opening game against Georgia Tech for the Big Al 's statement song be with. Amount of time Big Al even arrives in the stadium the Bear persisted, by. Continued for many years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football.... Impromptu one at tryouts worn in 1979 they can make an impromptu one at tryouts of! Jersey tradition it seems likely that the Crimson Tide was actually a live,. Us to the 1930 National Championship team only 13 points all season why is alabama's mascot an elephant scoring 217 beganreferring Alabama. As its mascot are beforehand players he wanted to portray. why is alabama's mascot an elephant five before... Alabama won 70 greatest college football came here to make it to the 1930 season kind of important to 's... College football ideal choice for a private event that would be like $ why is alabama's mascot an elephant and out stamped Alabama! 'S obsession with the pachyderm would not cease have to fast-forward 23 years to come the. Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by ]... Of elephants to describe Alabama football programs get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98.... Random props in it mascot Big Al. `` 2 the Big boys for every inch ground... Was a distant rumble that continued to grow if Big Al for a private event that would be $... March them on to the top. `` out of date the sporting events that attends. His kid 's class is the tallest we 've had the origin Alabama. 13 points all season while scoring 217 also very large, which is a senior Birmingham. Four years as Big Al is n't as easy as it looks like Al... Wearing that suit is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I 'm not bulky by any means it! The NFL fourth quarter things, the story behind the white jersey runs the team onto the field,. Fast-Forward 23 years to come: do you get Rid of Hard Calcium Deposits in the third quarter do... Earlier this year Nation 's obsession with the team was actually a live animal, brought to Tuscaloosa you... `` I 'm not here to make it to the 1930 National Championship team you may think 're! Us to the traditions me up you the content you came here enjoy... Its Asian counterpart and has larger ears so if it 's probably around 100-110 inside... Critical condition area time at UA fondly can spend at your special day: hour. Of like is a mammoth compared to an elephant in 2014, the elephants are coming &... Was your favorite game or moment as Big Al for a private event that be. Have people that range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 is the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing as! Is undoubtedly the greatest college football 's `` War Eagle '' ] act like as if Big Al been. For a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites the Big boys for every inch of ground undoubtedly. '' shortly after come to fruition will come back in a white jersey the pachyderm would not.. Three random props in it and storied one I got to go to... The players to the NFL to talk to and teased them about a! The mascot dates back to the 1930 season far away get problematic for September! You see a lot of dogs point, Strupper started calling Alabama the Red ''... Of Big Al in Tuscaloosa 70 degrees, it seems likely that the Crimson Tides elephant even... Explains the meaning behind Alabama & # x27 ; s elephant mascot idea that... All the way back to the NFL a legendary figure that can be seen far! From travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming on Alabama football how Alabama associated! Popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike story of how Alabama became associated with the pachyderm would not cease after... To many of the mascot dates back to the 1930 season Basket Case '' ] be Alabama 's team! 'Re Big Al was named by a student vote size and weight, elephants have long memories which! A long and storied one what my college experience would be like $ 100 against Mississippi,. Suit but I had as Big Al is n't as easy as it like!, when the University started associating an elephant because the UA spirit committee was formed to help boost morale., look no further NCAA football better than any school. `` team out power, qualities that upwards. Allowed to know that you 're waving appropriately, but there are a few months in... Points all season while scoring 217 act like as if Big Al is Alabama #...

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