After box visits, Big Al will come back in a white jersey. Big Al's game debut was one to remember: The 1979 Sugar Bowl against top-ranked and undefeated Penn State, when a fourth-quarter goal line stand delivered No. He's a very unconventional mascot in general. Q: What was the process of becoming Big Al? Crimson Tide fans are okay with that. So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. It's definitely not the reason to be Big Al. 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. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? The more you return and the more you dedicate to the program, the more you get in scholarship money. I got to go up to Birmingham with Tuscaloosa police and visit children who were in the critical condition area. Q: Something tells me Big Al is pretty busy on Saturdays. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. I'm not bulky by any means so it was never hard for people to lift me up. 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. He's cute. 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. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. 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. "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. 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. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. From the players to the traditions, Alabama just does NCAA football better than any school. 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. Big Al is just the best. Everyone puts their fours in the air. Why Is Alabama'Smascot An Elephant - Related Questions How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? Click to reveal [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. If it's a close game he won't body surf, because we don't wanna count our chickens.". The History of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Elephant Mascot. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We're actually athletes at the university just as much as a cheerleader is. The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. Nonetheless, a student in a doe-eyed elephant costume struts his stuff at every Bama home game, having become a fixture at one of the states proudest institutions. The nickname stuck. Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. What is cardinal color? Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The president came to the football game. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' Usually, if you're a first-year on the team you get a little bit less than everyone else on the team. The nickname stuck. It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. He was kind of drunk, so after he tapped in and hit him, I just kind of pushed him harder than he pushed Big Al -- into the wall. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. This mineral buildup can block the showerhead's water flow, preventing it from Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? Velyrhorde. They always get us to the top.". The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' Dickey: "The tryout for Big Al -- he's a very creative guy. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. Q: What's the story behind the white jersey tradition? We had Good Morning America. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. Since then, Alphie has been a fixture at Alabama sporting events, accompanying the football team onto the field before every home game. The other guy who was there was Big Al, and this one dude came up and started pushing on Big Al. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. From there, we drive back to the stadium and the next person gets in the suit. So what took so long for the Alabama administration to adopt the animal as the school's official mascot? 1 Answer ANSWER The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season when Coach Wallace Wade had assembled a great football team. 1 Alabama, No. This is due to a 2002 incident between Big Al and Seymour of Southern Miss during a game in Tuscaloosa. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. ", 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. Thankfully part of Big Al's character is being clumsy. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. Eventually it becomes second nature and you figure out how to pick up certain things. Strupper wrote a story on October 8, 1930, describing Alabama's college football team after watching them pound Mississippi, 64-0, on October 4. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. He made his debut at a home game against Vanderbilt in 1979 and has been a fixture at Alabama athletics events ever since. The Bear led Alabama to an amazing 24 straight bowl games, including eight Sugar Bowls and multiple Cotton Bowls and Gator Bowls. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot and its association with Crimson Tide football is a popular conversation topic among fans and outsidersalike. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. What is Alabama's football mascot? The Elephant Story. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. Bryant was very easy to talk to and teased them about having a real elephant on the field and the mess it would make. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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. Adult elephants typically weigh 57 tonnes (5,0007,000 kg), although some males have been recorded at up to 12 tonnes (12,000 kg). That was probably one of the coolest experiences I had as Big Al. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I've always had good experiences with it. The third quarter we do box visits. That was not the image of his players he wanted to portray.". Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . 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. The elephant mascot even has its own name: Big Al. Then we have a conditioning test that shows you can handle exerting a certain amount of energy in the suit for an hour.". So very rarely will you see Big Al on the sideline in Bryant-Denny during the third quarter because he's actually up in the boxes visiting people up there. The Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. . We had College Gameday in the morning. after a little pleading with Coach Bear Bryant tojump on board with anon-field mascot, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. If you've ever wondered what it's like to put on the suit that practically doubles as a furnace, look no further. The University of Alabama is home to many of the bests. ANSWER. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. Do you trip a lot? Since then, the elephant mascot has been a fan favorite among Tide fans. I can't even picture what my college experience would be without being Big Al.". 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. So Quad is everything that happens before Big Al even arrives in the stadium. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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. One theory is that elephants are known for their strength and power, qualities that are prized in football. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. 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. Q: Wait, can Big Al pick things up? Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow," wrote Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal when describing the Tide's domination of Ole Miss on Oct. 8, 1930. With Bryants support, the university made an elephant the teams official mascot in 1980, and Big Al made his debut at the Sugar Bowl. There's actually not as much attention on Big Al because of how good our program is, which is kind of nice in a way, because not everybody is relying on Big Al. Q: How does being Big Al work with multiple people? The Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant because the UA spirit committee began hiring elephants from travelling circuses or Tuscaloosa to attend every homecoming. 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. ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. 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. Then all your gestures get swallowed since it's such a big suit. I don't know how else to put it.". He was just thick and tall. He became Big Al in the spring of 2019 and is currently one of five students on the Big Al team. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. Dickey: "My favorite gamewe lost the game. 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. It's kind of about the kids. 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. Big Al never stops moving, and so that is a huge aspect of who he is.". 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 . 2 Alabama the national title. 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. Q: Who's the best mascot in college football? The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. You won't know what the props are beforehand. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. I had a roommate at the time that was trying to convince me to go to it. They were telling me about how much I made their day. 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. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' "He said, 'If that's what students want, that's what it should be,' " Gaddy said. The biggest thing is that we're viewed as student-athletes. How hot is it? [7] The scripted fight suddenly became unscripted after Seymour deviated from the set rules, and a raucous fight on the sidelines between the two ensued. I think that really helped me in the tryout, being more relaxed and not caring as much about the outcome and caring more about just having a good time, because that's what Big Al would wanna do. The cheerleaders will tumble through the end zone. 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. Another theory is that it was inspired by a 1903 news article about then-Alabama head coach Mike Donahue, who was said to have a huge and strong team that was unstoppable like an elephant.. "Some of the mascots they're afraid of, but they're just drawn to Big Al.". It's pretty much a part-time job. So if it's a pretty day and it's only about 70 degrees, it's probably around 100-110 degrees inside the suit. The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . And with new content being added every day, there's always something new to discover. The origin of Alabama's elephant mascot. The reason you want to be Big Al is the faces of the little kids at the children's hospital that you get to make their day. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. 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. Big Al walks in to the room and he has to interact with the props in multiple different ways, but he can't use any of the props for their intended purpose. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. The mascot made its debut in the 1980 Sugar Bowl, but the first student to don the elephant costume was Melford Espey Jr.22 Sept 2021. That does get problematic for our September games that are upwards of 98 degrees. Because those kids will be like, 'What? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. 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. 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. Bryant said he thought elephants were very smart and a little slow, but approved the funds for the elephant costume. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. 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. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. Don't miss a story! [Related: VIDEO: Ole Miss streaker gets leveled by security]. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? Additional troubleshooting information here. This is helpful in getting the attention of potential fans and making them aware of the team. As a result of DJ Al's popularity, a campaign was started on campus to name the mascot after him, and that campaign succeeded at the polls. What gives? One theory is that it was chosen because of the strength and power of elephants. How did Big Al became Alabama's mascot? All of the Big Als that played Big Al are a very close community to me. It's not an obvious type of thing.". It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. 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. The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. "Coach (Bear) Bryant thought it was not representative of football players," Gaddy said. 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. 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. 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. Whatever its origins, the elephant quickly became a popular symbol for the Crimson Tide, appearing in newspaper cartoons and on team merchandise. How did the audition go? The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. And Big Al's been an omnipresent fixture on the Crimson Tide sidelines ever since. 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. We also have 'Elephant Stomp' which is at Gorgas Library. 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 "Why did the elephant paint its toenails" joke has the elephant painting its nails different colors to hide in different places. 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 tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. The live elephant that originally served as the Crimson Tides mascot was named Tusk. Tusk was brought to games in order to excite the crowd and rally support for the team. He wrote, "That Alabama team of 1930 is a typical [Coach Wallace] Wade machine, powerful, big, tough, fast, aggressive, well-schooled in fundamentals, and the best blocking team for this early in the season that I have ever seen. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. We work out every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 in the morning. We're in the program for the football team. Webster: "Oh, Big Al. how big is a woolly mammoth compared to an elephant. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. It takes all five of us. It's almost like thatBig Al is just the best. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. 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. There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. So Big Al throughout the day is a different person and we're not all trying to do game day by ourselves. 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. Tusks grow throughout an elephants lifetime; an individuals tusk length is a useful criterion for age determination as elephants reach physical maturity at around 15 years old. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? [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. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. And the rest is history. Dickey: "I'm not actually sure why, but it's just always been the thing that Big Al does. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. Big Al is the costumed mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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. On Big Al. ``, brought to games to lead the team & # x27 ; s elephant even., can Big Al wears a white jersey for the football team the. 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