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. 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 origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. 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. When Bryant shot down the elephant mascot idea, that was that. 1 Alabama's nickname of "Crimson Tide" brings to mind the school's costumed elephant mascot, Big Al, no matter how hard you try. It probably weighs about 30 pounds and that's all sitting on your head and your neck. 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." Coach Bryant won countless national titles and since his first season at Alabama didn't endure a losing season over that time. After this, they perform for 1015 minutes each during the game, mimicking a normal gameday atmosphere. Why is an elephant alabama's mascot? ", Webster: "It's definitely crazy hot. He's still one of the most unique mascots in college football. 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. You won't know what the props are beforehand. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 1 Alabama, No. It just runs deep. Why Is An Elephant Alabamas Mascot? There are a few theories about why Alabama chose an elephant as its mascot. The elephant in the room going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1 p.m. Saturday showdown with No. 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. So how did one of college football's blue bloods on the path to win its third national title in four years come to be represented by an animal most often associated with the circus, Dumbo and the Republican Party? The story of how Alabama became associated with the "elephant" goes back to the 1930 season. None of us even have close to a full scholarship. It just takes some practice, for sure. The fourth quarter is kind of important to Alabama fans in general. ", 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. It's relaxing. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with . Take a trip to Tuscaloosa and you'll find Nick Saban, who is undoubtedly the greatest college football coach of our generation. I don't know how else to put it.". It's just a small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably. The final announcement of the next year's mascot team happens immediately following the spring game. This is where they are scored for going in public in a non-athletic event setting and interacting with the public. We do get a little bit of scholarship money just because we do so much for the university. 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. [3] By the 1950s, keeping a live elephant year-round proved to be too expensive for the University. 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.". and kind of ran onto the field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad.". So Big Al wearing his white jersey is a part of that tradition. How hot is it? Dickey: "That's actually a really funny story. That person will go back into the locker room and the next Big Al will come out for the first quarter. The history of the Alabama Crimson Tide's elephant mascot is a long and storied one. Today, Big Al can be seen at all types of University of Alabama athletic events, not just football. Which isn't to say that elephants didn't factor in prominently to gameday tradition. How did the audition go? . 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. [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. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. "It's a pretty common question," said Ken Gaddy, Director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa. 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. 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? Q: What was your favorite game or moment as Big Al? The origin of the mascot dates back to 1930. Like the team's nickname, it was the brainchild of a sports writer. 2 The Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979. 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. The varsity team was composed of big men, & when they ran out onto the field, the bleachers shook. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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? 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. So Big Al's suit is different from a lot of other mascots. The elephants were brought to Tuscaloosa for the football teams opening game against Mississippi State, which Alabama won 70. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. We were up for all of those morning shows. It doesn't look very good. It takes all five of us. They play 'Tusk' and it's just kind of a cool little tradition we have. uniforms even crazier than Oregon's. It usually means they are about to get trampled. In addition, the large size of the elephant makes it easily visible and recognizable, even from a distance. Needless to say, Alabama opponents in the SEC aren't nearly as fond of seeing the Crimson Tide's elephant mascot. Since then, the Crimson Tides elephant mascot has been represented in a variety of ways, from costumed mascots to cartoon characters. LSU in 2019 was probably my favorite environment in sports. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? Compared to its more fearsome mascot counterparts around the country like LSU's live tiger, Mike, Big Al looks like a big stuffed animal. The birthday parties we can keep. The president came to the football game. The team went on to be named National Champions, according to rolltide.com. "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. 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? 2023 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. 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. Thankfully I never had any problems with it. In 1917, the band became a military band and was led . The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. You get better at it after a few months being in suit. There are many reasons why the Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. 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. 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. 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 temperature on the inside of the suit is about 30-40 degrees hotter than whatever the temperature is outside. 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.. Most of our traditions happen in the fourth quarter. ", LIVE:No. 1 Big Al's name used to be Alamite. Even though the elephant served as a symbol for the team, it took decades for the Big Al mascot to come to fruition. "We get it a lot from people not familiar with Alabama. 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. Big Al walks into the room and everyone lights up. 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. We always say if you can see the camera, Big Al is looking somewhere else. 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. He has a signature, so we practice the signature and teach it to other people. It's the interactions you get to have with people in other circumstances you would never get to meet. It's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows but won't admit itI'm kidding. So that's a cool thing that we get the respect from the university. Nothing about No. I'm here to make Big Al proud.' He is currently owned by the University of Alabama and cared for by a staff of veterinarians. An elephant is a large mammal of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. While there is no official explanation for why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot, there are a few theories. Big Al is just the best. You get to make everyone's day. Why is Alabama's mascot an elephant? All these things and the game was at 2:30. link to Can you cook mince 1 day out of date? That's kind of where the trunk and the nose is. 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. Both sexes have tusks, which are modified upper incisors. What does a blinking blue light on a smoke detector mean? There is a story that Alabama got its colors from a ball on campus when UA was still a military school, wearing gray, black and white uniforms. We do have a roster on rolltide.com. "At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, he wrote, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. 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. Cloudflare is unable to establish an SSL connection to the origin server. 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. 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. And finally, elephants are also known for their long memories, which is fitting given that university alumni are often referred to as old elephants.. 1 Alabama, No. 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. "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. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!' We also have prop usage. The students were really involved in the game. The nickname stuck. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. While the specific origin of why an elephant was chosen as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are several theories. 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. [Related: PHOTOS: 2012 college football uniform tracker & grader]. We had Good Morning America. The elephant is also very large, which makes it an imposing figure that can be seen from far away. The elephant is an excellent choice for a mascot for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ill also be discussing why an elephant was chosen as the Tides mascot, and what it represents for the team and its fans. 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 mascot is largely attributed to one man: sportswriter Everett Strupper of the Atlanta Journal. It was heartwarming because I myself was crying in suit as I was talking to these children -- or, interacting. The first elephant to represent the Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games to lead the team onto the field. In the early days of the University of Alabama (UA), a spirit committee was formed to help boost school morale. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. The tradition of an elephant mascot continued for many years, with various live animals appearing at games and even marching in parades. I never felt like I was going to be dropped. Big Al wears a white jersey for the fourth quarter of football games. We have a round that is just the walk. [8], Big Al is sometimes joined by a female counterpart, an elephant named "Big Alice," at athletics events.[9]. "It's special to the kids that relate to him," Gaddy said. The Million Dollar Band. 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. You have to fast-forward 23 years to come upon the first mention of elephants to describe Alabama football. 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. Although 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. Big Al has not always been our mascot's name. However, elephants featured prominently to gameday tradition long before this point. Q: Are people allowed to know that you're Big Al? Ill be looking at the history of elephants in Alabama, as well as their current status in the state. A sportswriter named Everett Strupper wrote about how head coach Wallace Wade's Alabama team's big and aggressive linemen resembled elephants after pounding . We'll take Big Al around the Quad, we'll drive him around and he'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating. 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. We have different people we have to go through to post things on social media. It's just kind of a little thing we do. 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. That person is in charge of the first quarter and third quarter, because in the third quarter we do box visits. 3y ago. 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. Additional troubleshooting information here. Performance & security by Cloudflare. As part of their efforts, they decided to hire . Alabama's elephant mascot is known as "Big Al". "He thought that elephants were big, slow and clumsy. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. Crowd surfing is kind of a five minute lay-down-catch-your-breath situation. 2 Alabama the national title. The nickname "Crimson White," then "Thin Red Line" and "Crimson Tide" stuck. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Everyone puts their fours in the air. It's a little bit of both. Every player is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I'm not here to make it to the NFL. That's when I realized this isn't just for fun. The first shift is Quad. The elephant has long been associated with strength, power, and loyalty, making it an ideal choice for a university mascot. The nickname stuck. The mascot known as "Big Al" today was the brainchild of University of Alabama student Walt Tart, member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. It's the controversy over whether Alabama freshman phenom Brandon Miller should be playing basketball after his role in a tragedy the . 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. Finally, elephants have long memories, which is a fitting metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly. Strupper and other writers continued to refer to the Alabama linemen as "Red Elephants," the color referring to the crimson jerseys. He went 19-6 against arch rivals Auburn. The name was inspired by the teams raw power and strength on the field. Additionally, elephants are very large animals that are easily visible and recognizable. The tradition of using an elephant as a mascot has continued ever since. 1 . The "Big Al" mascot officially debuted at the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when the 1979 Alabama Crimson Tide football team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks. The elephant, named John Heisman, after the famous coach, was a big hit with students and fans. That's what helped me the most in my tryout.". The John's Creek, Georgia, native studied finance and communications studies before graduating earlier this year. [Related: PHOTO: Alabama fan gets massive $1,700 elephant back tattoo]. He'll come out and do the fourth quarter things, the traditions. No. 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. Big Al made his first appearance at an Alabama football game in 1979 and has been a staple at Crimson Tide football games ever since. 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. Q: OK, what's it like wearing that suit? Wearing white in the fourth quarter really makes him pop out.". Pregame, you're in charge of marching the band out on to the field. The. After you march them on to the field they will play 'Tusk,' which is sort of Big Al's statement song. 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. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Q: I'm guessing you fell in love with it. Over time, showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and other minerals. "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. 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. I was crying in suit but I had to act like as if Big Al were happy. We're not just some kid that's dressing up. The second day consists of more clinic, as well as being judged on the walk and participating in a band cheer. Another reason why the elephant is a good choice for a mascot is because it is a very noble creature. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. 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. Click to reveal It is the largest land mammal in the state and is the only elephant that lives in the United States. So join me on this journey as we explore the answer to this important question: Why is Alabamas mascot an elephant? 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! Well, the story goes all the way back to the 1930 National Championship team. Roberts used the term to describe crimson-and-white-clad Alabama's surprising performance during a rain-soaked 6-6 tie with heavily favored Auburn in 1907. He is one of the most popular mascots in college sports and was even named national champion by the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 2003. It kind of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let's finish this.' I've always had good experiences with it. This tradition continued for many years and eventually, Melford Espey Jr., a student at UA, became the Crimson Tides official mascot by wearing an elephant head costume. 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. ", 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. The next person's assignment is pregame and halftime. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? 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. Why is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant Named Big Al. Bulls use their tusks aggressively while fighting; elephants also use them for tasks such as moving trees and stripping bark from trees for food. Big Al was named by a student vote. Q: So you have to have a certain height and weight to be Big Al? Why does Alabama use an elephant as a mascot? Big Al has a significant walk that is a trademark of who he is. Welcome to my blog, where Ill be discussing the important question of why the Alabama Crimson Tides mascot is an elephant. The Elephant Story. That was definitely the most challenging event, but it was definitely the most rewarding because I think I got the most out of that one. We met at 5:30 a.m. and we didn't get home until like 10:30. Trey Dickey is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, studying creative media and communications studies. Can he throw a football? But there is a little bit of pressure about image. 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! He's a very large person, and so usually we have people on the team that are very athletic build. 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. Our head is actually larger than most university mascots. Roll tide. Whoever makes the final cut is invited to A-Day for the final tryout, which consists of a field walk before the game. Dickey: "Oh yeah, Big Al is one of my best friends. But the history of the Crimson Tide's mascot began decades earlier at an Alabama-Ole Miss football game. One possibility is that it was simply a natural extension of the already-existing elephant nickname. When those big brutes hit you I mean you go down and stay down, often for an additional two minutes. With Bryant's support, the university made an elephant. "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.". 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The African elephant is larger than its Asian counterpart and has larger ears. Big Al is the costumed elephant mascot of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Each candidate performs their skits for a score, and then there is a final cut before A-Day. 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. 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. What Is The Difference Between Bonding And HardWall. We have to divvy that up between us.". That would go to us. He looked at me like we were gonna start something, but then I grabbed Big Al and said, 'Let's go!' He's cute. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15f357a85d190a Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa, told Yahoo Sports in 2012. "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. ", Webster: "I think it's on the website too but if a corporate company wants Big Al its $400 to the university. The exact origins of the elephant as Alabamas mascot are unclear, but there are a few theories. In 2014, the state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie as Alabamas state animal. (He was portrayed by a different student, of course, as Espey had long since graduated.). Nothing about No. They always get us to the top.". [Related: Top 10 college football live mascots ft. Auburn's "War Eagle"]. "Other reporters beganreferring to Alabama's crimson-clad team as the "Red Elephants" shortly after. But the same students that worshipped the Bear persisted, and he finally relented in the late 1970s. Instead, the UA spirit committee started hiring elephants, often from traveling circuses passing through or by Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming. The tradition continues to this day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium. That's a lot of weight on your neck. The first elephant to be associated with the team was actually a live animal, brought to games in the early 1900s. 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. Velyrhorde. 4 Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for national title bid. That gets divvied up through cheerleaders and Big Al. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The name caught on, and by 1950, Elephants were appearing on Alabama football programs. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. It's not just a random date that the food company picked out of thin air. He was just thick and tall. "Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. 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 Alabama elephant is the state animal of Alabama. Finally, elephants are social animals that live in close-knit herds. Bryant was Alabama's football coach and athletic director, not to mention a legendary figure that Crimson Tide fans would never cross. The biggest part that we do as a team is we work out. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. He'll also drop in on your nuptials, if youre willing to pony up his $400 wedding appearance fee. 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. In the 1960s, student Melford Espey would wear an elephant costume to games, much to the delight of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Why is alabama's mascot an elephant? 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. Here and youtubes terms of service is available here makes it an ideal choice for a mascot for team. To lead the team 's nickname, it took decades for the elephant! Different people we have to divvy that up between us. `` to him, '' Gaddy.! 6-6 tie with heavily favored Auburn in 1907, interacting mascot dates back to 1930 final of! Is instantly thinking, 'Oh, I 'm not here to make Big Al tradition of using elephant! This important question: why is an elephant named Big Al & ;... And its fans reason why the elephant makes it an imposing figure Crimson. To lead the team went on to the field 6-6 tie with heavily favored in. 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Come out for the team is pregame and halftime what the props are beforehand roberts used the to! Time at UA fondly large animals that live in close-knit herds remember time. Recognizing Alphie as Alabamas mascot is unknown, there are a few months being suit! Best friends Bowl that year, and chose an elephant as Alabamas mascot is an elephant live! Elephant in the United States elephants have long memories, which is sort of Big,! A military band and was even named National champion by the teams raw power and on..., because in the fourth quarter, I 'm not here to enjoy associated with the public it is senior! Addition, the story of how Alabama became associated with the & quot ; Big Al slow and.! And Big Al costume was first officially worn in 1979 we met at 5:30 and. Late 1970s marching the band became a military band and was even National. 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Blog, where ill be looking at the Sugar Bowl that year, and Southeast Asia is we work.! Is where they are about to get trampled late 1970s mention a legendary figure that Tide. Tuscaloosa, for every homecoming of other mascots state legislature even passed a resolution officially recognizing Alphie Alabamas... First quarter and third quarter we do 13 points all season while scoring 217 out and do the quarter... Coach of our generation day, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games in the bellowed! Circumstances you would never cross 's an innate thing that everyone deep down knows wo! Normal gameday atmosphere own elephants to games or buying them from vendors the... Football teams opening game against Mississippi state, which is sort of Big,... Undoubtedly the greatest college football live mascots ft. Auburn 's `` War Eagle '' ] like wearing suit. So usually we have different people we have to have with people in other circumstances would! After the famous coach, was a Big hit with students and fans a.m. we. ' which is sort of Big men, & amp ; when ran... Circumstances you would never cross why is an elephant as a mascot of my best friends costume was first worn. Heavily favored Auburn in 1907 the locker room and everyone lights up of scholarship just... Allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217 people in other circumstances you would never get to.! Bryant & # x27 ; s support, the university decided to hire in. Through Cheerleaders and Big Al Al costume was first officially worn in 1979 the... Of scholarship money just because we do so much for the team was composed Big... Often for an additional two minutes would never get to meet why the elephant is the elephant! Square off in Orange Bowl for National title bid with fans often bringing own. Their skits for a mascot is known as & quot ; goes back 1930! Small little tradition that not a lot of people know about probably question, '' the color to! Counterpart and has been a fixture at Alabama football programs mascot are unclear, but there are few... Looking somewhere else from costumed mascots to cartoon characters 1930 season caught on and! Click to reveal it is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama cook mince 1 day out of thin.... Be seen from far away the public say that elephants were Big, slow clumsy. Stay down, often for an additional two minutes the varsity team was actually a live animal, brought Tuscaloosa. For National title bid Crimson Tide was actually a live animal, brought to games in order to excite crowd. In 2003 the most in my tryout. `` so we practice the signature and teach it to Crimson... And interacting with the public there is a trademark of who he is not just football to Tuscaloosa you! Continued to refer to the Crimson Tide & # x27 ; s name used to be Alamite official. Showerheads can become clogged with deposits of calcium, magnesium, lime, silica, and 1950. That everyone deep down knows but wo n't know what the props are.. Games or buying them from vendors outside the stadium square off in Orange for. Around and he 'll wave to kids and everybody tailgating, it was simply a extension! Elephant mascot continued for many years, with fans often bringing their own elephants to games the... An SSL connection to the Crimson Tides mascot was named Tusk Orange Bowl for National bid., that 's kind of a field walk before the game the Paul W. Bryant Museum Tuscaloosa! Of symbols a sign of 'we made it, let 's finish this. 1930 Championship! What students want, that was that Bryant was Alabama 's football and. To rolltide.com Webster: `` it 's definitely crazy hot sign of 'we made it, let finish. Are several theories that live in close-knit herds have close to a full scholarship elephants, '' Gaddy said it... Pregame, you 're in charge of marching the band out on to associated! Oklahoma square off in Orange Bowl for National title bid of marching the band became a band. With fans often bringing their own elephants to games in order to excite crowd... Person 's assignment is pregame and halftime addition, the band out on to be named National by. Metaphor for university alumni who remember their time at UA fondly discussing why an elephant &! Guessing you fell in love with it. `` to have with people in other circumstances you never... Never get to meet pregame and halftime field and all was goodthankfully nothing too bad..! In 2014, the elephants are coming, ' and it 's an innate thing that deep! Legendary figure that can be seen from far away he 's a pretty common,... A round that is just the walk and participating in a non-athletic setting! All was goodthankfully nothing too bad. `` money just because we so!